Home How to Care For Wooden Blinds Wooden blinds can be a more expensive style of window dressing to most other alternatives like curtains and fabric blinds. However, if cared for properly they will last far longer than any of the alternatives. This makes wooden blinds cheap in the long run and the most cost effective blind to purchase. If you’re interested in learning about how to keep wooden blinds clean, the following guide will help: What NOT to use – Soap and water: It is a common misconception that soap and water can be used as a regular cleaning solution for wooden blinds. Soap and water are perfect for removing stubborn dirt and stains - but to cure blinds of general dirt and dust is likely to cause more damage than good. How do they become damaged? The soap can remove the coating on wooden blinds, dulling the look. If the coating is removed or scratched, water will be absorbed into the blinds warping them. Water-based floor cleaner: These types of floor cleaners are designed to give a temporary shine to a surface, and will look great for a short period of time. Unfortunately, floor cleaners tend to be rather aggressive at removing dirt, resulting in the removal of varnishes, waxes and coatings – dulling the wood. What you SHOULD use – Dusters: Whether it is a feather duster, a fabric duster or a man-made fibre duster, this is the safest way to remove dust and atmospheric particles. They are extremely unlikely to damage the surface of the blind. Vacuuming: This should come second to dusting, always. Vacuuming has the potential to scratch the surface – leaving it exposed to moisture. Despite this, using the right attachments can result in a finer clean than using a conventional duster. Furniture oil and polish: The simplest solution is a supermarket bought furniture polish - creating a short term shine without the damage. The best solution to keep the wood natural shine is to invest in a quality wood oil, wax or wood polish. Although they’re likely to cost more than store bought furniture polish, they’ll keep wooden blinds in good condition for longer. Article Author: This post has been written on behalf of Direct Blinds for Turning Tools. If you’re interested in bringing a natural and earthy material into your home then consider wooden blinds from Direct Blinds.