ArticleBliss Directory
Free Article Directory
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Actions
Print Article
BookMark Article
Author Login 
Important
Existing members will have to use the lost password facility to get new username and new password
Welcome Guest! Please login or create an account.
If you do not have an account yet, you can register ( Here ), or you may retrieve a lost user/pass ( Here ).
Navigation 
- Home
- Privacy Policy
- Terms Of Use
- Submit Guidelines
- Learn More
- Top Articles
- Ebay UK Store
- Ebay US Store
Author Highlights 
chivos parami
La Ciudad
Steve Scully
Rotherham
Philippe Perard
Reims
Other Websites 
How Clean Are Your Blinds? Top Tips To Prolong Their Lifespan
Author : Brad Swarner
In fact it’s becoming positively trendy to don your marigolds and boast about your back to basics approach to keeping bacteria and bugs at bay!
And of course looking after your furniture and furnishings will also help to prolong their lifespan, saving both the time and money involved in having to replace them.
Sarah Quilliam, head of product design at Hillarys Blinds, the UK’s largest supplier of blinds and shutters gives her top tips on keeping your window dressings pristine and spotless.
“Unlike many curtains, most blinds don’t need to be dry cleaned, which can be expensive,” says Sarah. “The best approach to cleaning all blinds is 'little and often'. This will prolong their life and keep them looking at their best for longer. And generally speaking, will reduce how frequently you’ll need to take them down for a more thorough cleaning.”
Rollers
Couldn’t be easier, simply dust down as required with a dry or damp cloth.
Venetians
Use a feather duster to clean the slats of your venetian blinds on a regular basis to prevent a build up of moisture and dust. Or, wearing a pair of cotton gloves, wipe your fingers between the slats for a thorough clean. Wood and aluminium venetians can also just be dusted with a dry or damp cloth. Or if you close the slats, another option is to hoover them with the upholstery attachment of the vacuum cleaner. Even easier!
If they’re very dirty aluminium venetians can be removed from their brackets and dunked in the bath or shower for cleaning, then hung over a washing line to dry. Be careful not to bend the slats and use a mild household detergent.
Wood venetians
Although the wood is preserved, water or even too much dampness may cause the slats to warp or stain. So given that the surface of the slats is smooth, dust may be simply brushed off regular using a dust cloth or a vacuum.
Romans
If the blind is just dusty, use a soft brush, or vacuum with the upholstery tool. If it’s grubby, you can use a mild detergent to clean it, but always test on a discreet area first and leave for 24 hours to make sure. Either clean in situ or, for a more thorough job, take down, lay it on the floor on towels, spray it and gently wipe with a soft clean cloth.
Most fabrics can also be dry cleaned with care. Remove the blind from the headrail, take out the horizontal rods and bottom bar and ensure the dry cleaner is aware of the special cleaning label sewn into the seam.
It’s always a good idea to check that all your blind is completely dry before rehanging it, as dampness will attract more dust.
Verticals
Again, keeping on top of the dust with a quick, weekly wipe down with a dry or damp cloth is a good idea.
Some vertical blinds can be washed, although very precise preparation of the fabric louvres is required. Remove the fabric from the headrail and unclip all the weights and chains. Tightly roll the fabric into small coils, keeping them all in line without creases and place into a pillowcase and tie with a knot. Wash one roll at a time on a 40 degree woollens wash using a mild detergent. Cancel the final rinse and do not spin. Hang the fabric to drip dry – do not tumble dry or iron. Replace the weights and chains and hang the louvres back on the track. For those fabrics that can’t be washed (always check the label), the upholstery brush on your vacuum cleaner will gently remove any dust.
Pleated / Honeycomb / Woodweave
A dry duster used to clean these blinds is all that is needed. But be careful not to damage the pleats by pressing too hard.
Shutters
Looking after shutters, couldn't be easier. Dust them as you would a table top and every so often, give them a wash with warm soapy water to keep them in tip-top pristine condition.
Author's Resource Box
For more information on blinds, awnings or shutters visit Hillary’s Blinds on www.hillarys.co.uk.
Article Source:
Articlebliss
Tags: blinds, shutters, awnings
Author RSS Feed
Category RSS Feed
Submitted : 2008-08-08 Word Count : 688 Popularity: 93 Times Viewed: 15
