Washing Venetian Blinds?

[eponymous]

Not sure if this is the right forum, but...

Does anyone have a good method/tips for washing venetian blinds? Growing up, I'm pretty sure that they never got washed, but ours are starting to look kind of icky... and feel kind of sticky... :o

[Zelda Von Yitz]

The best way to do it is to fill up the tub with hot water and add some ammonia -- what else worked pretty well was dishwashing detergent.

Let them soak in there and then hang them out to dry -- I take mine outside and put them on the clothesline. Then I hose them down again.

If you have access to a yard, a cheapie inflatable kiddie pool is good for the water, too. You can soak the blinds right in there.

[Pineknot]

Kit,

I take mine down (raise them to the open position, lock them, and then take them down) and hang them outside. I have about three nails hammered under my eaves and I suspend thin ropes from them, tying them around the top header of the blinds. They then just hang, close to my wall so I can scrub them as they lean against my outside wall of the house. Of course, I release them, letting them hang down so that I can scrub every slat. I use my sheepskin mitt that I have for washing my car. I just use dishwashing soap, keeping the 409 close by for problem areas.
I let them hang dry afterwards.

Before you go to the trouble, make sure you check for a company in your area that does them. I often times find ads in the weekly circulars that come in the mail for people that charge 10.00 a blind, all sizes included. They also come to you. Once you try to wash these things yourself, 10.00 is a BARGAIN! :o

[Jessica]

I also throw them in the bathtub, but with OxyClean. It works like a charm and is sooo easy.