BLINDS A few minutes of regular care keeps your window coverings looking new for years. Most blinds and shades need nothing more than light, routine dusting and the occasional gentle spot-clean. This guide covers how to clean every type we build — roller shades, blackout shades, zebra shades, honeycomb shades, sheer horizontals, faux wood blinds, vertical blinds, and motorized shades — plus what to avoid and when to call us.
The same handful of habits protect almost any window covering. Dust regularly so dirt never builds up, clean gently when something needs more than dusting, and skip the harsh chemicals. Treat a spill or mark while it's fresh, let everything dry fully before you raise or lower the shade, and never soak a fabric shade. Get these basics right and most coverings stay looking new without anything more.
Different materials want slightly different care. Find what you have below. When in doubt, start with the gentlest method — dry dusting first, a damp spot-clean only if needed.
Dust roller shades regularly with a soft cloth or a vacuum brush on low suction, working top to bottom. For marks, spot-clean with a damp cloth and a little mild soap, then let the fabric dry fully before rolling it back up. Solar fabrics like Solis 3% from HT Performance Fabrics are durable and easy to keep clean — wipe gently and avoid scrubbing the weave.
Care for blackout shades the same way as roller shades: regular dusting, and a damp cloth with mild soap for spots. Be gentle on the coated, room-darkening backing — wipe lightly rather than scrubbing, and never machine wash. Let the shade dry completely before raising it so the backing isn't creased while damp.
Zebra shades layer sheer and solid bands, so a light touch keeps them clean and aligned. Dust with a soft cloth or low-suction vacuum brush, moving across the bands rather than tugging them. Spot-clean lightly with a barely-damp cloth, and let the fabric air-dry fully before operating the shade so the bands re-align cleanly.
The honeycomb cells trap dust, so dust them often with a vacuum brush on low suction or a hair dryer on a cool, low setting to blow dust out of the cells. For marks, dab gently with a barely-damp cloth and mild soap — do not soak the cells, as water trapped inside is slow to dry and can mark the fabric. Let them dry fully before raising.
Sheer horizontals pair soft fabric vanes with a sheer facing, so handle them gently. Dust with a feather duster or a vacuum brush on the lowest suction, with the vanes open so you don't crush them. Spot-clean lightly with a barely-damp cloth and let the vanes dry fully open before closing the shade.
Faux wood blinds are the easiest to clean and the most moisture-friendly, which is why they're a great fit for kitchens and bathrooms. Dust the slats with a cloth or duster, or wipe them down with a damp cloth and mild soap when they need more. Because the material resists moisture and warping, you can clean them more thoroughly than fabric shades — just dry the slats afterward.
Dust vertical blinds by wiping each vane top to bottom with a soft cloth, or run a vacuum brush down them on low suction. Spot-clean fabric vanes with a barely-damp cloth and mild soap; wipe vinyl vanes down more freely. Steady each vane gently as you clean so you don't stress the carrier at the top of the track.
Motorized shades are clean the same way as their fabric or material type — dust regularly, spot-clean gently. The difference is the electronics. Keep motors, batteries, remotes, and keypads dry, let the shade do the moving on its own, and your HT Smart Shades will run smoothly for years.
A few common shortcuts do more harm than good. Steer clear of these and you'll protect both the look and the working parts of your shades.
Cleaning you can handle. Anything mechanical, we'll take care of. If a shade isn't operating smoothly, a cord or chain needs attention, a motor isn't responding, or a battery won't hold a charge, reach out — that's exactly what the HT Worry-Free Warranty covers. We build everything we install, so the same team that made your shades can service them. Submit a request on our Request Service page with your address and a quick description of what's happening, and we'll sort it out.
Dust roller shades regularly with a soft cloth or a vacuum brush on low suction, working from top to bottom. For marks, spot-clean with a damp cloth and a little mild dish soap, blot rather than scrub, and let the fabric dry fully before rolling the shade back up. Avoid harsh chemicals and machine washing.
No — don't machine wash or soak blackout shades. Clean them with regular dusting and a damp cloth with mild soap for spots, wiping gently so you don't damage the room-darkening backing. Let the shade dry completely before raising it.
Clean motorized blinds the same way as their fabric type — dust regularly and spot-clean gently — while keeping the motor, battery, remote, and keypad dry. Recharge battery motors before they fully drain, and never force a moving shade by hand; use the remote, app, or keypad. For motor or mechanical issues, submit a request on our Request Service page (/request-service).
Light dusting every week or two keeps dust from building up and is enough for most blinds and shades. Honeycomb and sheer shades benefit from more frequent dusting because their structure traps dust. Regular, gentle dusting is the single best thing you can do to extend the life of your window coverings.
Dust honeycomb shades often with a vacuum brush on low suction, or use a hair dryer on a cool, low setting to blow dust out of the cells. For marks, dab gently with a barely-damp cloth and mild soap — don't soak the cells, since trapped water is slow to dry. Let them dry fully before raising.
Faux wood blinds are moisture-friendly and the easiest to clean, which makes them ideal for kitchens and bathrooms. Dust the slats with a cloth or duster, or wipe them with a damp cloth and mild soap when they need more, then dry the slats afterward. They handle more thorough cleaning than fabric shades.
Avoid bleach, ammonia, solvents, and abrasive scrubbing — they fade fabric, strip finishes, and weaken components. Don't machine wash or dry clean fabric shades, don't soak honeycomb cells, and don't operate a shade until it's fully dry after cleaning.
If your current coverings are past a clean-up, we build custom blinds and shades locally and install them with our own crew across Metro Vancouver. Tell us your windows and what you need, and we'll send a quote.
Faster quote: include your window count, sizes, and whether you need solar, light-filtering, or blackout.