How to Clean and Paint Wooden Venetian Blinds?

Venetian blinds are ideal when it comes to covering your patio doors or windows with fitting constraints.

You can in fact install them on various types of doors and windows including French doors, PVC windows, bay windows, etc.

Professional interior decorators also prefer wooden Venetian blinds for their versatility, warmth, and durability in high humidity areas such as a kitchen or bathroom.

Made of natural materials, wooden Venetian blinds can be custom-crafted to perfectly blend into the décor of any room.

Faux wood blinds are also used nowadays, which are made of synthetic materials or solidified wood pulp giving the look and feel of the wood itself.

With its capacity to resist moisture, faux wood is ideal for highly humid areas such as bathrooms and kitchens.

When it comes to painting wooden blinds, the paint ideas and colors are no longer monotonic, like in the old days.

You can now choose the best colors and designs that suit your sweet home, bedroom, or home office.

Once you have gathered all the knowledge about the painting ideas, you face the last hurdle – Painting!

Here you can either choose to paint yourself or hire expert help.

How to Paint Wooden Window Blinds?

If you have experience with painting in the past, then you already know that painting is an awesome experience!

So, why not start in a DIY way.

All you need to do is show the creativity you want on your Venetian blinds and watch the magic happening.

For your help here are the 6 easy steps you need to follow to get the job done…

Step 1 – Remove Slats

As a very first step, get rid of the slats.

You will definitely not want to paint the strings or move around them trying to paint.

Hence it is suggested to remove the slats of the strings while painting blinds.

Lift the bottom rail and look out for wooden or plastic pegs.

With the help of a flathead screwdriver, screw out the pegs and keep them aside.

After the pegs have been removed, just pull out the strings and make sure the bottom knot is cut.

Remove the bottom rail from the strings and look for the main string and pull them out of the slats, right till the first one.

Collect them tidily and keep them aside with the help of a clip so that they don’t tangle up.

Then cautiously remove every wood slat from the threaded rails. Make sure you don’t twist the strands.  

Step 2 – Clean the Slats

With the help of a damp cloth or a paper towel, clean the slats of already painted timber venetian blinds.

Make sure all the fingerprints, dirt, and peeling paint particles are removed from every slat.

If you find there are stubborn stains or grime build-up you can use:

• A wood specific cleaner or a wood polish with a damp cloth
• A mixture of lemon juice and cleaning alcohol to gently remove the dirt and grime

Keep them aside and allow them to dry while you get the paint and work location ready.

When cleaning the wood blinds make sure you do not use any water to wet the blinds.

Also, stay away from harsh chemicals as they can damage your blind slats permanently.

Step 3 – Primer the Blinds

Evenly spray the primer on each slat using shellac spray primer.

This type of primer will work for coating both bare as well as finished wood and can be applied with water or oil-based top paint coatings.

After spraying one side wait for about an hour to get it dry.

Then flip the slats and spray primer on the other side as well.

Once you have primed the slats on both sides, allow them to dry for the time that has been recommended on the spray can.

Step 4 – Paint the Slats Carefully

With a help of a normal paintbrush, paint the slats.

In case, you want a brushed look, you can go for a brush used for varnishing to paint on both sides of the slat.

Using acrylic-based enamel paint start by painting on one side.

After waiting for an hour flip over and paint another side.

Cover all slat edges with paint as they will be fully noticeable.

Acrylic-based enamel paint will be the most durable choice for wood blinds and it’s easy to clean as well in the future.

Once you have applied the paint on both sides of the slats allow the slats to dry for a recommended period of time.

In case a second coat is needed, go for it.

Step 5 – Bring the Slats Back to Their Place

Once the slats are fully dry, put them back in their positions on the ladder.

You can put them back in any order, but if there are any visual details, then you should make sure they face as they should.

After the slats are placed back, pull the strings down via the blind holes.

Now pull the threads of the ladder and string back – via the bottom rail.

Tie a knot at the end of every string and get rid of the plugs from the bottom rail. 

Step 6 – Do the Leftover Adjustments

The bottom rail may look crooked when the knots are not tied at the same point on every string.

However, it is not a big deal.

Seek the help of the cord to adjust the length of the wooden window shades and equal the bottom rail.

Put back the decorative bead at the end of the cord, make a new knot to settle the adjustments you have made, and cut the extra string.

Put the decorative bead back in its place.

Can You Paint Wood Blinds White?

Yes, you should go for painting the natural white color on your wood blinds for the tidiest look you want in your room.

Many people want their blinds to look slightly darker than the walls and therefore go with colors like yellow, orange, brown, etc.  

One good way to choose the right stain color is by matching the blinds to your wall color.

You can go for a few shades lighter than your wall color if you do not want your room to look too heavy.

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How Often to Clean and Paint Wood Blinds?

Painted wooden blinds should be dusted or vacuumed 1-2 times a week.

This will prevent the build-up of excessive dirt and grime which can be hard to remove.

You should also get the blinds cleaned thoroughly 2-3 times a year. And get them repainted after 2-3 years.

• For deep cleaning, your wooden blinds use a furniture polish spray and wipe down with a clean soft cloth
• For deep cleaning the grease and grime on the faux wood blinds, you can use water and white vinegar solution
• Do not use water, vinegar, or chemicals on wood blinds as it can damage the finishes causing them to look dingy

The stained surface of wood blinds in your kitchen area can attract heavy grease particles that can build a thick layer over time.

Blinds in the kitchen should therefore require frequent cleaning.  

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Can You Put Varnish or Oil to Your Wooden Blinds?

Varnishing your wooden blinds is also a great way to add that beauty and elegance to your old unappealing windows.

To restore faded blinds, you can regularly touch up your blinds with a varnish finish like shellac or poly.

Alternatively, you can polish them with linseed oil, olive oil, or lemon oil to make them look shiny.

These oils are all-natural and will not only nourish the wood but also protect/preserve it for long from external elements by making your blinds water-resistant.

However, care that you do not use any type of oil or varnish finish on the wooden blinds if they show signs of cracks.

The oil may seep into these cracks and can cause the wood to warp.

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Pyrography (the art of adding Woodburn patterns to decorate the wood) is also preferred by many homeowners because it can turn their inexpensive wood blinds into an extensively decorated masterpiece.

If you love such art, you can consider adding patterns like slogans, stars, trees, animals, signatures, musical notes, etc. to your blinds.

The Bottom Line

Wood blinds come with an inviting look and also add a lot to the overall beauty of the room if it goes well with the rest of the furniture and paintings.

Painting wooden window blinds aren’t also difficult – if you follow the right process with some patience.

So, why not consider getting them cleaned and repainted.

This way you can save yourself from huge replacement costs.