Guidelines for Cleaning Window Blinds, Drapes and Shades
BWS Design • August 19, 2016
Window blinds are used for more than just controlling sunlight and providing privacy. They also can add beauty to a room. But to keep your window blinds looking new and serving you as long as possible, it’s critical that they be properly cleaned and maintained. Here are some basic guidelines for cleaning window blinds.
Wood Blinds
- After first tightly closing your wood blinds, lightly remove dust, using a feather duster, old paint brush or a vacuum cleaner brush attachment.
- Use an old sheet to catch dirt and grime that will fall on the floor.
- Dust, brush or vacuum all dirt and dust off each slat, one at a time.
- Then, close your blinds the other way and repeat the process.
- Never use water on wood blinds because this can destroy them.
- Also, do not expose wood blinds to sprinkler systems, rain, steam or high moisture. This means that you should not spray a window cleaning product directly onto a glass window. Instead, moisten the cleaning cloth with the window cleaner and then clean your windows.
Vertical Blinds
Vertical blinds tend to get even dirtier than horizontal ones, probably because they’re usually used for covering glass doors leading outdoors. Cleaning vertical blinds entails cleaning each individual slat, starting from the top and working down. Be sure you use an old towel or sheet to protect your floor from drips.
Some people even clean vertical blinds by unclipping the slats, laying them down on towels and cleaning each one individually. But this can be risky as it can be easy to break the plastic clips used to secure the slats.
Cleaning Drapes
- Vacuum drapes regularly by using a vacuum cleaner upholstery attachment. Because the folds and the top portions of the drapes tend to draw dust, it’s important to start at the top and finish at the bottom, cleaning all the surface.
- It’s best to have drapes dry-cleaned, rather than washing them.
- Always check the manufacturer’s guidelines, and you do wash your drapes at home, test a small inconspicuous spot. Use a mild detergent and warm water, noting if a color starts to bleed. If this happens, take your drapes directly to a professional dry cleaning service.
Cleaning Cellular Shades
- To avoid dust bunnies and shades on cellular shades, also known as honeycomb shades, you’ll need to vacuum your shades on a regular basis.
- The first step is rubbing off exceptionally dirty spots, using a brush extension of your vacuum cleaner. Be sure the shades are closed.
- All dirt and dust should be removed.
- Consider that shortening shades can help in preventing them from developing excess dirt and grime.
- You can immerse some types of cellular shades in water, but first check with the manufacturer. Wash your cellular shades by using warm water and just a small amount of mild detergent.
- Finally, hang your shades out to dry. Do not use a hairdryer, but if you do use one, apply the cool setting.
Cleaning Roman Shades
Spills and stains should be cleaned as soon as you notice them. You can use soda water or spray-on stain removers. Wash your shades before using spray-and-wash cleaning products.
For moderate dust buildup on decorative or embroidered shades, dust them, rather than vacuuming so that you don’t loosen threading. Use a duster that’s static-free. After you’ve cleaned the shades, it helps to apply a dust repellent, so dust won’t cling to your shades.
If your shades don’t have embroidered patterns, you can vacuum your shades, using a low setting.
Considerations and Warnings
- A feather duster is generally sufficient for cleaning blinds if there’s only a thin layer of dust on them. This is done by opening the blinds and dusting between each of the blinds so that dust can be removed from both sides.
- However, gentle vacuuming, using a vacuum cleaner attachment, may be needed for deeper cleaning. Use vertical strokes when vacuuming your blinds.
- To spot-clean your blinds, use a moistened sponge, using warm water and a soft cloth. If needed, you could add a small amount of mild detergent.
- Over-the-counter blind cleaners and a soft cloth are recommended for cleaning aluminum blinds.
- An old glove or sock can help in cleaning hard-to-access corners. It’s important to give your blinds regular cleaning. Consider that it can be harder to clean them and take more time when you allow too much dust and grime to accumulate.
- Be careful to avoid getting stained wooden blinds wet as water can easily compromise the finish. Rather than water, use a wood furniture cleaning product or lemon oil.
- Never scrub blinds too aggressively as this can remove color or damage a design.
Is it time to replace your window blinds? Let the window covering professionals at Just Blinds help you make the right choice. We provide onsite consultation, expert measuring and professional installation. Please contact us and learn more about our huge selection of blinds, drapes, Plantation shutters, shades and other window coverings.
Expert Advice by Just Blinds
When the mercury soars, never underestimate the power of blinds, shades, and other window treatments to keep your living space cool. With the techniques that follow, you can limit demand on your air conditioner, lower your energy bill, and maintain stunning aesthetics both inside and out. 1. Go For the Layered Look If you don't want blackout blinds that completely block out light and heat, consider layering your window treatments for the summer months. This is a great way to add depth and texture to your rooms while still maintaining a tight home envelope and limiting solar heat gains. Use wood or faux wood blinds to create a solid base layer. Then, add sheers and custom curtains to finish the look. Layering creates levels of flexibility and adaptability that single window treatments cannot match. You can close all three layers for maximum heat blocking, slant your blinds and close your sheers to let limited sunlight in, or open your drapes and your blinds and use your sheers for light filtering. 2. Beat the Heat With Outdoor Window Treatments Some of the best window treatments for blocking heat and light during the summer months belong on the outside of your home. If you haven't done so already, consider investing in shutters. Shutters can vastly improve the efficiency of your home while providing excellent UV ray protection. This will keep your flooring and furnishings from fading while offering a fair amount of skin protection. In addition to tightening home envelopes, shutters provide excellent noise reduction and offer added protection against the natural elements. With your shutters standing guard as your home's first defense, you'll still have one or more window treatments at the interior of the building during the next big heat wave. Outdoor Shades Work, Too If shutters aren't the right look for you, opt for lightweight, retractable shades. Installing outdoor shades gives you yet another way to safeguard your home from solar heat gains whenever temperatures spike. You can use outdoor shades with layered indoor window treatments to create an airtight space and reduce stress on your AC during the hottest portion of the day. Once the sun sets, you can easily draw them open. 3. Optimize Airflow According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air can be up to five time more contaminated than outdoor air. Even though air conditioners and heat pumps filter the indoor air during operation, they don't extract volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or other gaseous chemical contaminants. When the sun's out and you're running your air conditioner non-stop, all the contaminants introduced into your home by off-gassing building materials, cooking, room freshening sprays, and chemical-laden self-care products and cleaners remain trapped indoors. Blinds are great for optimizing airflow. When the sun sets, the mercury dives, and a cool breeze rolls in, you can turn your blind slats upwards to reflect light from the setting sun and slightly crack your windows. This technique works well for giving ACs an early evening break. It's also an excellent strategy for improving indoor air quality (IAQ). As natural light decreases, you can open your blind slats wider and let more fresh, outdoor air flow in. This easy air exchange will get your home and your IAQ ready for the challenges of the next sweltering day. 4. Keep Indoor Moisture in Check With Shades With a high-functioning air conditioner or heat pump, you'll get reliable humidity regulation whenever your cooling system is on. The right shades can support this by keeping outdoor moisture outside and preventing the buildup of condensation on your windows. Cellular shades are made for high-moisture areas, and they're the perfect addition to any other southern home. You can get similar benefits from faux wood blinds, vinyl blinds, and aluminum blinds. Moisture-resistant blinds or shades are an essential upgrade if you currently have heavy fabric drapes or multiple layers of sheers. Some materials capture and retain moisture. They're also prone to problems like mold and mildew and can lower IAQ as a result. 5. Go Motorized Don't worry about dragging your ladder out to draw your outdoor shades or running through your home to manually adjust your blinds. Shop for motorized window treatments that you can open, close, and adjust with just the touch of a button. This way, as lighting and temperatures change, you can quickly adapt your window treatments to reflect your most current needs. At Just Blinds, we're all about comfort. We want your window treatments to look amazing, but believe that you should feel amazing too. We offer a fantastic selection of blinds, shutters, shades, and custom draperies to help our clients beat the heat in the summer months . Let us help you stay cool in style. To speak with our design consultants, contact Just Blinds today!
Windows give a home warmth, light, and a view of the outside world. But with the right treatments, you can also use your windows to make your home feel cozy. Coziness is a semse of comfort and familiarity. It defines a charm that feels like home, whether it's the coziness of a warm room in winter, your movie den in the summer. When we think of coziness, we often think of couches, candles, and throw blankets. But your windows play an equally important part. After all, it's your window treatments that frame the light, add softness to your walls, and set the mood for every room. The right window decorations can make your home feel warm and inviting. Using Windows, Drapes, and Shades to Create Coziness Window treatements create a vibe for your entire room. Drapes, shades, and shutters can be used to create a backdrop of texture, color, and style. They also allow you to control the light levels in your home and even the color of the light. This means that your windows are the best place to start when making a room feel cozy. Layering soft drapes in rich colors is a great way to add that sense of comfort and warmth to a room, while cheerful blinds in soft neutrals can help a room to feel relaxed and welcoming. You can also use drapes or blinds to add a splash of color as a bold accent in any room. These touches combined with glowing sunshine during the day create a cozy and comfortable space. Plants as Cozy Window Decor You can use other types of decor to evoke a sense of coziness, too. We particularly love plants. Leafy green plants love the sunshine as much as you do and thrive when placed in a sunny window. Place an elegant snake plant in the windowsill or hang creeping ivy from a hook near the top of a window frame to make your room feel cheerful and alive with green energy. Plants make a home feel natural and vibrantly lived-in which is perfect for your cozy vibe. For a cozy kitchen, you can even grow fresh herbs in a box on the windowsill that add a delicious aroma and tasty fresh seasoning along with their natural visual appeal. Enhance Your Space with Aromatherapy Speaking of aromatics, you might be surprised how much your windows can take part in cozy aromatherapy. Window treatments like drapes and blinds are fabric that can help purfumes and essential oils linger in the room for days. Cozy scents are often warm aromas like cinnamon, vanilla, lavender, almonds, and coffee. But fresh fruit or floral scents that smell like "home" to you can also add a sense of coziness to each room. Simply spritz your curtains with your favorite scents and each room will subtly carry that comforting smell of home that makes you want to snuggle into the couch and relax at the end of each day. Moody Shade and Maximizing Light When we visualize coziness, light levels often play a role. Your minds eye may see a sun-drenched cottage or a gently lit library as your mental idea of a room that is perfectly cozy. Window treatments allow you to set the mood by reducing or maximizing light to the perfect levels. Well-designed shades and drapes can pull back attractively to maximize light, bathing your room in the warm welcoming glow of sunshine. Or if you prefer a more relaxed coziness, you can use translucent drapes or cellular shades to filter the light exactly the right amount. Diffuse and reduced light filtered through fabric of a warm color can make you feel safe and at peace. Increase Your Happiness with Window Design Your home should feel welcoming, relaxing, and cozy. The right window treatments can help set the stage for a delightful welcome home each night, rejuvinating weekends, and an overall feeling of at-home coziness when you are relaxing in your favorite place. To achieve this goal, you can experiment with home decor changes, including your windows, to achieve your ideal at-home bliss. Contact us today for custom drapes and blinds to complete your cozy room design.