Vertical and roller blinds are cleaned by dusting regularly and wiping with a barely-damp cloth, with the method depending on the material: PVC and vinyl wipe clean easily, while fabric vanes and fabric rollers need minimal moisture and careful spot-cleaning to avoid water marks. Whatever the type, keep the roller mechanism and the headrail dry, and never soak a fabric blind. Most cleaning is light maintenance; a deep clean of fabric blinds is best done professionally.
Vertical blinds
- Dust the vanes by closing them flat and wiping each one top to bottom with a microfibre cloth or a vacuum brush attachment.
- PVC or vinyl vanes wipe clean with a damp cloth and a little mild detergent, then dry.
- Fabric vanes need care: dust them, and spot-clean marks with a barely-damp cloth after testing a hidden area. Some fabric vanes unhook for flat cleaning, but check before removing them, and never soak them, fabric vanes shrink and water-mark.
- Keep the headrail and carrier mechanism dry, wiping only the vanes.
Roller blinds
- Roll the blind fully down to expose the whole surface, and dust it with a cloth or vacuum brush.
- Wipe PVC and vinyl rollers with a damp cloth and mild detergent, then dry. These are the easiest of all to clean.
- Fabric and blockout rollers need minimal moisture: spot-clean marks gently and let them dry fully before rolling up, so no damp is rolled away inside.
- Do not wet the roller tube or the spring mechanism at the top.
The rule that protects fabric blinds
The most common mistake is soaking a fabric blind. Water on fabric carries dissolved soil to the edge of the wet patch and dries as a ring, and it can shrink and distort the fabric. Use the least moisture possible, dab rather than rub, and let the blind dry completely before rolling or closing it. PVC and aluminium blinds are far more forgiving, it is fabric that needs the caution.
Common questions
How do you clean roller blinds?
Roll the blind down, dust the whole surface, then wipe a PVC or vinyl roller with a damp cloth and mild detergent. For fabric or blockout rollers, spot-clean marks with minimal moisture and let the blind dry fully before rolling it up, and keep the roller tube and mechanism dry.
Can you wash vertical blind vanes?
PVC vanes can be wiped clean and some lift off for cleaning, but fabric vanes should not be soaked, they shrink and water-mark. Dust fabric vanes and spot-clean marks gently after testing a hidden area. Always keep the headrail and carrier mechanism dry.
How do you clean blinds without damaging them?
Dust regularly, match the moisture to the material, damp cloth for PVC and vinyl, minimal moisture for fabric, keep the mechanism dry, and let anything you dampen dry fully before closing or rolling the blind. For a deeper clean of fabric blinds, professional cleaning avoids the water-marking risk.
For a professional clean of vertical, roller or fabric blinds, request a quote or see our blind cleaning page. See also cleaning fabric and Roman blinds.