The Dollar Tree Beauty Essential Hack That Will Leave Your Window Shades Dust-Free

Let's face it, cleaning your blinds or window shades can be a dreaded activity. Some might even call it one of the chores that's worse than doing laundry or the dishes. Unfortunately, there's no getting around it — especially since it's recommended that you dust them every 1 to 2 weeks, and deep clean them every few months. Given how much of a pain it is, it's nice to have some tricks up your sleeve to help get it done faster and with less effort. It turns out that there's a beauty essential at Dollar Tree that makes cleaning blinds and shades as easy as pie. April Bath and Shower Exfoliating Bath Gloves can be used for more than just bathing — they're a secret weapon when it comes to house cleaning, too.

Dusting gloves are wonderful tools for cleaning things like plants, furniture legs, banisters, and car dashboards, allowing you to get into every nook and cranny. Not surprisingly, they're also ideal for window blinds and shades, too! If you don't have a Dollar Tree near you, this set of three Patelai Microfiber Gloves on Amazon is under $10. Exfoliating gloves in general are probably one of the best ways to get your blinds sparkling clean, as they help eliminate some of the awkwardness of getting to every part of the slats. This is a great hack if you already have a pair or want to save a couple of bucks.

Dusting your window treatments with the vacuum extension works, but it's a bit more cumbersome and not as detailed as doing them by hand. With nylon exfoliating bath gloves, you can literally slide your hand across each slat, picking up dust from both sides. You can also use your fingers to get into all the crevices near the cords. They would work great on fabric shades as well since you can gently dust them with the power of your hand. If you're looking for a deeper clean, try wetting the gloves instead of using a bulky wet rag. Now, it might feel a little icky having your hand inside a wet glove, but using a plastic glove under it might help.

Before starting, consider what material your shades are for the best approach. For both shades and blinds, fill a container with water and add a couple of drops of mild dish soap. For fabric shades, dip your gloved hand into the water, then gently spot clean the material, making sure not to soak it. If you're cleaning vinyl or faux wood blinds, get your glove wet like a rag. Then, clean the slats one by one, getting both sides.

Re-soak your hand every now and then to rinse the dust and keep the glove moist. Finally, use a soft cloth to dry the blinds. It's a simple cleaning hack that should save you some time. And if you dust your blinds on a regular basis, the chore shouldn't be too intense come deep-cleaning day.