Easy To Clean Window Treatments, Ranked!

Not all window treatments are easy to clean. For some families, this isn’t a concern, but for those with children and pets, easy to clean is a necessity! Here, we’ve ranked blinds in order from the easiest to clean to the ones that take a little more time and effort.

Easiest to Clean: PVC Vertical Blinds

Arguably the easiest blinds to clean, PVC vertical blinds feature long slats that run up and down. That means these versatile blinds collect less dust and dirt compared to horizontal blinds since the dust falls to the floor instead of on the vertical slats. They do gather dirt at the bottom and can get dusty at the top, but cleaning them is as simple as wiping them down. 

These blinds come in fabric and PVC styles, with PVC being the lowest maintenance. Here’s a quick rundown on how to clean vertical blinds. With fabric vertical blinds, you need to use a vacuum cleaner on occasion to keep them looking their best. PVC vertical blinds, on the other hand, can simply be dusted every few weeks using a feather duster.

Don’t get these confused with vinyl vertical blinds. Vinyl vertical blinds are very easy to clean as well, but can accumulate dust much faster. 

Any Non-Wood Horizontal Blinds

Horizontal blinds made from various materials including faux wood, PVC and metals like aluminium are some of the easiest to clean and maintain. These materials are durable so they won’t get damaged if they get wet. While easy to maintain, these blinds take longer to clean since you’ll have to wipe down or vacuum each individual slat.

Dust each slat using a microfibre cloth or feather duster every few weeks. If you keep the slats tilted slightly, you’ll need to clean them less often as they won’t collect as much dust. If you’ve forgotten to clean your hardy venetian blinds, you may need to start by vacuuming the slats and then follow up by cleaning with a damp cloth to remove grime build-up.

Roller and Roman Shades 

Roman blinds and roller blinds are incredibly easy to maintain. These blinds come in a huge range of fabrics from blackout and waterproof styles to fire-resistant and thermal designs. 

The only reason they’re not ranked easier to clean than horizontal blinds is because of their variety of materials. They can come in durable fabrics or delicate silk. Heavy-duty waterproof roller blinds are the easiest to maintain while delicate silk roller blinds require a bit more effort. 

To clean most roller blinds, simply vacuum using an upholstery brush attachment every few weeks. Alternatively, you can wipe down the fabric using a slightly damp microfibre cloth. For delicate silk roller shades, you may need to remove the fabric and have them dry cleaned, though the experts will know when you have them installed. 

More Difficult: Honeycomb and Cellular Shades

Honeycomb blinds are a popular choice for people who want thermal blinds with noise damping qualities. These blinds feature a cellular construction that creates an insulating layer. They can be used to trap heat in your home when it's cold or to block hot sunlight out when the temperatures are rising. In turn, they can help you save money when it comes to heating and air conditioning bills.

While energy-efficient, these blinds are also easy to clean. They are typically made of hardy, anti-static fabrics that repel dust. That means you won’t have to clean them as often as other fabric blinds. Just vacuum the blinds when you start to see dust collecting on the window shades. The hard part is getting in between the cells, especially if a bug died in them. We recommend keeping a long and thin pole around or compressed air to get out any debris. 

Curtains and Drapes

While not difficult to clean (depending on the material), these are time consuming. You’ll need to vacuum the entire length of the drape with a soft brush attachment or use lint rollers (we recommend reusable ones). For stains, blot clean or dry clean — do not throw them into the washer! 

Silk and velvet are different stories. Have those professionally cleaned when needed. 

Hardest: Real Wood Shutters and Blinds

Real wood blinds and shutters offer a natural aesthetic, but they do require more attention when it’s time to clean them. That’s mainly because wood warps when it gets wet and cracks when it gets too dry. 

That means you can’t just use a wet towel to wipe down these blinds. Instead, you’ll have to either vacuum each slat with a soft brush attachment or use a very slightly damp cloth. Limit the amount of warm water you use for cleaning these blinds and make sure to dry the slats completely as soon as possible. You can also use a gentle wood polish to help. 

Avoid using harsh chemicals! Do not use any old cleaning product to remove tough stains or grime. Limit the use of cleaning products on your wood blinds. When you absolutely have to use a product, select one that is safe for use on the type of wood your blind is made of and use sparingly.

If you have any questions, Budget Blinds of Tempe and Central Phoenix can walk you through exactly how to care for your new window treatments and how to clean them.