How To Clean Blinds & Shades

SmartWings motorized shades have attracted many homeowners with their convenience and ease of use. However, for those new to motorized window coverings, cleaning blinds can seem like a daunting task. In this post, we’ll share some helpful cleaning tips to ensure that different types of shades—such as roller shades, cellular shades, woven wood shades, and more—remain in excellent condition and continue to operate smoothly for years to come.

Woman cleaning roller blinds with vacuum cleaner.

In This Article

Daily Maintenance Instructions

What You'll Need

Cleaning Tips for Universal

Cleaning Various Motorized Blinds and Shades

Conclusion

Recommended Frequency for Cleaning Window Shades

Fabric-based Shades: Including Roller shades, Zebra shades, Cellular shades, Outdoor shades, Dual shades, Roman shades, Drapery. Dusting should be done at least once a month, and a deeper clean is recommended twice per year.

Woven Wood Shades: To maintain a clean and dust-free environment, vacuum weekly to prevent the build-up of dust and dirt. Additionally, they should be deep cleaned every two months to remove accumulated debris.

TIP 1: In rooms prone to grease, such as kitchens, or bathrooms where products like hairspray are used, plan for seasonal deep cleans.

TIP 2: If your shades are in high-traffic areas, such as the living room, or if you have pets that frequently spend time in certain areas, you may want to clean them once a month to prevent the accumulation of grease, grime, and pet hair.

TIP 3: A good habit to form is to clean your shades every one to two weeks to prevent dust build-up. You can incorporate this into your regular dusting routine. Be sure to dust the shades before vacuuming or sweeping to avoid simply spreading dust around your home.

Daily Maintenance Instructions

Always fully raise the curtains when opening the windows.
Avoid using in harsh environments, such as areas with steam, high temperatures, humidity, excessive dust, or oil vapors.
When cleaning windows and glass, fully raise the curtains to prevent cleaning agents from splashing onto the fabric.
Avoid placing items like flower pots, books, or boxes directly under the shades to prevent these objects from obstructing the normal operation of the shades.
Prevent pets from scratching the blinds, as this can cause fabric to fray, snag, or get damaged.
Avoid sharp objects that could scratch or puncture the fabric.
In bad weather, fully raise outdoor curtains and cease use.

What You'll Need

Tools selection based on motorized shade type:

Vacuum with hose and upholstery brush
Blinds duster
Rubber sponge
Lambswool dust cloth
Small bowls
Towels (optional)

Materials:

Dishwashing liquid
Baking soda (optional)

Cleaning Tips for Universal

You may be wondering how to clean fabric blinds. Here are some general cleaning guidelines that apply to all types of motorized window coverings. They consist of:

Vacuuming

Gently dust the shades with a feather duster or household dusting brush. For a more thorough clean, use a handheld vacuum on its lowest suction setting with a soft nozzle to avoid damaging the fabric with a hard nozzle.

Lamb's Wool

For light stains, use a lambswool dust cloth soaked in lukewarm water with mild detergent. Wring it out, gently clean the stain, and use a soft cloth behind the fabric if needed. Afterward, lower and open the motorized window curtains to air dry.

Rubber Sponge

You can use a rubber sponge to clean the dust and filth from the blinds. You don't need to worry about breaking the motorized components of your window coverings because this procedure doesn't involve water.

Cleaning Various Motorized Blinds and Shades

Regular dusting, gentle vacuuming, and the correct way to clean blinds can help preserve the integrity and extend the lifespan of your window treatments. The following cleaning methods are recommended for different types of shades:

Note: For all SmartWings motorized shades, avoid using static devices for cleaning or dusting to prevent damage to the motor.

Motorized Roller Shades

You can use a moist rag and a very light, moderate detergent or soap to clean motorized roller shades. Avoid using too much water and only dab at the places, as this could harm the motorized components.

Use a duster or a brush vacuum attachment for thorough cleaning.

TIP: For shades with heavy dust buildup that are difficult to clean with a duster or vacuum, use an air compressor or a hairdryer (set to the cool air setting) to blow away dust or small insects from the fabric.

Motorized Cellular Shades

To keep their shape, motorized cellular shades need to be cleaned with extra care.

Use a gentle brush attachment on a vacuum for general dusting.

Use only the cold air setting and the lowest air setting.

The use of water should be avoided as it could harm the structure of the shade.

Learn more: How to Clean Cellular Shades.

Motorized Zebra Shades

Use a duster or a brush vacuum attachment for thorough cleaning.

Motorized Woven Wood Shades

Given the large variety of textures and materials, cleaning motorized woven wood shades can be challenging.

Use a vacuum brush attachment to get rid of dust from woven fabric's crevices.

Take care not to tug or snag the fabric.

TIP: To prevent warping, fading, and sticky build-up, avoid getting woven wood shades too wet and refrain from using wood spray cleaner, which can attract dust.

Motorized Outdoor Shades

You can use a moist rag and a very light, moderate detergent or soap to clean motorized outdoor shades.

Use a duster or a brush vacuum attachment for thorough cleaning.

Rinse the fabric gently using a low, evenly pressured stream, being careful to avoid the top valance. Allow the fabric to air dry naturally.

TIP: Before starting this process, it's a good idea to check the weather forecast for any chance of rain!

Motorized Dual Shades

You can use a moist rag and a very light, moderate detergent or soap to clean motorized cellular shades. Avoid using too much water and only dab at the places, as this could harm the motorized components.

Use a duster or a brush vacuum attachment for thorough cleaning.

Motorized Roman Shades

You can use a moist rag and a very light, moderate detergent or soap to clean motorized roman shades. Avoid using too much water and only dab at the places, as this could harm the motorized components.

Use a duster or a brush vacuum attachment for thorough cleaning.

Motorized Drapery

Using a large-capacity home washing machine to wash the motorized drapery sheer or fabric with room-temperature water and a mild, neutral detergent. Use the "wool" setting (40-60°C) for both washing and drying.

Conclusion

It can be difficult to keep your motorized blinds and shades clean, but with the correct equipment and methods, it is possible. Always exercise caution when washing various window coverings to prevent damage. And if you ever need advice on how to clean a certain set of motorized blinds or shades, don't be afraid to contact the maker. With a little bit of effort, your motorized blinds and shades can look as good as new.

How To Clean Blinds & Shades