Blinds, shades and shutters are all attractive window coverings with their own unique advantages. Regardless of which one you choose, regular cleaning is important if they are to continue looking nice. Here are blinds, shades, shutters cleaning tips that will make the job much easier for you.
An easy way to dean blinds is to place an old sock on your finger, and then dampen it slightly with a cleaning solution. The right solution will depend on what your blinds are made of-a few suggestions are:
- Furniture polish for wood blinds
- Pine cleaner or Murphy's oil soap for faux wood or bamboo blinds
- Vinegar and water for aluminum or vinyl blinds
Begin at the top, and wrap your fingers around each individual slat so that you are cleaning both the back and the front of it at the same time. Continue until you reach the bottom, moistening and/or rinsing the sock as needed.
This method can be time consuming to do, especially if you have numerous blinds to clean. To speed up the process, take your vinyl or aluminum blinds down and lay them on a tarp in direct sunlight. Use a garden hose to spray them down, and then wipe them from top to bottom with a sponge that's saturated with a solution of mild detergent and hot water. Rinse your blinds thoroughly, then flip them over and repeat on the other side. Allow the blinds to dry completely before bringing them back inside.
Blinds can also be gently vacuumed, and when done regularly, wilt keep them looking nice for a long time before any type of deep cleaning is necessary.
Most types of window shades are easy to clean by simply vacuuming them with a hand vac or soft brush tool. This will remove most dust and debris; however, if your shades require a deeper cleaning, you1I need to consider what type of material they are made from.
Vinyl shades can easily be wiped down with a damp sponge, as can bamboo coverings. On the other hand, wooden or fabric shades may not hold up well if allowed to get wet. Even so, you can usually hand treat spots by moistening them and scrubbing lightly with mild suds. Blot dry when you are finished to avoid water spots. You may want to test on an inconspicuous area first to make sure your shade is colorfast. The fringe along the bottom of your shades can be washed by hand as well.
Roman shades tend to collect a lot of dust in their folds, and can be gently vacuumed for best results. If you vacuum has a control setting. always start with the least amount of suction so you don't damage your shades.
Indoor shutters can be vacuumed on a regular basis using a soft brush attachment to remove dust and pet hair. For a more thorough cleaning. you can spray a lint-free cloth with furniture polish and wipe the shutter down front and back. To ensure you reach as much surface as possible, use the wand to raise slats all the way up, wipe the surface down, then lower all the way down and then repeat.
To remove built-up dirt and grime in small corners, use a very small toothbrush that's slightly dampened or sprayed with furniture polish. Never allow wood shutters to become soaked, as this could cause them to warp, and also increases the risk of mold and mildew forming.
You can use this same toothbrush to remove gunk that has built up on the hardware as well. After cleaning your hardware, spray it lightly with a lubricant such as WD-40 to prevent rusting.
To keep your window treatments as clean as possible, dust them on a regular basis and perform deep cleaning in the spring and fall. Follow this up by cleaning the windows themselves inside and out to show off their true beauty.
For more cleaning tips, or help with finding the window treatment that's right for you, please feel free to contact us at Love is Blinds.
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