The beaded chains that stabilise vertical blind slats are prone to collecting dust and discolouration as they tend to be forgotten. The plastic beads can become coated in household grime, and the thread that links them can become stained with grease and mildew, but you can get them looking as good as new without inhaling toxic chemicals from harsh cleaners.  

Regular Upkeep

Cleaning the link chains on your vertical blinds doesn't have to be a big job when you stay on top of the dirt they collect. Wiping them with a little natural antibacterial cleaner every couple of weeks will keep them fresh, and you don't even need to remove them from the slats. Give this routine a go:

1. Pour 200ml of cold water and 100ml of distilled white vinegar into a spray bottle. Add 5 drops of any antibacterial essential oil you like, and shake the bottle to combine the ingredients.
2. Spray a little of the cleaner on a soft cloth, and rub over the links chains. You don't want to soak them, so just use enough cleaner to dampen the cloth.
3. Dry the link chains with a microfibre cloth to prevent dust sticking to them while they're wet. Microfibre is ultra-absorbent and soft, so it won't wear down the threads.

Vinegar has natural antibacterial properties, and the essential oil will mask its odour. Peppermint, orange, tea tree and lavender oils are antibacterial, so try a few until you find one that you like.

Tackling Grime

If your vertical blind chains are already pretty grimy, you'll have to remove them from the slats to give them a thorough clean. Unclip and place them in a basin of warm water with a little natural dish soap. While they are soaking, combine the following ingredients in a small bowl:

• 50ml castile soap
• 150g bicarbonate of soda
• Juice of half a lemon

The lemon juice is antibacterial and the bicarbonate of soda is a natural stain remover and mildly abrasive. This cleaning paste is great at removing stains from the threads. Simply remove the link chains from the water, scoop a little of the paste onto a soft cloth and rub the paste into the chains. Rinse the paste off with warm water and dry the chains with a microfibre cloth before reattaching them to the blind slats.

Battling Mildew

Link chains are susceptible to mildew when there's condensation on the window or when you use vertical blinds in the bathroom or kitchen. Mould can cause respiratory infections and will do nothing to enhance the look of your blinds, so scrub it off with this powerful cleaner:

• 100ml warm water
• 100ml distilled white vinegar
• 100g soda crystals
• 4 drops of orange essential oil

Remove the chains from the blind slats, combine the ingredients in a spray bottle, and spray liberally over the chains. Leave them to soak for 10-15 minutes, and then rub them with a cloth. Rinse the cleaner off with warm water and repeat once more if necessary. The orange oil is antifungal and the soda crystals are more abrasive than bicarbonate of soda and will absorb the mildew as it loosens.

Once you've got the link chains back to their original condition, regular upkeep will save you having to remove and soak them again. You can purchase new chains if you find that yours are damaged, but ensure you buy replacements with the correct type of clip, like from Blinds 2 Go Pty Ltd.