Caring for Your Vertical Blinds, Drapes, and More
Welcome back to another entry here at the Budget Blinds of Scottsdale blog! We are continuing our spring cleaning series giving you the basic how-to to clean your window coverings. Cleaning them, getting rid of dust, dirt, and debris can improve your indoor air quality drastically and help keep everyone inside healthy. So without any further preamble let's talk about caring for your window treatments.
Caring for Your Vertical Blinds, Drapes, and More
Scroll and find the kinds of window coverings you have and then follow our step-by-step guide to clean them correctly!
Vertical Blinds
It's a slightly more involved process to clean vertical blinds, especially if they are floor-to-ceiling. Luckily, we’re here to help! An easy way to start the process is to start by running a lint roller over them, to remove the excess dirt.
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First, dust both sides with a dry cloth, vacuum with a soft brush attachment on a low suction setting(or use a lint roller). Start from the top and work your way to the bottom for each slat.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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Lightly dust both sides with a clean and dry cloth, or a vacuum with an upholstery attachment and a low suction setting.
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For heavily-soiled vertical fabric blinds, take down the vane and lay it on a flat surface.
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Clean with a sponge and a mixture of warm water and mild detergent, or use a dry fabric cleaner.
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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
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Unsnap the fabric from the vanes to wash sheer fabric vertical blinds.
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It’s recommended to wash using a mild detergent and on a gentle cycle.
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Let them air dry instead of placing in the dryer.
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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.
Drapes and Curtains
This one’s a bit tougher. We do not recommend dry cleaning your drapes and curtains as it’s likely to shrink them. For the best care, we recommend the following:
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Regularly vacuum your draperies with a brush or upholstery attachment on a low suction setting to keep the dust off. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure so keep dirt from accumulating.
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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.
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Warnings: Many fabrics, though washable, are not meant to be placed in the dryer, it’s best to let them air dry. Want to get rid of stubborn wrinkles, iron while still damp. Before washing lined drapery, check if both the lining and face fabric are washable. Also worth noting, 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 a surefire way to add beauty and style to your home décor, sure but they need very specific, gentle cleaning and care to keep them looking as good as new.
As always, follow manufacturer’s recommendations. Look at tags and manuals to find out what exact brand you have and look to see if they have any specific upkeep requirements. Unsure what you have? Window coverings past the point of no return? Give us a call, Larry or Steven are happy to help!
