mini blind cleaning question

[mom-from-missouri]

My mini blinds in the kitchen are dirty. I have vacummed them on a regular basis, but they still are dirty. I supposed they show dirt easier because they are hunter green. Anyhow, I have tried to clean them with pineoil, vinegar, dishsoap, and lysol foaming stuff. They still have dirt on them. I have even taken them down and scrubbed with a brush. Each time more comes off, but not all of it. I have also put them in the tub-no luck. To replace the blinds, it would be over $100 based on their size. My house is listed it the blinds, so I can't just remove them. Does anyone have an idea how to get them clean? The dirt is a greyish color--I think it is probably ash/soot from the kitchen fireplace. Really shows up on hunter green.

[lunchlady]

Maybe the Mr. Clean Eraser would work? I've found that they clean things that I thought were impossible.
~Chris

[thriftymom]

I have two ideas... usually for tough to clean stuff in the kitchen, I use a strong degreaser. I mix Castrol Superclean with water 50/50 and it cleans the stove really well. If you don't have that, Fantastic might work, but the Castrol stuff is stronger. I would just test a small spot first, to make sure it doesn't take the color off. Hope this helps!

[CheaplyClever]

I don't know if this suggestion is too late....

Put the blinds back in the bathtub and fill it with HOT water and lots of Cascade automatic dishwasher soap. Let them soak for a long time. Wipe the blinds down with a washcloth and then rinse well.

Good luck.

[BignRichfan]

I hate blinds! 11 windows in my house have them and they are an off white color and they are all filthy. My house is 102 years old and my windows are really long so my dad(my lanlord) ) thought blinds where the way to go. I havent cleaned them in 5 years. They are a pain in the butt to get down and put up plus they are impossible to get clean. I do dust them once in awhile. My advice never invest in blinds. Curtains aew easier to wash.

[zinsrose]

use hot water and Mr. clean cleaner, or soak it with lysol..

[flash]

These products are by Orange-Sol, and should be available at Wal-Mart or online at orange-sol.com. Non-toxic, and they are the only thing I've found to really work on blinds and ceiling fans.


Blind-Brite® Pretreated Cleaning Wipes

Blind-Brite® Ceiling Fan & Blind Cleaner - 24.2 Fl. Oz. with Blind-Brite® Patented Cleaning Tool

The best clean-anything I've found (and DH is a chemist) is:

De-Solv-it® CITRUS SOLUTION™ (12.6 Fl Oz.)
US$ 5.98 from orange-sol



"Our most popular De-Solv-it product for over 25 years! Rated #1 by GOOD HOUSEKEEPING on kid-related stains! • The #1 Brand to Clean Boats, Equipment, and Workers at The Alaskan Oil Spill. • Written up as safe on skin by American Journal of Surgery! The ORIGINAL, and Leader, for over 25 years! EXCELLENT FOR REMOVING GREASY, GRIMY, STICKY, OILY, GOOEY, WAXY PROBLEMS FROM A VARIETY OF SURFACES INCLUDING SKIN.REMOVES FRESH BLOOD, CRAYON, LIPSTICK, OIL, TAR, OILY COSMETICS, OIL-BASED PAINTS & STAINS, AND MORE! Non-Toxic, 100% Organic, Biodegradable, Safe AND Effective! 12.6 Fl. Oz./375 ML Trigger SATISFACTION GUARANTEED. "

Dip one hand into a bucket of warm, soapy water and hold the blinds between your two hands. Rub back and forth until you've cleaned the whole surface. Reverse sides so that the dry sock dries the blinds. Wipe the mini-blinds with damp fabric softener sheets to eliminate dust-collecting static. (The same trick works for your TV screen.) - use...

[CheaplyClever]

I've thought about your mini-blinds over the past few weeks. I must not have anything better to do! I was looking at some inexpensive roll down shades at Wal Mart and thought that would be a good solution. If you ever get the green mini blinds clean, wrap them up and put them in storage. Then put the shades in the window. When you do move, you can put the clean blinds back up!

[mom-from-missouri]

someone told me there is a company that you can take your blinds too, and they soak them clean in ozone tanks....never heard of that one-has anyone else????