Keep it clean

LITTLE ROCK — Cleaning mini-blinds

Most of us have at least one set of mini-blinds in our home to help keep out hot sun. They also can offer privacy.

"Since these window coverings are usually in front of open windows or above heating and air ducts, they can become very dirty," writes Katy Lindamood, a contributing writer for the Web site ehow.com. "Cleaning your mini-blinds can be done quickly and the more often you do it the less time it will take." She rates it as an easy project.

Here's what you'll need:

A ladder or step stool.

Bathtub with enough hot water to cover the blinds.

Laundry or dish detergent.

Small sponge.

Small scrub brush.

Towels.

And here's what you do:

Remove the blinds from the window by sliding the retaining pieces out of the brackets. You'll usually need a ladder or step stool to reach the retaining pieces.

Fill your bath with hot water and enough detergent to make some bubbles. You want enough water to cover the blinds by at least an inch or two.

Open the blinds so that the individual sections are completely flat and you can see through them. This will allow you to get between each row.

Extend the blinds to their fulllength to get as much dirt out as possible.

Place the entire mini-blind into the water in the bathtub and let it soak until the water becomes luke warm. Just this soaking will remove some of the dirt and make it easier to remove the rest.

Clean each section of the miniblind using the scrub brush and the sponge. Be sure to clean the top and bottom of each section.

Drain water from the bath and use a shower attachment to remove any excess dirt and soap from the mini-blind and tub. If you don't have a shower attachment, try to shake off as much water as you can before removing the blind from the tub.

Lay several towels out on the floor so that you can lay out the full length of the mini-blind. Dry several hours before rehanging.

Some additional tips:

During the cleaning process, try to avoid getting the string knotted and wrapped around the individual sections or slats. Folding the strings together, then securing the bundle with a rubber band, will keep the string together.

While the blinds are drying on the towels, make sure all the slats are turned the same way and are not stuck together.

Get a duster designed specifically for mini-blinds for regular cleaning. You also can spray them with a cleaner and wipe them off occasionally.