If you've got blinds in your home, you'll know how much of a nuisance they can be to clean. Dust and dirt can appear on the slats as if from nowhere, and since cleaning them every day just isn't an option, the mess can build up pretty quickly. 

However, you don't need to invest in any pricey cleaning products to keep your blinds looking their best. According to the experts at House Digest, white vinegar is the only thing you need for clean blinds. Unlike harsh chemicals, white vinegar won't leave any residue or damage your blinds, and it acts as a natural deodoriser as well. 

White vinegar can be used for so many cleaning jobs around the home, from oven glass to shower grout - and according to the pros, it can work wonders for cleaning blinds as well. 

This product has an acidic nature, which means it can help to break down grime and kill mould spores, as well as banishing that musty smell that blinds can sometimes harbour. 

It's also great for getting rid of any dust or oily fingerprints, both on the blinds and on the surrounding glass or windowsill. So if you've got a bottle at home that you want to use, here's exactly how to do it. 

How to clean blinds with vinegar

The way you clean your blinds with vinegar will depend on the type you have. For aluminium or vinyl horizontal blinds, start by closing them completely to expose the top of each slat, as this is where most of the dust will be. 

Dip a clean microfibre cloth into a mixture of one part vinegar to one part warm water, and run it carefully along each slat, turning the cloth frequently to avoid spreading the dust around. 

If your blinds are vertical, these should be fully extended beforehand using a top-to-bottom method with your cloth, paying special attention to the weighted bottoms that gather the most dust.

If you have a fabric roller shade, this will require a bit more attention. Lightly spray the vinegar solution onto a clean cloth and get a second cloth, and run this under the tap, squeezing it out afterwards. 

Use the vinegar cloth to blot out any stains you can see on the blind, then quickly dab it with water to stop any rings from appearing. 

It's not recommended that you use vinegar to clean real wooden blinds, so if you're unsure, test the cleaning solution out on a small area of the blinds before you tackle the whole thing.