Cleaning Pleated Blinds: Good to Know a Few Tricks

Cleaning Pleated Blinds Made Easy: Best Methods

Pleated blinds should last as long as possible—ideally for many years. To achieve this, they need to be kept in good technical and aesthetic condition. Is maintaining pleated blinds difficult? What should you pay attention to?
Cleaning pleated blinds is essentially as simple as installing them. However, there are a few rules that must be followed to ensure that window blinds last a long time. If these are followed, you can enjoy privacy protection or partial room darkening for an extended period.

When Should Pleated Blinds Be Cleaned?

They should be cleaned from time to time, but overly frequent cleaning is not advisable either. In general, it’s worth taking action when you notice that the fabric is dirty. Contaminants can come from dust, grease (especially if the blind is installed in the kitchen), splashes, or other factors—depending on the location of the blind and the type of dirt. In the living room, it’s usually just dust since the blind isn't exposed to moisture or other dirt.

In a children's room, pleated blinds are more likely to get dirty—kids might try to draw on them with colorful markers, paints, or touch them with dirty hands. In such cases, cleaning becomes necessary. The same goes for kitchens—cooking generates steam regularly, which may contain moisture, grease, and other contaminants that settle on the blind’s surface.

It's worth regularly checking the condition of the fabric and acting only when necessary. The blind should be kept in good visual condition—that's usually enough to ensure its longevity.

Can Pleated Blinds Be Cleaned?

Yes, that’s a good question to ask right from the start. You might think that pleated blinds aren't meant to be cleaned and that they must be replaced when dirty. Since they're relatively inexpensive, that might not seem like a big deal. Fortunately, in most cases, that’s unnecessary—the good news is that pleated blinds can be effectively cleaned. Often, they look like new afterward!

So don’t be fooled—before someone tells you to throw away a dirty blind, it’s worth trying to clean it. In the rest of this article, we’ll explain how to do it.

Light Dirt and Dust

Unfortunately, dust mites are unavoidable in any home. For most people, they’re not a big issue, but allergy sufferers know how troublesome they can be. In the case of severe allergies, the living space should be kept as dust-free as possible to avoid runny noses, sneezing, or even nosebleeds. But don’t worry—pleated blinds aren’t something allergy sufferers need to completely avoid.

Dust removal from pleated blinds works similarly to furniture cleaning. We recommend dry cleaning—in most cases, a damp cloth isn’t necessary, and excess moisture can damage the fabric.

Dry Cleaning to Remove Dust

There are several dry-cleaning methods. The simplest is to use a dry cloth. If the fabric isn’t heavily soiled, usually a few wipes with a dry cloth are enough to restore the pleated blind’s original appearance. This can be done as often as needed—dry cleaning won’t damage the pleated surface, as long as the fabric is gently wiped and not scrubbed. When basic caution is observed, this method is completely safe for the material.

If you’re worried that using a regular cloth might apply too much pressure to the pleated surface, there are special products on the market that attract dust “like a magnet” without the need to press against the fabric. These products can also be used to clean pleated blinds. They’re not only safer for the fabric but usually more effective than traditional cloths, as they collect dust mites more efficiently.

Cleaning Pleated Blinds with a Vacuum Cleaner?

This idea might sound unusual, but it can be very effective if you take a few precautions. First of all, never use a vacuum cleaner on an unfolded pleated blind—even on the lowest setting, there's a high risk of damage.

The blind should be fully folded so the fabric forms a compact surface. Then set the vacuum to the lowest power setting and use a soft brush attachment to protect the fabric. In most cases, the results are quick and satisfying, especially if the blind has collected a significant amount of dust.

What If Dry Wiping Isn’t Enough?

Dry cleaning works great for dust, but it might not be sufficient for other types of dirt. A layer of grease on a kitchen pleated blind is almost impossible to remove with a dry cloth. If you want to keep the blind in good condition, wet cleaning will be necessary. So how do you remove dirt effectively without damaging the material?

How to Perform Wet Cleaning?

For light stains that can’t be removed with dry cleaning, a damp cloth is a good solution. However, before wiping with a damp cloth, first remove the dust from the pleated surface. This will make dirt removal easier—wiping a dusty surface with a damp cloth is ineffective. Moist dust turns into clumps that stick to the fabric and are hard to remove. So first remove the dust—it will save you trouble later. How to do that has already been described above.

Choosing Detergents and Cloths

You can use a mild cleaning agent—ideally prepare a bowl with lukewarm water and a small amount of detergent, such as degreasing dish soap. The water should be lukewarm, never hot, as high temperatures can damage the fabric. Cold water is less effective and less comfortable to work with. Lukewarm water boosts detergent performance—after all, we also wash dishes in warm water. Still, use moderation and avoid excessively high temperatures.

Also, pay attention to the quality of the cloth. It should be soft to protect the material and should not leave lint behind. Removing dirt won’t help much if fibers remain on the fabric. A soft cloth minimizes friction and makes cleaning easier without damaging the fabric.

No Need to Remove—But Be Careful!

Wet cleaning can be done without removing the pleated blind from the window. Just make sure you have clear access to the window and the entire blind. This way, you’ll avoid the risk of damaging the blind through unintentional movement. Of course, you can take the blind down if you wish, but it’s not necessary. Due to how pleated blinds are mounted, removal is not even recommended.

Even if you’re using a damp, soft, lint-free cloth, be cautious! Don’t apply too much pressure and avoid vigorous scrubbing. Excessive friction may remove the dirt but can also damage the fabric. If a hole appears, the only solution will be to replace the blind, and the old pleated blind will unfortunately have to be discarded or recycled. Also, don’t soak the fabric—it could alter its properties.

Caution with Thermal Insulation Fabrics!

Be especially careful if the pleated blind is made of thermal insulation fabric. The silver foil layer should not come into contact with moisture. Only the surface without the silver coating can be gently wiped.

What About Heavier Soiling?

In some cases, pleated blinds can be hand washed. Machine washing is not recommended, as it can damage both the fabric and the plastic components of the blind. So how do you wash pleated blinds safely?

Washing is a solution for more serious stains. If the stains are small and not too stubborn, first try removing them with a soft, damp cloth. Only if this method fails should you consider hand washing. However, remember there’s no guarantee the blind will look like new after washing.

How to Wash Them?

The first step, just like in wet cleaning, is to remove dust using a dry cloth or a dust magnet. This prevents dust from accumulating in the water during washing. You can do this before removing the blind from the window.

It’s best to wash the blind in a bathtub. Prepare cool water (no warmer than 30°C) with a gentle detergent, such as fabric wash for delicates. Submerge the blind in water and wash gently. Then rinse it to remove any detergent residue. After washing, gently squeeze out excess water, fold the blind, and leave it to dry in the closed position. If it dries unfolded, it may deform and become unusable.

While drying, it's worth occasionally opening and closing the blind. This prevents the fabric layers from sticking together. Once dried, separating them might be impossible.

Important Washing Restrictions

When washing pleated blinds, take special care and follow several important rules. Above all, this cleaning method is not suitable for thermal insulation blinds or honeycomb (cellular) pleated blinds. Moisture can permanently damage the silver coating.

Water Temperature

Water that’s too warm can damage any fabric used in blind manufacturing. As mentioned earlier, water should be cool or lukewarm (maximum 30°C). Higher temperatures weaken the fibers and may deform the fabric.

Absolutely Avoid Ironing

Ironing pleated blinds is a very bad idea. High iron temperatures can destroy the material, and the pleats may lose their distinctive shape and structure. They could become "flattened," losing their aesthetic and functional qualities.

Drying Time

Drying pleated blinds after washing requires patience. It usually takes more than 12 hours and cannot be rushed. The fabric must dry naturally to maintain its properties and appearance. Speeding up the process may lead to fabric deformation.