Last Updated on October 26, 2026 by Umar Farooq
How to get mould off window blinds: work out what they are made of, brush or vacuum the loose growth outdoors, wipe each slat with detergent and warm water, dry the blind completely, then deal with the damp window that grew it. Do those in that order and most hard blinds come clean in an afternoon.
The usual advice is a list of kitchen-cupboard potions. I think the material matters far more than the potion, because a wipe that is fine on aluminium will ruin a bamboo roll.
Check what the blind is made of before choosing a cleaner
Mould only grows where something stays damp, and what stays damp depends on the material. Hard, smooth slats shed water and are the easy case. Fabric and natural fibre hold it.
| Blind material | Cleaning approach | Can it be saved? |
|---|---|---|
| PVC, vinyl, aluminium slats | Wipe with detergent and warm water | Usually yes |
| Faux wood | Damp cloth, little water, dry straight away | Usually yes |
| Real wood | Barely damp cloth, never soak | Often, if caught early |
| Bamboo, woven grass | Gentle surface clean, dry in air | Only if the staining is on the surface |
| Fabric roller or Roman | Fabric-safe detergent, spot-treat | Depends on the fabric |
Check the care label or manufacturer’s guidance if there is one. If you cannot tell the material, test the method on a hidden corner first.
Take it down, and brush before you wet anything
Mould spreads by shedding spores, and wiping a dry, fuzzy patch with a wet cloth smears it around. So take the blind outside or into a well-ventilated room before you start, lay it on a dust sheet or old towel, and remove the loose growth first with a soft brush or a vacuum with a filter. Empty the vacuum outside afterwards.
Wear gloves and a dust mask. The EPA recommends long gloves that reach mid-forearm and says you may want an N-95 respirator to limit exposure to airborne mould. Never mix bleach with vinegar, ammonia or other cleaners, as the fumes are dangerous. If you have a health condition or the area is large, ask a professional instead.
The EPA treats a patch of less than about 10 square feet as something you can usually clean yourself. One blind is well under that, but if the wall or window frame behind it is also black, read how to get mould off walls before you rehang anything.
How to get mould off window blinds, one slat at a time
Here is the method I would use on a venetian or vertical blind with hard slats.
- Brush or vacuum off the loose growth, as above.
- Mix a few drops of washing-up liquid into warm water. The EPA’s advice for hard surfaces is to scrub mould off with detergent and water, and dry completely. That is the baseline, and for most blinds it is enough.
- Wipe each slat with a soft cloth or an old toothbrush for the corners, working along the slat, front and back. Rinse the cloth often.
- For stubborn marks, many cleaning guides suggest white vinegar and water in equal parts, or 3% hydrogen peroxide. I cannot find any measured comparison of these, so treat them as options to try on a hidden patch, not as proven. Never use them together or alongside bleach.
- Wipe off the residue with a cloth dampened in plain water.
On fabric or roller blinds, go gentler. A blind retailer’s guide says to spot-treat with a fabric-safe mould detergent diluted as directed, to avoid bleach, and to be more careful with polyester than with PVC or vinyl.
Dry the blind completely before it goes back up
This step decides whether you are cleaning it again in a month. Mould needs moisture, and North Dakota State University Extension says plainly that molds grow in moisture. A blind rehung while slightly damp has just been given a head start.
Dry the slats with a towel, then leave the blind open in a draughty room or in the open air until nothing feels cool or clammy. Wooden and bamboo blinds need extra patience and should not be left in hot sun. I have not timed any of this, because it varies with the weather, so go by touch: cool means damp.
Why the mould returned: the window behind the blind
If the blind was clean last year, ask what changed. Blinds hang within a couple of centimetres of the coldest surface in the room, the glass. Warm room air gets trapped behind them, meets the cold pane, and condenses. The blind is then sitting next to a small, steady water supply.
That is a moisture problem, not a cleaning problem. Wipe the glass and sill in the morning, open the blinds for part of the day so air reaches the glass, and cut the moisture at the source. Condensation behind curtains explains the mechanism, which applies equally to blinds, and how to stop condensation on windows lists the fixes in order. If the frame and sealant are also speckled, mould around windows is the next read.
When it is time to bin the blind
Be realistic with porous materials. The EPA notes that absorbent materials can be thrown away if they become mouldy, because mould can grow into the empty spaces of porous materials, making it difficult or impossible to remove completely. That wording refers to things like ceiling tiles and carpet, but the principle applies to a fabric or woven blind where the stain has gone deep.
My rule of thumb, which is judgement and not a tested threshold: if the blind still smells musty after one proper clean and a full dry, or the mark runs through the fabric, replace it. Cheap blinds are cheaper than repeated scrubbing, and a new one should go up only after the glass stays dry.
Mould on window blinds is a symptom of a damp window, so fix that and the cleaning stays done
Clean the slats, dry them properly, and wipe the condensation off the glass each morning. A blind with air around it and a dry window behind it does not grow mould, and then how to get mould off window blinds becomes a job you do once.
FAQ
What is the best thing to clean mould off blinds?
Washing-up liquid in warm water is the safe starting point for hard slats, in line with the EPA’s detergent-and-water advice for hard surfaces. Fabric blinds need a fabric-safe cleaner. Skip bleach on most blinds, and never mix cleaners.
Can you wash mouldy blinds?
Some can be. PVC, vinyl and aluminium slats tolerate a wipe or a rinse. Wood and bamboo should only be wiped with a barely damp cloth. Check the care label for fabric blinds.
Is mould on blinds dangerous?
I am not a doctor, so I cannot say what it does to any individual. Wear gloves and a mask while cleaning, ventilate, and speak to a doctor if you have breathing or other health concerns.
Why do my blinds get mould in the bedroom?
Blinds hang close to cold glass, where overnight condensation collects. If the window runs wet in the morning, the blind is damp too. Wipe the glass and let air circulate.
Will vinegar kill mould on blinds?
Cleaning guides commonly recommend it, but I could not find a measured test on blinds. Use detergent first, and never combine vinegar with bleach.
