Wooden blinds

Dear Heloise: I have wooden-slat blinds. I have tried oil soap and baby wipes, but I cannot get them clean. Can you please help? — Marie M., via fax

Help is here. Cleaning wooden blinds shouldn’t be hard! Baby wipes are OK, but may leave a residue. The oil “soap” is what I use, and it’s never failed me.

Are they just dusty? Coated with a gummy sort of residue? Are they painted, or raw wood? Painted should be a zip to clean. If they are unpainted wood, try this: Use a microfiber cloth dipped into just warm water. Wring it out, and run it over one slat. Go both ways, back and forth. If you see “dirt” on the cloth, then proceed.

If it’s that sticky stuff, then go back to the wood soap. Don’t overwet, and be sure to rinse off, then dry well. Test one-half of a blind and see which method works best for you! — Heloise

P.S.: Use the upholstery attachment with the brush to “suck” dust off the blinds!