Before you begin cleaning, you should first take a moment to inspect your blinds. Are they heavily stained or soiled? If so, they may need to be cleaned professionally. However, if your blinds are only lightly stained or have no stains, but an accumulation of dust, dirt, pet hair, and other debris, cleaning them at home should be a simple process.

While you may be tempted to begin cleaning your shades immediately, it's important that you first read the manufacturer's cleaning and care instructions before you begin. These instructions will contain useful information about whether your shades, depending on the material they're made of, can be damaged by water and common cleaners—including mild soaps and detergents. Always read these instructions before using any cleaning supplies on your shades, as improper care may do more harm than good.

Cleaning shades is a simple process that doesn't require many tools. To make the job as easy and hassle-free as possible, gather the following items and keep them handy while you work:

A clean feather duster

A feather duster is the easiest way to clean shades that have only a light accumulation of dirt, dust, pollen, pet hair, and other debris.

A vacuum with soft brush attachment

Vacuums are excellent for quickly removing debris from fabric. Before using a vacuum on your shade, make sure you use a soft brush attachment to avoid damaging the fabric. In addition, adjust the suction if possible and use only as much power as needed to clean the fabric.

A sponge or clean cloth

Using a sponge or cloth is the quickest and easiest way to gently scrub away light stains and to remove dirt and dust from the headrail.

A clean bucket of warm water and mild soap or detergent

A bucket of warm water and mild soap or detergent can quickly and easily remove light stains from the shade's fabric or headrail. Before using any liquids on your shades, always test them on a small inconspicuous patch to make sure the color doesn't run or stain after exposure to water and other mild cleaning liquids.

A sheet or towels to catch dripping water and falling dust

Cleaning a shade can get messy—especially if it has collected a large amount of dirt and dust. To ease the cleanup process afterward, place a large sheet or a towel underneath the length of the window to catch liquid or dust that falls from the shade while you clean.

Hair dryer

Wet shades can warp, stain, fade, and become discolored. To quickly dry your shade, use a hair dryer (on the cool setting) on any damp areas after cleaning.

The process for cleaning can be divided into four quick and easy steps:

• Use the feather duster to remove light accumulations of dirt and dust.
• Use your vacuum with soft brush attachment to remove any additional dirt or dust that the feather duster didn't pick up.
• Use a damp sponge or cloth and wipe away any dirt or dust from the headrail and gently scrub away any light stains from the fabric.
• Use a hair dryer on the cool setting (no heat) to quickly dry any wet areas to prevent damage to the fabric.

Although most roller shades can be cleaned at home, your shades may be heavily stained and cleaning them properly could be beyond your capabilities. If your shades won't come clean with traditional methods, contact a professional cleaning company. Avoid using harsh chemicals or scrubbing too hard to remove stains, as that can severely damage the fabric and make deep stains worse.

Once your shades are cleaned, keeping them clean is easy if you set a regular cleaning schedule. Most shades in rooms with little foot traffic, such as spare bedrooms and bathrooms, only require brief cleanings with feather dusters a few times per month. Shades in rooms with more frequent foot traffic, like those in living rooms, master bedrooms, and dining rooms, may require more hands-on cleaning once or twice per week.