Cleaning Venetian blinds

Throw it away and buy a new one?

Try two cups of glass cleaner with an extra shot of household ammonia and a tsp. of dish detergent (very effective grease cutter). You'll need rubber gloves, plastic bowls and several old dishrags and towels.

Fill a small bowl with the solution. Close the blinds in one direction and swish down and across the entire surface with the brush, wiping down with a clean, damp dishrag. Rinse in sink, wring and replace dishrags as needed. Close in the other direction and do the same. Dry each slat individually with a clean cloth or use a hand held hair drier.

Repeat if need be until your kitchen blinds sparkle or whatever it is they do when they're happy

They cost a bloody fortune so I’m not throwing them away. They look great, most of the time. I’ll try all the tips until something works then I’ll go and lie down in a darkened room with a bottle of something alcoholic . Thank you.

NanaVal1946, that was my reaction, but thought I'd be told off for being a spendthrift

We've only just bought some new wooden Venetian blinds for our bedroom to replace dingy old net curtains. I'm told by a neighbour what knows these things that they're easy to clean. . . . . . Shall remember sock trick and there, at least, won't be any grease!

DH bought ours and moans they are dirty. I cannot reach to clean them easily so mainly Dyson them and use a wet wipe half way up. Our ceiling is twice as tall as me.

We have Venetian blinds in the kitchen bathroom and two bedrooms. I have tried putting them in the bath but found it quite a lot of trouble and didn't get them clean. Tried one of the gadgets that is supposed to clean the blinds - more trouble than it's worth.

Best solution I have found is similar to the old sock method but I bought microfibres gloves from amazon I think. Brilliant! Dunk hand in bucket of soapy water, squeeze fingers together to get rid of excess water, use one hand to hold the slat and the other to wipe each one individually. Best method I've found so far. Gloves go in the washing machine after and come out nice and clean. They are also very useful for dusting difficult shape objects.

Wet wipes are really good and Mr Sheen also do some good wipes that repel the dust for a little while.

I have always believed that venetian blinds were invented by someone who had too many unmarried daughters living at home in the days before girls went out to work and needed something to keep them occupied.

The only really good solution is to get rid of the blinds and put up washable curtains, or none, as curtains in the kitchen are after all a potential fire hazard.

One of the cables has broken on one of ours. (We have 5 in our kitchen/utility room/loo) Hillary's don't want to know so now we're stuck. Any ideas? I'm 83 so it's a bit difficult getting up there.

"I have always believed that venetian blinds were invented by someone who had too many unmarried daughters"

And I thought they were invented by Venetians!

They are nicknamed a thousand shelves for a reason ? bloody dust collectors. Feather duster is always a good one .

I use vi

I use vinegar to clean venetian blinds.Simply fill a small bowl with a mixture of one part vinegar and one part water, and then use a clean sock cloth to dip in the bowl. Turn the blinds one way and wipe them while holding the bottom rail, then turn them the other way and clean the other side.

If you think you have problems I have louvre doors between my living room and dining room. Talk about dust collectors! This time of year when the sun shines on them.......Oh! .........I usually wrap a cloth round my fingers.........put the radio on ..........and go up and down each louvre. It usually takes a couple of goes but at least they aren't greasy!!