Keep your cellular shades looking their best
Cellular shades do a lot of clever work at your windows. Their honeycomb-shaped cells help insulate your home while giving you control over light and privacy, making them a popular choice among energy-efficient window treatments.
Those same little pockets can also collect dust, pet hair and the occasional tiny bug.
The good news: cleaning cellular shades is easier than you might think. Most of the time, you can clean them without even taking them down.
Here’s how to clean cellular shades, also called honeycomb shades or honeycomb blinds, without damaging the fabric or losing those crisp pleats.
The easiest way to clean cellular shades
For everyday cleaning, keep things simple:
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Fully lower your shade.
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Gently dust along the pleats.
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Vacuum with a soft brush attachment on low suction.
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Use cool air to clear dust from inside the cells.
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Spot clean stains with a barely damp cloth and mild soap.
That’s usually all they need.
The big thing to remember? Go gently. Cellular shades are made from pleated fabric, so too much pressure, heat or moisture can damage their shape.
What you'll need
You probably already have everything:
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A clean microfiber cloth or feather duster
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A vacuum with a soft brush attachment
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A hair dryer with a cool setting
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A clean white cloth or sponge
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Lukewarm water
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A small amount of mild dish soap
Before using water or a cleaning product, check the care instructions for your particular shade.
How to clean cellular shades step by step
1. Lower the shade
Start by lowering your cellular shade all the way. This opens the pleats so you can see and reach more of the fabric.
Give it a quick once-over for dust, marks or debris caught inside the cells. That’ll tell you whether you're looking at a quick dusting or something that needs a little more attention.
2. Dust the fabric
Use a microfiber cloth or feather duster and gently work across the shade, following the direction of the pleats.
Try not to press or scrub. A light touch helps the honeycomb cells keep their shape.
Regular dusting also makes deep cleaning much less of a thing. A quick pass every few weeks can help stop dust from building up.
3. Vacuum gently
For a more thorough honeycomb shade cleaning, use your vacuum's soft brush attachment.
Keep the suction low and move gently across the fabric in the direction of the pleats. You want the vacuum to lift the dust rather than pull at the shade.
High suction and delicate pleats aren't the best match.
4. Clean inside the honeycomb cells
Found dust or a tiny bug hiding inside one of the cells? No need to poke around inside it.
Set a hair dryer to cool and low and gently blow air through the open end of the cell. The air should push loose dust and debris out the other side.
You can also hold a vacuum hose near the opening and use gentle suction.
Avoid hot air. Heat can damage the fabric or adhesives that help hold a cellular shade together.
5. Spot clean stains
For fingerprints, splashes and other small marks, mix lukewarm water with a tiny amount of mild dish soap.
Dampen a clean white cloth or sponge, then wring it out well. Blot the mark rather than rubbing it.
Once the stain has lifted, blot the area again with a clean, slightly damp cloth to remove any soap residue.
Leave the shade fully extended until it's completely dry.
Can you wash cellular shades?
Generally, don't wash or soak cellular shades.
Fully submerging them can damage the pleated fabric, adhesives and components inside the headrail. Too much water can also leave marks or affect the shape of the cells.
So when it comes to washing cellular shades, less water is better. Stick to dusting, gentle vacuuming and careful spot cleaning unless the care instructions for your specific product say otherwise.
And skip the steam cleaner too.
How to remove cellular shades
Here's the easy part: you usually don't need to remove cellular shades to clean them.
Dusting, vacuuming and spot cleaning can normally be done while they're still hanging.
If you do need to take yours down, the exact method depends on the headrail and brackets used with your shade. Always check the installation instructions for your specific product first.
For many standard cellular shades, the process looks something like this:
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Raise the shade so it's easier to handle.
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Support the headrail with both hands.
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Find the release tabs or clips on the mounting brackets.
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Release the headrail according to your shade's installation instructions.
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Gently tilt or slide the headrail free from the brackets.
Don't force it. If the headrail isn't releasing easily, double-check the installation guide before pulling harder.
Cordless, motorized cellular shades and specialty cellular shades may use different hardware, so their removal steps can vary.
How to clean cordless cellular shades
Wondering how to clean cordless cellular shades? Pretty much the same way.
Fully lower the shade, then gently dust or vacuum the fabric. Spot clean only when needed and keep excess moisture away from the headrail and internal mechanisms.
You shouldn't need to remove a cordless shade for routine cleaning.
How to clean blackout cellular shades
Blackout cellular shades deserve an especially light touch.
Because blackout shades can contain additional layers or coatings, avoid soaking the fabric or experimenting with strong cleaners. Start with dry cleaning methods such as dusting, cool air and gentle vacuuming.
If you need to treat a stain, follow the care instructions for your particular shade before adding moisture.
Quick cellular shade cleaning guide
- Everyday dust: Use a microfiber cloth or feather duster. Avoid applying heavy pressure.
- Surface buildup: Use a vacuum with a soft brush attachment on low suction. Avoid high suction.
- Dust inside the cells: Use a hair dryer set to cool and low. Avoid hot air.
- Small stains: Use mild soap and a barely damp cloth. Avoid rubbing or scrubbing.
- Cordless shades: Use gentle dusting and careful spot cleaning. Avoid getting the headrail wet.
- Heavy stains: Check the product care instructions or ask a professional for help. Avoid soaking the shade.
Photo by @nestled.nook: Stick2Fit Cordless Blackout Cellular Shades in Dusk Bone
Cellular shade cleaning FAQs
How do I clean honeycomb blinds?
Gently dust or vacuum honeycomb blinds following the direction of the pleats. Use cool air from a hair dryer to remove debris trapped inside the cells and a barely damp cloth with mild soap for small stains.
What's the best way to clean cellular shades?
For most cellular shades, the safest routine is regular dusting followed by gentle vacuuming with a soft brush attachment. Spot clean only when necessary.
Can you wash cellular shades?
It's generally best not to wash or submerge cellular shades. Too much water can damage the fabric, adhesives, pleats or internal components. Check the care instructions for your particular shade before using water.
Can you clean cellular shades without taking them down?
Yes. In fact, most routine cellular shade cleaning can be done while they're hanging. Lower the shade fully, dust or vacuum it, clear debris from the cells with cool air and spot clean marks as needed.
How do you get debris out of cellular shades?
Try a hair dryer set to cool and low. Blow gently through the open end of the cell to move the debris out. Avoid pushing objects inside the cell, since you could damage the fabric.
How often should you clean cellular shades?
A light dusting every few weeks can help prevent buildup. How often yours need attention will depend on the room, open windows, pets and everyday life.
A little care goes a long way
Cellular shades are designed to make controlling light and comfort in your home easy. Keeping them clean can be easy too.
Dust regularly, keep water and heat to a minimum, and treat those pleats gently. You'll spend less time cleaning and more time enjoying the view.
Ready to explore your options? Shop custom cellular shades, then order free samples to compare fabrics, colors and light control at home.