This is my favorite site for blinds:
http://www.homedecorators.com/window.php

They have the best prices – even on Hunter Douglas & Bali brands – they're customized to fit your window exactly, and they'll send you samples in the mail so you can see how they coordinate with your decor.

We just bought wood 2 inch plantation blinds from Loews very reasonably. We priced against Home Depot but they were higher with fewer options. Take a look at Loews before you decide. We thought the faux wood would do the job but once we hung one or two we took them all back. Faux wood is plastic and it sags just like plastic mini blinds so the look will always be uneven and unsightly. Spend the few extra dollars more and buy wood wherever you get them.

I bought mine from Lowes and Home Depot.

I like JCPennys or Home Depot

They have a large selection you can choose from from there catalog.

Good luck

A de-greaser is excellent. I use it for everything. The one I use is called: Greased Lightening.
http://www.greased-lightening.com

I take mine down, hang them on the clothesline outside, hose
them down, then get a bucket of soapy water and a scrub brush and scrub each side separately, hose them off and let them dry, then take them back in and hang them up. Make sure you have on old clothes because you get dirty in the process. You have to hold your arm behind them to brace them while scrubbing, but this is the only way I've found to get my blinds really clean.

Try goo-gone.

Its called DeSolve it and it works great. I prefer the orange scented one.

I use organic citrus cleaner called Solvit. It removes Tar, Candle Wax, Crayon, Chewing gum, Glues, Felt & ball point inks, soapscum, Silicon sealants, Lipstick, Grease, Wax.

You may be able to get it from a car auto store. Here I got it from Supercheap in NZ.

Its fantastic and smells good too. Really really works!

Once you block the sunlight from entering your house, the only radiant heat from sun on the the blinds is produced. Since heat rises, it's best to have the top edge of the blind close to the window, so the rising heat moves toward the window and not into the room.