A lot of people focus on what a room looks like (how to
dress it and how to stage it), so much so that sometimes, the windows and their
dressings are forgotten. However, perhaps you have taken the time to shop
around and find the perfect dressing for windows. You understand that they
capture the very essence of the room and invite people in.
After installing them, though, many tend to forget about
them. Slowly, over time, they lose their radiant appeal; they become dusty,
sun-bleached, and worn.
With the above in mind, here are some tips and tricks to help maintain your new blinds radiant and functional, keeping them the talk of the room instead of that ottoman or coffee table.
Dust Blinds Regularly
Regular dusting is one way to keep your new blinds shiny and
looking new”and it's easier to do than you may think. You can use a soft cloth,
microfibre cloth, or even the soft brush attachment on the vacuum; the hard
part is working it into your routine.
When cleaning your blinds, the best way is to make sure that
you remove all the dust from the slats (including in between them), so
regardless of how you position them, there is no dust to take away from the
beauty of the blinds.
- Start by closing the slats almost all the way. Run a soft
cloth or other soft cleaning product over the blind, and then lower it all the
way.
- Pivot the slats so that they almost close all the way in
the opposite direction, and wipe it down again. This allows you to dust the
gaps where the blinds would nearly touch each other.
You can use this same method if you're using a vacuum to
clean the blinds.
The best cleaning material to use is a soft cloth. You can
also use a dryer sheet to remove the dust and keep it from getting up in the
air. You can spot clean with a diluted mix of water and vinegar, or vacuum them
with a soft brush on a low setting.
Do you have vertical blinds? If so, a lint roller is fast and effective in restoring the beauty of your window blinds.
Always Install Blinds Properly
It goes without saying that proper installation makes things
look their best and extends their lifespan. This also applies to window blinds
Regardless if you are installing wide or narrow blinds,
ensuring that the brackets are secured and there is enough support to hold the
blinds in place and level is essential.
Wider blinds are heavier and, therefore, need more support.
So, ensuring that the middle support bracket is in place helps to evenly
distribute the weight, and stops them from sagging in the middle. This prevents
damage to the blind and keeps them looking beautiful.
Incorrect installation can also lead to issues in the
functionality of the blind itself. There are so many moving parts that you
could experience issues with the runners becoming misaligned, tangled, and even
breaking.
With the correct blind installation, however, you can ensure that the blinds function correctly every single time you use them, and thus maintain their allure and refinement.
Deep Cleaning of the Blinds
You should always clean your blinds weekly. However, at
least once a month, you should do a deep clean. A lot of blinds can't (and
shouldn't) go in the washing machine, but you can still clean them when they
are hung in place.
Try not to saturate the blinds. They should never be
dripping wet, as this will stretch out the materials if they are fabric, or
damage them either via rust or mould if they are made of metal or wood.
A simple solution of warm water and dish soap is enough. You
can add baking soda to break down any tough build-up, and then use a soft
cloth. Don't let the cloth become soaking wet; just slightly more than damp is
good enough.
Using your hand or tongs, you can hold the cloth so that it covers both sides simultaneously and slowly pull the cloth along.
Carefully Use a Cleaner
Fabric blinds are particularly sensitive to cleaning
chemicals. As they are placed in the window protecting the room from sunlight,
this can take a toll on them. If you then add in the chemical effect of a
cleaner, the blind can fade or become damaged quickly. However, you can still
use a cleaner; just be careful about how you do so.
Always start cleaning any blind with a damp cloth. This
helps to break up dust and stains. Once dampened, you can then lightly spray
the blinds with a cleaner, but from a distance.
Don't over-saturate the blinds; only spray where you need the extra help. If you are using warm water and dish soap, then no other cleaner will be needed.
Blinded (Not) By the Light
Blinds play a critical role in the aesthetic beauty of the
room they are in. They provide a splash of colour, style, or even a focal
point, as well as keep the sun out of the room, either fully or partially.
However, they are often overlooked when it comes to the
routine cleaning schedule.
By making sure that they are properly maintained and
cleaned, they can last longer than the manufacturer's recommendations. It's
easy to do. For instance, by using a damp soft cloth guided over the slats, and
turning them so you don't miss a spot, they won't stick together when drying.
Cleaning products are fine to use as long as you don't
saturate the blinds. Correct installation will keep them functioning as they
were designed. This will ensure that the blinds have the proper support so that
they don't bend or warp, and will keep them gliding smoothly for longer.
Finally, give the tracks the occasional clean, too. An
angled tip attachment will help to remove any dust or dirt that has gathered
there.
