Cleaning blinds: check safe access and material first
Clean blinds only from a safe position. Indoor blinds, exterior slats and shutters need different care; leave mechanisms and unreachable areas alone.
Swiss apartments typically have external aluminium slatted blinds, plastic or aluminium roller shutters, and internal blinds made of metal, wood or plastic. Each material tolerates water, cleaners and pressure differently. Wood, for example, can swell, while coated aluminium can scratch.
If available, check the manufacturer's notes or ask the property management what care is recommended. Test every new method on a small spot. Many blinds belong to the building, so caution pays off.
| Situation | Appropriate action |
|---|---|
| Indoor blind | Follow metal/plastic instructions for dry or lightly damp care; keep wood mostly dry. |
| Exterior slat | Only if safely reachable from inside without leaning out; leave the rest to specialists. |
| Roller shutter | Wipe accessible profiles, dry-dust tracks; do not open the box or drive. |
Further reading
Safety at the window comes first
External blinds can usually only be reached through the open window. Never lean out, do not climb onto window sills, chairs or ladders at an open window, and only clean what you can reach comfortably from a secure position. Anything out of reach is better left uncleaned or is a job for professionals.
Lower the blinds so that the slats you want to clean are at arm and chest height. With electric blinds, do not operate the controls while your hand is on the slats. Do not clean in wind or rain.
- Never lean out
- Do not climb on furniture at an open window
- Only clean from a secure position
- Do not operate controls while cleaning
Further reading
Dust dry
For light dust, dry cleaning is enough. Close the slats so that they form a surface and wipe from top to bottom with a soft duster, a dry microfibre cloth or a multi-finger blind cleaner. Then turn the slats the other way and repeat.
A vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment also works for internal blinds. Work without pressure so that slats do not bend or jump out of their guides.
Slightly damp for heavier dirt
For sticky dust or pollen, use a well-wrung cloth with warm water and a little mild washing-up liquid. Wipe each slat individually, holding it lightly with your other hand, then dry it with a clean cloth. This leaves no water spots and no water in the guides.
Clean wooden slats only dry or at most barely damp. Avoid abrasives, solvents and pressure washers on all materials. Do not mix cleaners.
Roller shutters and guide rails
For roller shutters, wipe the lowered profiles from outside where safely reachable, and from inside with a damp cloth. Clear leaves and dust from the side guide rails with a dry brush or the vacuum cleaner. Oiling, greasing or adjusting the rails is not part of cleaning.
Do not open shutter boxes, remove covers or touch straps, cranks or motors. If a shutter jams, a slat hangs crooked or a strap is frayed, report it to the property management or a blinds company.
- Dust the rails dry
- Do not oil or adjust anything
- Leave boxes and covers closed
- Report defects
Routine and limits
A dry clean a few times a year, for example in spring after the pollen season and in autumn, is enough for most blinds. Internal blinds can be dusted more often, for instance during the weekly clean.
With PUTZIO you can book regular apartment cleaning in the supported municipalities around Zurich and Rapperswil-Jona for CHF 40 per hour. Internal blinds and those reachable from a secure position can be dusted as part of normal cleaning. PUTZIO does not offer work with a risk of falling, facade or exterior work, or mechanism repairs.
Further reading