Cleaning Tips for Mildew on Vertical Venetian Blinds

While there are many commercial products available for removing mildew from surfaces, home remedies are just as effective and save you money and chemical exposure.

White Vinegar

Removing mildew, especially from vertical blinds, can seem like a daunting task. The job of removing mildew can be made simple by using white vinegar. White vinegar is a natural mold and mildew killer and cleaner and is safe to use on any type of surface. Whether your vertical venetian blinds are made of vinyl or fabric, vinegar effectively removes mildew stains and odor. Start by filling a spray bottle with undiluted white vinegar. The best and least messy way to clean the mildew from vertical blinds is to detach them from the hanging mechanism and lay them outdoors. Spray the surface of the blinds until they're completely saturated and allow the vinegar to sit on the blinds for at least an hour. Scrub the surface of the blinds with a clean sponge and rinse the blinds off with a garden hose or a clean cloth, soaked in plain water.

Lemon Juice

Lemon juice is one of nature's most versatile cleaning products. One of the many stains lemon juice can tackle is mildew. Bring your vertical venetian blinds outdoors, or place a plastic drop cloth underneath them, to prevent mess. Spray straight lemon juice on the mildew on the blinds and let it sit for an hour. If the weather allows it, this method is best for outdoors because the sunlight works together with the lemon juice to kill mildew spores and remove the stains. Simply wipe the blinds off with a wet cloth after an hour and allow them to dry in the sunlight.

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is used in many different natural cleaning products as well as in different types of medicines. Tea tree oil comes from the melaleuca tree. While it's a bit more expensive then vinegar or lemon juice, the mildew-killing effects of tea tree oil are longer lasting, and less needs to be used to get the same effects. Two tsp. of tea tree oil mixed with 2 cups water make a solution for killing mold and mildew on vertical blinds or other surfaces, such as your shower or bathtub. Spray the tea tree oil solution directly onto the mildew, using enough to dampen the mildew. One or two squirts is usually sufficient to kill mildew spores. Allow the tea tree oil to dry on the vertical venetian blinds and wipe off any mildew stains that remain. Tea tree oil has a strong smell that goes away after a few days. If the smell is overpowering for you, plan to use it when you can open the windows.