• Vertical blinds are traditionally seen covering large windows or sliding glass doors---large areas where traditional horizontal blinds would be cumbersome. Most vertical blinds can also be pulled back with a string, which makes them ideal for doorways. Vertical blinds come in plastic, wood and fabric. Cleaning vertical blinds of any material is actually very simple, and there are several practical and inexpensive cleaners.
  
  

Vacuums

• Vacuuming daily or a few times a week is the easiest way to keep vertical blinds dust-free and looking like new. Always vacuum with the brush attachment, making sure to vacuum both sides of the blinds. Start at the top of the blinds and work your way down. This is the best way to prevent the blinds from unhooking or getting damaged.
  
  

Dusters

• If you do not have a vacuum brush attachment, or if you do not vacuum that often, it is still possible to dust the blinds to eliminate most surface dirt. The key to dusting vertical blinds is to dust them often, so that the dirt doesn't have time to settle on the blinds and stick to the surface. Use a dusting cloth or duster that does not place the dust back into the air. Ostrich feathers work well for this, as do many synthetic dusters that trap the dust in the fibers of the cloth. As with vacuuming, start at the top of the blinds and word down.
  
  

Rubber Dry Sponge

• A rubber dry sponge, purchased from hardware or paint stores, is a very easy way to clean both vinyl- and fabric-coated vertical blinds. The rubber sponge can even remove dust that is stuck to the surface of the blinds due to build-up. Rub the rubber sponge back and forth over the surface of the blinds to remove all dust. Follow the sponge application by vacuuming to remove any dust residue from the blinds.
  
  

Other Cleaners

• Sometimes dust may become stuck on the blinds so tightly that it is impossible to remove with dry cleaning methods. Other contaminants, such as fingerprints and food particles, may also get caught in the blinds. A spray with an all-purpose cleaner on both sides of the blinds is enough to loosen most dirt from vertical blinds. Allow the spray to sit for about one minute, then wipe the surface clean with a rag or paper towel.