• Proper cleaning keeps vinyl blinds at their best.venetian blind. image by guiney from Fotolia.com
  
  Vinyl blinds provide a versatile, easy-to-care-for window covering alternative. Available in nearly any color desired with slats in a variety of thicknesses, the blinds can be strictly utilitarian or an attractive part of the room's décor. Proper cleaning and maintenance ensures the blinds remain at their best and don't become dingy.
  
  

Dusting

• Weekly dusting prevents hard-to-remove dirt buildup on the blinds. Special dusters for horizontal blinds feature three to five fabric-covered fingers. The fingers fit between the slats and dust both the top and bottom of the slats as you draw the duster down the length of the blind. A vacuum with a soft brush attachment also quickly removes most dust from the slats. Alternately, use a microfiber dusting glove. Run your fingers through the slats, allowing the glove to attract the dust. Wipe down the slats with a dryer sheet to get rid of any static electricity on the blinds that attracts dust.
  
  

Washing

• Vinyl blinds require deeper cleaning at least once a year, and more often if they are near open windows or other areas that attract dirt. Wash blinds with lukewarm water and mild dish soap. Hot water warps the vinyl, and solvent or bleach cleaners eat into the slats. Wipe down each individual slat with a cloth moistened in the soapy water, then wipe the slat dry so it doesn't streak. Alternately, remove the blinds and dip them in a bathtub full of soapy water to quickly clean them.
  
  

Grease and Stain Removal

• Stains and grease may happen most often on kitchen blinds, but they can occur anywhere. Combine a teaspoon of baking soda with a ½ cup of water and scrub the area gently with the solution. Baking soda is a mild abrasive that usually doesn't scratch vinyl, but helps remove grease and stains. The soda also has whitening properties that help fade stains. For heavy grease buildup, dilute one part vinegar in one part water. Wipe the slats with the vinegar solution then immediately wipe with clear water. The vinegar removes the grease without damaging the vinyl.