Mini-blinds can be hard to maintain and keep clean, and difficult to reuse in other ways when retired. Today, in part I of mini-blind know-how, we provide tips for easy maintenance and for cleaning. Because mini-blinds are difficult to clean, you should always take care to cover them up when you do household chores or repair work that creates a fair amount of dust. Drape them with cheap plastic drop cloths. This can save hours of tedious dusting and wiping later. However, even in the normal course of things, mini-blinds attract lots of dust. The good, better and best choices for cleaning are as follows: Vacuuming with the brush attachment is "good"; wiping them down with a dampened old sock placed over your hand is "better"; and following up by wiping them with fabric softener sheets is your "best" bet. It eliminates static electricity that collects dust. Take down super-dirty mini-blinds and dunk them in a bathtub filled with soapy water. Tomorrow in part II of mini-blind know-how, we address recycling for gardening use.