When I bought my house it came with wooden mini blinds in the upstairs living room. I've noticed they're becoming dusty but I have no idea how to clean them. What is the easiest way to go about doing this. I also have a 10 month old so I want to use the safest way possible. Thank you.

I have wooden blinds throughout in my home (and a little one as well, so I understand the concern for safe cleaners!)

What I do is, I take the blinds outside and squirt them down with the hose, add some Murphy's Oil Soap to an snow brush (I know, sounds strange, but it works like a charm!), rinse clean, and let them dry in the sun. I do this every year. I also use fabric softener dryer sheets in the winter months for a quick clean. The softener on the sheet acts as a barrier, so it actually repels dust.

Hope this helps! Good luck!

How do I shorten wooden mini blinds? You know how they come really long if you don't get them custom made. How do I shorten wooden mini blinds? You know how they come really long if you don't get them custom made.

They come really long so they can fit into more windows. From a manufacturing standpoint, it's cheaper and easier to do. From a retailer's standpoint, it is less space on the shelf for one item that fits a range of sizes compared to a number of sizes for different windows.

Here are the instructions on how to do this yourself:

* Remove the bottomrail plugs to release the string ladders and reveal the knotted lift cord. Undo the knot and pull up lift cord enough to release the slats you need to remove.

* Remove the bottomrail and slats necessary to shorten the blind.

* Determine the desired length and insert the bottomrail into the last ladder rung.

* Cut the string ladder above the rung that hangs below the bottomrail.. You should have enough ladder hanging to be able to insert these strings into the route holes on the bottom of the bottomrail.

* Insert the lift cord through the bottomrail hole and tie a knot. Make sure that the lift cords are even and that the bottomrail hangs straight.

* Adjust to the desired length by lowering or raising the knot in the lift cord. You may also insert more or less of the ladders in the bottomrail route. Do not try to adjust the length by pulling on the lift cord.

* Replace the bottomrail plugs. Use a rubber mallet or hammer to keep from marking the plugs.