Cleaning Tips for Window Blinds and Shutters - AMR Design

Cleaning Tips for Window Blinds and Shutters
BY BU DG ET BL I NDS
MA R CH 1 3 , 2 0 2 0

Raise your hand if you like cleaning your windows and window coverings.

No hands? No surprise there! Cleaning windows and window coverings can be very time-consuming and
frustrating, especially blinds and shutters with all those slats that collect dust. Rather than give in to this
sentiment on mini-blinds, a little TLC (Tender Loving Care) will keep all your blinds and shutters looking
fabulous!

What the Experts Say
To help ensure that you have a successful cleaning campaign every time, here are some tips from cleaning
professionals, including “at-home professionals” who have mastered the art of DIY cleaning for window
blinds and shutters. As you’ll note, cleaning recommendations vary from professional to professional:

• Dust or vacuum them every time you clean house
  • Dust window coverings once a month
  • Give a thorough cleaning once a season (summer, fall, winter, spring)
  • Twice-a-year do a deep clean (i.e., spring cleaning and just before the holidays)
Factors like weather, smokers, allergy sufferers, sticky little ngers and pets contribute to the challenge to keep
window treatments clean. Ultimately, you are the determining factor in how often to clean your blinds, shades,
shutters or drapes.

Blinds and Shutters–Aluminum, Vinyl, Painted Wood, and

Faux Wood
Dusting by hand, three popular methods:

  • For blinds, extend as far as they will go; close blinds and shutters as at as possible. Use a feather duster
    or soft dust cloth and start at the top and work your way across each slat, all the way to the bottom.
    Rotate slats and repeat process.
  • Place a sock on your hand, slightly open the slats and run your hand back and forth, over and under each
    slat. When clean, do another “once over” with a dryer sheet to repel dust.
  • Use specialty tools for cleaning louvers that allow you to swipe several slats clean at the same time, both
    sides.
Vacuuming makes quick work of dusting

  • Use a brush attachment and go over the slats, side to side, starting at the top and working your way down
  • Rotate slats and start again
  • Finish by wiping slats with a dryer sheet or spraying with anti-static dust product
TIP: Treat the duster with a non-silicone, anti-static spray to attract dust and leave the blind’s surface dust-
resistant so it’s easier to clean next time around.

Washing Grimy Blinds–Aluminum or Vinyl
If dusting or vacuuming isn’t enough to get soiled blinds clean, you can give aluminum and vinyl blinds a bath!
(This necessitates taking them down from the windows.)

  • Lay blinds at in the bathtub with just enough water to cover them; mix in two to three cups of white
    vinegar and a squirt of dishwashing soap
  • Let blinds soak for ve to ten minutes each side, then wipe both sides of the slats with a sponge
  • For crevices, use an old toothbrush or a small paintbrush to deep clean
  • Rinse blinds in clean water and place on a towel rack or hook to dry, or lay at on the oor
  • Wipe dry with a clean cloth or chamois
If the weather permits, you can wash blinds outside with soapy water, a sponge and a garden hose. Hang
blinds on a clothesline or lay at on the driveway or patio. Then it’s basically the same process as the bathtub—
spray with soapy water to dampen, let soak, wipe clean, rinse with garden hose and dry.

TIP: For non-submersible blinds and shutters, sponge with a mild detergent and warm water solution; blot dry.

Real Wood Blinds and Shutters
  • Never get real wood blinds or shutters “wet.” Use furniture polish or lemon oil to help protect the wood and
    restore its beauty.
  • Lightly spray a soft cloth with furniture polish and dust the top, bottom and side of each slat while the
    blind is mounted.
For badly soiled wood, use a mild detergent in tepid water and a clean cotton cloth. Clean the area and rinse
with clear water; immediately dry with a cotton cloth.

Regular dusting keeps wood blinds free of dust and dirt buildup and helps your family breathe easier

TIP: Micro ber seems to be the cloth of choice due to its extreme softness and dust attraction, and Swiffer
products got a lot of call-outs for ease-of-use and ef ciency.

Vertical Blinds
By virtue of their usual oor-to-ceiling size, vertical blinds can be challenging to clean, but regular dusting by
hand or vacuum should limit deep cleaning measures to once or twice a year.

  • Starting at the top of each slat, hand dust or vacuum both sides all the way to the bottom.
  • Spot clean soiled areas with soapy water or an all-purpose spray cleaner on a clean, soft cloth; rinse with a
    clean, moistened cloth.
  • For washing vinyl or aluminum blinds, place towels or a tarp under the blinds to catch drips.

• With a sponge and soapy water, wash the full length of each slat, both sides, until clean. (Vinyl vanes can
         also be removed and immersed in water.)
       • Rinse and wipe dry with clean, dry cloth.
       • Sheer fabric vertical blinds can be washed by unsnapping the fabric from the vanes. Wash gentle cycle
         with Woolite, line dry, press or steam on low, snap fabric back on vanes.

    Exterior Shutters—Aluminum, Vinyl, and Composite
    Exterior shutters can easily be cleaned with a garden hose, a brush and mops. The process may require a
    ladder, extension rods and a helper for safety, especially if it’s a two-story house.

       • Brush all loose dirt off the shutters
       • Hose down the shutters before scrubbing with soapy water and a mop
       • Rinse shutters immediately, don’t let the soapy water dry
       • Wipe the shutters dry with a clean micro ber mop
       • If you have a pressure washer, brush away any loose dirt, power wash, and dry

Budget Blinds of
                                                                                                        (780) 851-3257
Edmonton & St. Albert
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    Keeping the patio looking like new is almost effortless with easy-care exterior aluminum shutters

    TIP: You can always call in the professionals to clean your window coverings!

    Sparkling clean blinds and shutters will make your whole home feel fresh! But if your window coverings are
    past cleaning and it’s time to really renew and refresh, Budget Blinds can help with stylish and trending blinds,
    shutters, shades, and drapery fashions to transform your home. If you need easy-care or eco-friendly window
    coverings, or just want the ultimate convenience of motorization, your local Budget Blinds Style Consultant can
    help you combine stylish fashion with practical functionality for beautiful results. Call 866-921-1880 today to