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
Your selection of window treatment products and services is not merely about getting a job done. Rather, if you look hard enough, you can find direct correlations between the type of person that you are and the window treatment that you select. We have created this personality-based guide to help you best discover what kind of window treatment truly matches your spirit. The Dependable Type: Wooden Blinds You are the person that all of your friends can count on. You are the type of person who truly sticks to your plans when you make them, and you are the type of person who will choose wooden blinds for your home. Privacy is important to you when selecting your blinds, and that is why you find yourself pulled into the idea of putting up wooden blinds. Besides that, they happen to be highly functional, and that's not something that you are willing to pass up either. The Planner: Blackout Curtains Those who value truly getting the most value out of their blinds or anything else that they install in their homes will think very carefully about their options. For those people, going with blackout curtains makes a lot of sense. They want to gain as much value as possible out of their options, and they know that they can significantly improve their quality of sleep and so much more when they opt for blackout curtains. These also happen to be a great option for those who work night shifts or other odd hours and yet still want to enjoy their sleep. They need blackout curtains to help increase the quality of that sleep and allow themselves to get their day started right. The Tech Enthusiast: Smart Shades They roam among us: The type of people who are quick to adopt any new technology and get to work figuring out how it can improve their lives. These people are great because they are not afraid to take a risk and because they help to move our society forward. They simply want to get more out of each day, and they often do so by adopting and using the latest technologies. These individuals will gravitate towards smart shades for the following attributes: Innovation - Who wants to stick with the boring old ways of shading one's house? Smarter options are now available, and you better believe that the tech enthusiasts among us are willing to latch on to them. Efficiency - These shades are a more efficient option for those who care about that kind of thing. They can be easily activated and set up to open or close automatically (how cool is that?!). Progressive - The "cool" factor is a big deal for people who fall into this category as well. They might not admit to it right off the bat, but they care deeply about what others think about them. As such, they want window shades that have that cool factor attached to them. The Dreamer: Sheer Curtains Finally, we land upon the dreamer. This is the person who views every day for the possibilities that it can bring. They are not scared off by those with a negative attitude. If anything, they believe that they can change those people! Instead, the dreamer wants sheer curtains because they bring in soft light, open spaces, and bring about a feeling of possibility all throughout the house. Sheer curtains are the ideal option for someone who classifies themselves in this way. They will receive plenty of compliments on their curtains, and they will appreciate how open they are to the world. Which kind of person are you and which window treatment option makes the most sense for your personality? For more inspiration and ideas, reach out and contact us today.
We all know and understand the concept of installing outdoor shades on a patio. It is the classic way to create a cool and comfortable space for yourself and your friends to spend some quality time together outdoors. There is nothing wrong with that, but it is limiting to think that the patio is the only part of one's property where outdoor shades are appropriate. There are some surprising and unexpected places where homeowners have taken to installing outdoor shades recently. We want to take a look at some of these to provide you with ideas for your next home improvement project. 1) Balconies Some homes are built quite close together, and some homeowners naturally feel like they would like to do more to protect their privacy. Although their neighbors might not intentionally be looking through their balconies, it is easy for the human eye to drift. Thus, some city-dwelling homeowners have made the choice to install outdoor shades in this area. On top of keeping prying eyes off of your property, outdoor shades also block the sun rays from your balcony as well creating a more comfortable space to spend some time. 2) Outdoor Kitchens One of the most delightful social experiences that someone can have is to invite over a large group of friends for a meal cooked outside. It gives everyone the opportunity to share stories, laughes, and a bit of food all at the same time. Of course, this is best done in an outdoor kitchen. Your outdoor kitchen is a space where you should feel comfortable and have the ability to entertain a large group of people all at the same time. This means looking at installing outdoor shades to provide an extra layer of protection from the heat of the sun. Thus, this has become another area where homeowners are quickly installing outdoor shades. 3) Poolside Lounges Now we are really talking! Who doesn't love to kick back with their favorite cold beverage and spend some time relaxing next to the pool? That is what you can enjoy more completely when you set up a poolside lounge with outdoor shades. Poolside lounges are meant to be a place where you can spend several hours at a time. However, it can get pretty hot while doing so if you don't put some outdoor shades in place. Get those shades up so you can let all of your worries melt away as you take in the smell of pool water and sunscreen. 4) Garden Areas Do you enjoy a little gardening in your downtime? You might like it even more after setting up outdoor shades that protect you from the excessive heat of the sun. Gardening is labor-intensive work and can take several hours of diligent labor to do it properly. However, you don't want to overextend yourself and end up getting physically overworked. Keeping some of the sun away is an excellent way to ensure that you don't overdo it. Just make sure that you check up on the sunlight needs of the various plants that you intend to put into your garden before installing outdoor shades. 5) Exterior Windows Did you know that it is possible to reduce your energy bills by installing outdoor shades? It's true! If you place outdoor shades on the exterior windows of your home, you can reduce the strain placed on your air conditioning by naturally reducing the overall temperature within your living space. This means less money out of your pocket and more money for working on your next project. There are many interesting places where homeowners are installing outdoor shades these days. For more creative ideas on what you can do with yours, reach out and contact us now.