Are you thinking about cleaning your Venetian Blinds, but feeling concerned about damaging them in the process? wikiHow has an interesting guide that outlines three ways to properly clean these intricate window blinds. The first two are lighter methods that you can use on a regular basis with metallic, synthetic and wood blinds. The third represents a heavier method designed to make up for long periods in between cleaning for metallic and synthetic blinds only:

• Cleaning with your Hands: After you shut your window blinds, use a glove, clothes dryer sheet or paper towel and lightly wipe each slat starting from the center going to each edge. When you’re done, you shut your window blinds the opposite way so you can repeat the process on the opposite side of each slat. Make sure to replace your glove or sheet from time to time to avoid buildup as you clean. Also, don’t use water or anything damp on wood blinds - it’ll leave a streak.
• Vacuum: This is basically the same process as cleaning window blinds with your hands, only with a vacuum. But make sure to use a soft duster brush attachment to minimize damage as you go over each slat.
• Deep Cleaning for Non-Wood Blinds: If you have metallic or synthetic blinds and you haven’t cleaned them in awhile, the wikiHow article recommends lowering and removing them with the slats shut, then putting them in your bathtub and immersing them in water and a light cleaning solution. Soak, scrub, rinse, dry, and re-hang.

Keep in mind that this is a summary of the article, so make sure to read it in its entirety before you try these methods. Just remember to think before you clean - using the right method and level of care can go a long way to preserving your window blinds in the long run.