Let's start at the bottom: the blinds. There are so many different kinds of blinds that each will require a different procedure. With wood blinds, it is always recommended just to dust them, you can use a wood cleaner on them too. It is never good to use water on your wood blinds.

For plastic mini-blinds there are lots of tricks. If you want to leave them up you can spray them with multipurpose cleaner and wipe each slat off. It may seem easier to take them down and then a great way to clean them would be to but them in a bathtub full of water and any kind of soap. This could be laundry detergent, dish soap, bleach, or any cleaning chemical you are comfortable with.

If the tapes, or strings, that hold your blinds are supposed to be white, but you can't get them clean, try rubbing them with white shoe polish. It will bring a whole new brightness to your blinds.

For your curtains or drapes, they will depend on what the instructions say. If you want them deep cleaned, take them to a dry-cleaners or put them in the washing machine according to directions. For lighter cleaning there are many things that will help you keep them looking clean.

The easiest is simply the vacuum. Use the hose attachment with either a nylon stocking over the end or using the brush attachment. This done consistently every week or two will give your curtains a longer life span. If they are looking a little dingy after vacuuming, then with a toothbrush rub baby powder on the dingy parts and then vacuum again. This should lift out more dirt and give them a new look.

If rubbing it in sounds too time consuming, use flour or cornmeal instead and just sprinkle it on. Then let it set for a few minutes and vacuum. This will draw out more dirt than just vacuuming alone.

Any drapes that cannot be machine washed, but just don't seem dirty enough for a dry cleaning can be cleaned at home. If they have a liner then you will want to be careful, but for the material you just need to take them down and soak them in mild detergent. Laundry detergent works or many people have found success with the new oxygen cleaners. Rinse them good and dry them in the dryer until they are almost dry and then hang them back up to finish drying. This will help avoid shrinking.

Dish detergent can be used as well, this also works great for spot cleaning your drapes while hanging. Rub with slightly soapy water and then rinse by spraying water and blot dry. Keep in mind that transparent dish soaps will come out cleaners than opaque colored soaps.

Now don't forget that for your clean blinds and drapes to make a difference you need to have clean windows and window panes. They are part of the picture too.