Our Spring Cleaning Checklist
With Edmonton & St. Albert's warm weather easing up to us like a nervous doe, let's take this opportunity to slap on our rubber gloves, hold our dusters to the sky, and scream it from the rooftops: SPRING CLEANING!
The festive summer season is fast approaching and preparing for the warm weather before summer takes hold can be a challenging affair. As always, we are here to help with a comprehensive spring cleaning checklist
You can even print this list out and cross the duties off as you go. Simply right click on the infographic below and save then print.
You may be surprised to know that blinds accumulate dust for months on end which can make them harder to clean, causing major damage. It is crucial to clean your blinds on a regular basis to prevent health risks like allergies.
We want your window treatments to stay beautiful, so we're offering some tips on how to properly clean your window treatments without damage.
- Thoroughly vacuum the blinds with the dust brush of your vacuum cleaner to remove all dirt and dander. If fabric blinds are stained, spot clean using a little fabric detergent (clear) or dampen a microfiber cloth to blot the stain away.
- Let the blinds dry completely before raising them up. If the stains don’t come up, we recommend you take them to a dry cleaner.
At Budget Blinds Edmonton & St. Albert, we do not recommend dry cleaning your drapes and curtains as it’s likely to shrink them. For the best care for your draperies, curtains, and valances, we recommend the following:
- Regularly vacuum your draperies with a brush or upholstery attachment on a low setting to keep the dust off so dirt does not accumulate.
- For washable fabrics, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. It’s best to always use a gentle cycle, mild detergent, and cold water to prevent damage or shrinkage.
- Warnings – Many fabrics, though washable, are not meant to be placed in the dryer. It’s best to let them air dry. To remove stubborn wrinkles, iron while still damp. Before washing lined drapery, check whether both lining and face fabric are washable. Additionally, while hiring a professional cleaner for draperies is a good idea, be sure to inform them of the fabric content along with any special care instructions.
Using draperies, curtains, and valances is one of the easiest ways to add beauty and style to your home décor; however, they need gentle cleaning care and frequent vacuuming to keep them looking as clean and beautiful as new.
- First, lightly dust with a dry cotton cloth.
- Special care needs to be taken with wood as it can easily warp or discolor with harsh ingredients. Use lemon oil or a good-quality wood polish instead of harsh chemicals to protect the wood.
- It’s important to not get wood shutters wet. Therefore, wipe them with a clean cotton cloth that is lightly sprayed with wood polish or lemon oil.
- Flip the louvers to clean the other side.
- Finish by lightly wiping the shutters with a dry, clean cloth to absorb excess product.
- Lower the shades completely.
- Using a vacuum with a soft brush attachment and a low setting, start from the top, as dust from the top may settle on the lower parts.
- Vacuum the back side of the shade as well.
- For stubborn stains, use stain remover on the affected area. Consult the manual or your Budget Blinds consultant for special care instructions before using stain remover, and test first on a hidden seam.
- Let the fabric shade air dry.
- Dust with a feather duster or lightly vacuum fabric with an upholstery attachment.
- Wipe with a damp cloth to clean.
- Do not immerse in water.
It’s slightly more challenging to clean vertical blinds. Especially if they are floor-to-ceiling, the process becomes even more difficult. However, an easy cleaning approach to dust vertical blinds would be to simply roll a lint roller over them, to remove the excess dirt.
Depending on whether your vertical blinds are made of aluminum, vinyl, or fabric, you can use one of the following methods for a deep clean:
- First, dust both sides with a dry cloth, vacuum with a brush attachment on a low setting or use a lint roller. Make sure you start from the top and work your way to the bottom for each slat.
- Next, prepare for a deep clean by assembling a clean cloth and an all-purpose spray cleaner or a mixture of liquid dish soap and water.
- Clean each slat with a cloth dampened with soapy water or cleaner. Rinse with a clean cloth dampened with plain water.
Vinyl or Aluminum Vertical Blinds
- Vinyl or aluminum blinds can be washed with soapy water and a sponge without taking them down.
- Just be sure to place towels under the blinds to catch drips to avoid a wet carpet or slippery floor.
- After washing each slat down its full length and on both sides, rinse the slats and wipe dry with a clean cloth.
Vertical Fabric Blinds
- Lightly dust both sides with a clean and dry cloth or sock, or a vacuum with an upholstery attachment and a low setting.
- For heavily-soiled vertical fabric blinds, take down the vane and lay it on a flat surface.
- Clean with a sponge and a mixture of warm water and mild detergent or use a dry fabric cleaner.
- Be sure to blot dry to avoid patches or discoloration.
- Warning – Do not dry clean or immerse vertical fabric blinds in water.
Sheer Fabric Vertical Blinds
- Unsnap the fabric from the vanes to wash sheer fabric vertical blinds.
- It’s recommended to wash using a mild detergent and a gentle cycle.
- Let them air dry instead of placing in the dryer.
- To remove wrinkles, press or steam on a low setting.
- Warning – to prevent damage, do not steam or iron the sheer fabric blinds while they’re attached to the vanes.
Cleaning your window treatments on a more regular basis will keep them looking as beautiful as the day you got them. Make sure to read the manufacturer’s guidelines when cleaning and use this as a baseline.
We didn't cover cleaning tips for every window treatment type as we carry so many!
With that said, happy spring cleaning!