The rush of daily life makes it tedious to do cleaning when arriving back home after arriving home. However, this is a must as a clean home is a pretty home. Keep in mind that the first thing that a guest sees when entering a house are its window coverings. They are also the items that are usually overlooked while a cleaning process is underway. This results in the fast wear and tear of the window coverings. Routine maintenance and cleaning ensure that they last longer. Here are a few tips and tricks to clean and maintain different types of window coverings.
Different Types of Blinds and the Best Ways to Clean Them
The first thing to keep in mind while cleaning is that different materials need different types of window treatments. What works for one material may not show the same results on another.
- Cotton blinds should be hand or machine washed from time to time. They are also easily soiled and need frequent cleaning.
- Synthetic fabric blinds can be delicate so they should be handled by professionals to avoid potentially damaging them. If you are confident that they can be cleaned at home, then extremely light detergents should be used while handwashing them.
- Faux Wooden blinds should be dusted with a vacuum cleaner and a dust brush attachment. Make sure the bottom rail is held and all the blinds are closed before vacuuming it. Reverse and repeat.
- Wooden blinds attract and retain surrounding moisture. This invariably means that due to the porous nature of wood, these blinds might get stained easily. Liquid soap added to a little warm water and using a damp cloth can wipe away all kinds of stains from these blinds. Furniture polish can also be used.
General Instructions to Keep in Mind When Cleaning Any Type of Blinds
- All blinds need to be vacuum cleaned weekly. This ensures that dust is removed before it has a chance to build up.
- Both sides should be vacuumed properly, as should every fold, pleat, and corner.
- If hand washing them, use a squeezing technique. The detergent must be thoroughly dissolved in water before the blinds are added to the laundry tub. This ensures that the chemicals in the detergent does its job in cleaning without soiling the product.
- To dry them, use a combination of tumble drying and air drying. Use a low heat cycle or a no heat cycle for the best results without damaging the product.
- Window coverings usually attract a lot of fur and hair. Using lint rollers can be helpful in removing them.
- Fabric fresheners can be a huge help in removing any odours.
- If there are blinds on the kitchen window, then there is a possibility of grease and grime has settled on the slats. Make a solution of water and vinegar 1:1 and use a microfibre cloth to clean it.
Additional Tips For The Rods and Cords Of The Blinds
Just like the blinds, even the rods and the cords that support them can get dirty. Use a damp cloth for them. Take this time to untangle any knots that may have formed on the cords. Check for any corrosion on the rods and treat them with baking soda, white vinegar, hydrogen peroxide and cola.
Sometimes the material at the top of the vertical blinds is damaged if the blinds are pulled too hard. Install vane savers on them so that they get extra support. The cords of every blind must be changed from time to time in order to keep the material intact. Keeping a clothespin in your pocket can come in handy during slat cleaning. If you are interrupted, you can attach the clothespin to the slat you were working on to easily where you left off.
What to Avoid
- Never leave wet blinds to dry on the rods they hang on. Doing so won’t just rust the rods but may damage the surrounding furniture or floor.
- Don’t vacuum a still wet blind for it might attract dust to it which would be very difficult to remove later.
- Don’t use a lot of pressure when cleaning delicate fabrics or it might damage it.
Regular dusting along with these tips will ensure that a yearly deep cleaning won’t be as time-consuming. They will also increase the longevity of window dressings so that your home can stay looking good even when you get unannounced visitors stopping by.
