How to Clean Faux Wood Blinds That Have Yellowed

Not having up to the mark furnishings at home is a terrible feeling. Especially, if it’s because they deteriorated as they aged. Such a case is with faux wood blinds that have yellowed over time.

You can’t refurbish your windows with new blinds every time that happens. So, how to clean faux wood blinds that yellowed?

Firstly, you need to find out the reason they have turned yellow. The first reason could be the accumulation of grime and grease. You need to wash the blinds with a degreaser in this case. However, it could be a difficult or irredeemable case if it’s because of UV damage. But, you can try a bleach bath and see how it turns out.

Not very detailed, is it? If you’re prepared to invest some time in this, then let’s get the details-

Why Do Faux Wood Blinds Turn Yellow?

You might’ve bought the best of the best blinds for rooms in your house. Sadly, all of them will deteriorate over time if not maintained properly. Yellowed blinds are examples of this. The most probable reason behind yellowed faux wood blinds that we white is dirt.

It might seem like just lightly dusting them once a few weeks is enough. However, that’s not the case at all! Especially for blinds near the kitchen area where the air is humid and greasy. So, if you see your white faux wood blinds turn yellow, it’s probably grime.

The second reason could be damage dealt on the blinds due to UV exposure. The blinds are there to protect us from the sun. But they need protection too! Which is regular cleaning. Failing to do so will cause them to turn yellow over the course of time. Especially if it’s paired with indoor pollution.

How to Clean Faux Wood Blinds That Have Yellowed

How to Whiten Yellowed Faux Wood Blinds?

Now that we know the causes behind the phenomenon, let’s see how we can fix it. Similar to the reasons behind it, the solutions also differ. 

We can get rid of grease on the slats of the blinds in two easy ways. As for dealing with UV and pollution damage, we’ve described the most efficient method.

Clean The Grime in 2 Ways

As we mentioned right above, there are two ways to go about this. The first one is when the layer of grime is not too much. 

In case you have a thick, yellow layer of grease and dirt, use the second method. Don’t worry, it’ll be easy for you if you know how to bathe blinds in bathtubs. Even if you don’t, we’ve got your backs.

Blott The Grime Away!

This one is a mild cleaning method. It won’t damage your slats at all if you don’t exert too much pressure. Let’s get to it-

Step 1: Preparation

Since it’s grease and dirt we’re up against, we need a cleaning solution. Any washing-up liquid should do.

Mix around 10-20 ml of washing-up liquid with lukewarm water. If you want, you can add some extra disinfectants or elbow grease.

You’ll also need a soft piece of cloth to give the slats a wipe. Get something like a microfibre towel. Once you’re ready, it’s time to clean!

Step 2: Cleaning

First, give the blind slats a good dusting and dry wipe. Then soak the microfiber towel in the cleaning solution. Use the wet towel to thoroughly wipe and clean the grime off the slats. 

If you have a lot of blind slats, change the water frequently. Not only will this give you a clean batch but keep it heated. Without the warmth, it might be difficult to clean the grime.

Dry them with a wipe or air dry. Cool! You’re done with cleaning your slats. Repeat this process on every blind at home.

Give The Blinds A Bath!

This method is a more thorough cleanup of the blinds. The first method didn’t require removing the slats from the brackets, this one’s different. You’ll need to remove them to soak them completely in water.

If you can’t, then you’ll have to bathe the whole thing altogether. It can be a hassle, but not impossible.

Step 1: Run The Bath

First, run the bath with 100-200 ml washing up liquid with warm water. You can use any detergent for this. It would be better if you use some with some bleaching agents.

The temperature of the water should be hot enough to melt the grease. But too hot water will cause the faux wood to bend. The temperature will be perfect as long as it’s comfortable to the touch.

Step 2: Immerse The Blinds

Submerge the slats in the water, don’t let them float. You should wait for about 45-90 minutes for the detergent to do its work.

Don’t worry about the sats soaking up the water and swelling. Faux wood is actually made of plastic, so it won’t soak up moisture. What’s the danger is them bending under heat. So, make sure the temperature of the water is bearable.

Step 3: Dry And Reinstall

After the time has passed, use a towel to give them a thorough wipe to get rid of the grime. You can give them a rinse under cold, plain water before drying them.

Sun drying is a viable option. Or, you could wipe them and dry them indoors. Use a fan or hairdryer in cool mode to accelerate the drying process. Do that only if you’re in a hurry. Reinstall them, and you should be done!

Whiten UV Damaged Blinds

This process is quite harsh on the blinds because it uses bleach. However, it’s the only shot you can take against UV damage.

Hopefully, by the end of this process, you’ll be able to whiten the yellow blinds.

Step 1: Bleach Bath

It’s similar to the second method of cleaning grime from blind slats. It only differs in terms of ingredients and duration.

First, make sure to give your blind slats a very thorough dusting. You don’t want them to get in the way. If need be, use a wet wipe to clean the grime off before you go ahead with bleaching. You can use the first method for that.

Next, run a bath with liquid bleach in it. Ones that won’t damage the PVC of the faux wood would be great! On that note, why not choose from the ones we recommend?

Once you have your hands on the liquid bleach perfect for the job, let’s move on.

The water should be cold, mix around 2-3 cups of liquid bleach with it. If you’re using powder bleach, make sure it’s mixed with the water enough. Make sure to use silicone gloves to avoid skin irritation.

Submerge the slats in bleach for 10 minutes, you’ll see them whiten in the meantime. Once it’s been 10 minutes don’t delay taking them out. Use plain water to rinse off the remaining bleach water.

Step 2: Dry And Reinstall

Once you’re done bleaching, don’t use heat to dry the slats. Dry them indoors under a fan, or wipe them dry with a high-absorbent towel. 

Reinstall the slats in the brackets once dry. Hopefully, they’re whiter than before.

FAQs

Question: Can I bleach bathe real wood blinds?

Answer: No, absolutely not. It’ll soak up the water, making them swell and rot away. What you can do is dust and degrease them before polishing them. Or, use a wood cleaner to get the job done. The best option would be to paint them white, or any other color.

Question: How much water should I use?

Answer: For the baths, you’ll have to fill the tub to about ½-⅔ of its volume. The depth should be around 1 foot. Depending on the number of slats you have you can increase, or decrease the amount. Make sure they’re all submerged properly. If needed, clean in batches.

Question: Why not use warm water with bleach?

Answer: That’s because bleach is very temperature sensitive. That’s why it’s mostly sold in containers that repel sunlight and heat. Moreover, the active bleaching agent might be rendered incapable of doing its work. So, we don’t use heat while dealing with bleach. 

Conclusion

Hey, mate! Are you doing alright? Hopefully, you know now how to clean faux wood blinds that have yellowed? We sure hope so!

Be careful with the bleach. Apart from causing irritation on your skin, it also damages things. Don’t let the slats be exposed to it for long. Take safety precautions and you should be okay!

Until you need some help, we’ll see you!