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How To Clean Blinds & Curtains
We spend a lot of time finding the perfect window coverings for every room in the house. From deciding on a style that suits to picking beautiful materials and the perfect colours, it’s a great way to update the look and feel of any space!
But how often do we think about how to clean blinds and curtains
As with other home furnishings, it’s important to keep blinds and curtains clean so that they stay looking their best for many years. Read on to learn about the simplest, most effective tips and tricks for cleaning and maintaining the window dressings you love.
How to Clean Venetian Blinds
Venetian blinds are a great option if you want to be able to vary the amount of light coming into a room, and control privacy at the same time. However, due to the number of individual slats that make up the blind, they can attract a lot of dust if not cleaned regularly.
It’s good practice to make a habit of putting the vacuum cleaner to your blinds, using the soft brush nozzle, to remove dust from Venetian blinds. There are even special blind brushes for some vacuum cleaners. Wet wipes are another practical way of keeping dust and grease from building up, particularly in the kitchen.
A static feather duster or cloth is also useful for cleaning Venetian blinds. When the blinds are open you can quickly dust between each row of slats. Or, when the blinds are closed, going over the complete area of the blinds makes for a quick and easy clean. Tumble dryer sheets can also be used in the same way as they are great for picking up dust rather than simply spreading it around.
You can, of course, take blinds down and give them a more thorough wash. It’s important not to get wooden blinds too wet as this can damage the wood. They certainly shouldn’t be left to sit in water; a rub with a damp cloth, followed by a dry towel to remove any excess moisture, is usually enough to keep them looking as good as new if carried out every once in a while.
Aluminium blinds are more forgiving of being washed, which is one of the reasons they make a great choice for bathrooms and kitchens. Lay them carefully in the bathtub or base of a shower, then proceed to clean them with a soft brush and warm water, perhaps including a little detergent or vinegar. Hang the blinds up to dry before you put them back in place on the window.
Cleaning Vertical Blinds
Vertical blinds are best dusted with a microfibre cloth or static dusting brush, to pick up and remove surface dust. A quick going over fairly regularly will stop any dust from settling and working its way too deeply into the fabric. If the slats have been soiled in any way, take them down and wash them by hand. The slats should never be folded, so you should handle the cleaning process very gently. Roll the slats as you need, but try to fit them into the bathtub a straight as possible.
If you want to wash vertical blinds, ensure to use only cold or luke-warm water. Using a small amount of water, dampen the blinds and rub gently with a soft cloth to remove stains. If staining is more stubborn, a non abrasive soap can be used. It’s best to use products that don’t contain any bleach as these may lead to fading or discolouring of the blinds. Adding a small amount of laundry detergent to the water can also work well – just be sure to rinse thoroughly.
Another option for cleaning vertical blinds is to carefully remove and roll up each slat and secure with thread. The rolled up slats can then be placed into a pillowcase and washed cold in the washing machine.
Once the blinds are clean, remove as much excess water as possible by patting with a soft towel and then hang to dry.
Cleaning Roller Blinds
Roller blinds rarely get very dirty; they are usually rolled up during the day and so are able to avoid marks and staining. When used regularly, the action of rolling and unrolling the blinds generally helps to disperse dust, and can certainly help to prevent a thick layer from forming.
However, it’s still important to keep on top of things to ensure they stay looking their best. So how can you clean roller blinds? A quick vacuum using a brush attachment of your vacuum cleaner is recommended to keep them free from dust.
You can also use a damp cloth with a small amount of washing up liquid if necessary, should you need to remove any marks or stains from your roller blinds. Try to absorb as much moisture as possible from the blinds using a towel, and leave rolled out vertically to dry before rolling up again only once completely dry.
Cleaning Roman Blinds
It is easy to clean Roman blinds with a cloth or brush. You can also use a vacuum every once in a while to remove any dust from the fabric using a fabric attachment if you have one. It’s best to use your machine on a lower suction setting so as not to damage the blinds.
They can be taken down and washed if necessary, but this can be complicated as the cords may get wound together. Take care handling Roman blinds.
Cleaning Velux Blinds and Roof/Skylight Blinds
Many Velux blinds fabrics are designed to repel dust and dirt, but if you do need to clean them they can be easily dusted with a cloth or given a once-over with the vacuum cleaner. Spot cleaning with a damp cloth or wet wipe is another option, but don’t rub them or you might damage the fabric.
A challenge when cleaning skylight blinds can be reaching them. You may need to use a longer vacuum attachment or duster. Alternatively, step ladders can be used if required to reach windows that are positioned higher up. It’s important to to overreach to clean your skylight blinds, especially if using step ladders, and safety should always be the top priority.
Assuming you can reach them, cleaning Velux blinds is similar to cleaning other blind types, whether Velux Venetian, Roman or roller styles.
Cleaning Curtains
There is a misconception that cleaning curtains has to be a major undertaking, but in reality, it is not much different from washing any other delicate fabrics. There is, however, a single major difference – it’s a far bigger problem if your curtains shrink than it is if your t-shirt does. So it is definitely worth your while to give the issue a bit of thought before you actually start the process of cleaning your curtains.
The most suitable way to clean your curtains will depend on the material they are made from, and the type of lining they have. For some curtains it’s best to take them to the dry cleaners, or for a quick freshen-up simply hang them carefully outdoors on a sunny day with gentle breeze.
Some curtains can be washed in a machine; you should always check the care instructions before going ahead with this. A cool wool or delicate cycle with a low spin rate is usually recommended. It’s important that the water level is high, as this offers extra protection to the fabric. When curtains are larger, it might be prudent to wash each one separately as opposed to stuffing two curtains into a single wash.
If you are uncertain as to whether your curtains are suitable for machine washing but don’t want to take them to the dry cleaners, the safest choice is to use the bathtub. Gently wash your curtains with cool water, using mild detergent if required. A shower can also be used to rinse the curtains down.
Whether you hand-wash your curtains or use the washing machine, you should re-hang them whilst they are still a bit damp. This helps eliminate unnecessary creases during drying.
