How to clean blinds without spoiling anything

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

There will be no problems with either vertical or horizontal curtains.

How to wash blinds

It depends on the material from which the slats are made - the narrow strips that make up the blinds. It is best to use a non-corrosive detergent that will not damage the coating or fabric of the lamellas.

• Soap solution. Laundry or baby soap will do. Grind a block on a grater to make 2-3 tablespoons of shavings, and dissolve in 3 liters of warm water.
• Dishwashing liquid. It is enough to dilute a tablespoon of the product in 3 liters of water at room temperature.
• Washing gel. A tablespoon is enough for 5-10 liters of water at room temperature.
• Store-bought glass cleaner. It is suitable for the maintenance of plastic or metal lamellas.

What do you need

Before you start cleaning, make sure you have all the tools at your fingertips. Here is a short checklist.

• Household gloves.
• Vacuum cleaner for dry cleaning, manual or conventional. Or, if not, a dusting brush.
• Microfiber cloths or soft cloths. They will be needed to remove dirt from hard-to-reach places. In addition, you can look for cleaning horizontal blinds: she can grab several slats at the same time and wipe them on both sides.
• Dishwashing brush or sponge.
• Detergent solution.
• A spray bottle if you are preparing the cleaning solution yourself. This will make it easier to apply the product to the blinds.
• Antistatic spray. It is good for them to handle blinds after cleaning and washing, so that dust does not stick to the slats for longer.
• Screwdriwer set. They will be needed if you decide to unscrew the self-tapping screws that attach the curtains to the wall or ceiling.

How to clean wood, straw or bamboo blinds

These slats cannot be washed. Under the influence of moisture, planks made of natural materials swell and deform. Therefore, only dry cleaning is permissible - with a vacuum cleaner or a cloth.

First close the blinds completely by moving them to the "maximum sun protection" position. Use a vacuum cleaner or rag to remove all dust from them. It is important to do this on both sides.

Then unfold the slats to a horizontal position and use a rag to go over each slat on both sides, carefully cleaning out any remaining dust and stains, if any.

For serious dirt, you can use ready-made cleaning agents that are designed to care for natural furniture. But it’s better not to abuse it.

Open the lamellas again to a vertical, closed position and treat them with an antistatic spray intended for the care of wood products.

How to clean vertical fabric blinds

It is almost impossible to clean such a structure without removing it from the window. You will not be able to properly remove the remaining detergent, so ugly stains are likely to remain on the fabric. So it's best to remove the blinds.

But if it doesn't work out, there is also a way to put the slats in order right on the window.

If you can remove the blinds

First, clean the dust from the blinds. The easiest way to do this is by unfolding the slats to a half-closed state and thoroughly vacuuming them.

Remove the slats from the eaves mountings. How to do this is described in the video below.

Release the slats from the control cords and weights located at the bottom of the planks and roll them up.

At this stage, it is better to stop and take the rolled lamellas to a dry cleaner. This is the safest and safest way to wash them without damaging the fabric or leaving stains on it. If dry cleaning is not available for various reasons, you will have to wash the fabric strips at home.

Place the folded lamellas in a bowl with the prepared detergent solution and leave to soak for 10-15 minutes. Then load the roll into a laundry bag or old pillowcase and place in the machine. You need to wash the blinds at a temperature not exceeding 30 ℃ in a delicate mode and without spinning.

The planks can also be cleaned manually. To do this, unfold the roll, take out one lamella and treat it with a sponge or soft brush moistened with detergent solution.

Never use bleach. Stain removers are acceptable, but only if they are free of chlorine. However, before using, test the product on an inconspicuous area of the blind anyway.

Rinse the washed lamellas thoroughly in clean water and leave to dry flat.

When the planks are dry, replace the weights and control laces and secure the slats to the eaves.

If you cannot remove the blinds

Spread the blinds so that they completely cover the window. Move the slats to the open position so that they are located with an edge towards you. This will provide free access to the planks from all sides.

Apply detergent to the front and back of the slats.

Use a soft sponge or brush to wipe the lamellas on all sides.

Use a microfiber cloth or other highly absorbent material to wipe off any residual detergent from the lamellas. Do this carefully so that there are no streaks on the planks.

How to clean vertical blinds made of metal or plastic

Such blinds are washed without removing from the window, according to the same scheme as vertical blinds made of fabric.

Spread the blinds across the entire width of the window. Move the slats to the open position - they should be located with an edge towards you. This will allow you to thoroughly wash the planks on both sides.

Using a spray bottle, apply the detergent to all surfaces. Use a soft sponge or cloth to thoroughly wipe the lamellas on both sides. Remove any remaining detergent with a clean, damp cloth.

Wipe the slats with a dry microfiber cloth or other absorbent material to keep moisture away.

After finishing cleaning, you can treat the lamellas with an antistatic spray. To do this, close the blinds and spray.

How to clean horizontal fabric blinds

Removing such blinds and washing will not work. Often, the design of horizontal blinds does not involve disassembly at all. And if there is such an option, then you will spend too much time to remove and reinstall each lamella. Therefore, horizontal fabric blinds are cleaned directly on the window.

Dry cleaning is usually sufficient. Close the blinds of the entire window and move the slats to the vertical position ("maximum sun protection").

Use a vacuum cleaner, broom or rag to remove dust from both sides of the curtain.

Move the lamellas to a horizontal position and use a rag or brush to go over each one to remove the remaining dust from hard-to-reach places.

You can try to get rid of stains and other dirt on the lamellas with a regular eraser. If that doesn't work, take a sponge dampened with a soap solution. Do not scrub too vigorously to avoid washing off the coating and deforming the fabric. When the stain is dealt with, wipe off any remaining detergent from the area to be treated with a damp cloth.

How to clean horizontal blinds made of metal or plastic

Depends on whether you can remove the curtain or wash it right on the window.

If you can remove the blinds

This is the fastest and least expensive cleaning method.

Close the blinds by rotating the planks vertically. Vacuum or wipe them with a dry cloth. A lot of dust has probably accumulated on the lamellas, and this procedure will prevent it from scattering around the room. Change the position of the slats several times to remove all the dirt.

Open the blinds slightly and raise them about halfway up so they don't take up too much space. Then remove from the mountings. The process may differ slightly depending on the type of fastener, but in general it looks like this.

First you need to remove the overlays that cover the mounting location. Then, using a screwdriver, unscrew the screws, carefully holding the curtain so that it does not fall. Lightweight blinds can be attached to the wall with clamps: in this case, you do not have to unscrew anything, you just need to slightly bend the fixing element and pull the cornice out from under it.

Remove the curtain rod from the blinds (it must be wiped with a separate cloth soaked in the cleaning solution) and soak the lamellas in the cleaning solution. It is convenient to do this in a bathtub or shower stall with a high base. If there is no room to soak, simply spray the cleaning agent onto the blinds with a spray bottle.

Leave it on for a few minutes. Plastic blinds can stay in the solution for longer - an hour or even two.

Then rinse the blinds with a sponge or soft brush, being careful to clean each bar. Rinse off the lather with a shower head.

Spread clean blinds on an oilcloth or towel and wipe with a dry cloth. It is important that ugly stains do not appear on dried parts.

Then hang the curtains on the window to dry and wait about a day until all the moisture has evaporated. Then install the curtain rod and fix the entire system in its usual place - a wall or ceiling.

If you cannot remove the blinds

The method is useful if the fasteners are located too high and you do not risk climbing under the ceiling by the window. Or, for example, you are not sure that you can quickly and correctly remove the blinds and then hang them back.

Place oilcloth under the window to protect the floor. Close the blinds first and remove the dust with a cloth or vacuum cleaner. Change the position of the slats several times and repeat the procedure.

Move the planks to the "maximum sun protection" position and apply the cleaning solution over the entire surface from a spray bottle. Wait a few minutes before cleaning. This is necessary to soak the dirt.

Without opening the blinds, wipe them thoroughly with a sponge or cloth dampened with detergent solution. Then unfold the slats to a horizontal position and process them on all sides with the same sponge or rag. The process can be slightly simplified by putting on knitted household gloves on your hands - they can act as an alternative to a sponge and will help to grip each lamella at the same time from both sides. Another option is to use a special brush for cleaning the horizontal blinds.

Walk over the slats with a damp cloth and clean water to remove any residual detergent. Let the blinds dry slightly and treat them with an antistatic agent.