How to wash the blinds?

In recent years, traditional drapes often replace blinds. This type of curtains almost completely absorbs sunlight, looks neat and takes up very little space. However, when it comes to cleaning, many housewives are lost and do not know what to do.

In total there are twelve types of blinds, but in this article you will be told about those that you can most often meet in ordinary apartments.

Horizontal blinds - one of the favorite species. This type of curtain fits perfectly with any interior, and is also a very functional piece of furniture. For example, you can often see horizontal blinds used in the design of hard-to-reach high windows. This type is called mansard. Often, mansard blinds are equipped with an electric drive, which greatly facilitates opening and closing.

Also horizontal blinds are installed between the frames.Basically, this installation method is used to equip old wooden windows. A similar view, respectively, is called interframe. It helps save space by allowing alternately to open the blinds on one then the other window casement.

The next large group of blinds are vertical. They are made mostly of soft materials, so they are installed in residential premises. Vertical blinds can be multi-textured. Recently, this type is used more and more often, because it looks elegant and bright, at the same time it has all the features of ordinary blinds. Vertical photoblinds are installed in children's rooms, classrooms, living rooms and even bedrooms. This type of curtain allows you to diversify the interior, making it more interesting. Often, such structures become the central part of the entire design composition.

Pleated blinds from a distance can be mistaken for ordinary horizontal blinds, but on closer examination they turn out to be a cloth of rigid fabric folded in the shape of an accordion.This type is often used in the design of arches and openings, but is also found on the windows.

Special louvers for arches and bay windows, as a rule, are not always made with an opening function, as they often have a fancy shape. However, today it is one of the best functional solutions for the design of the openings of intricate shapes and non-standard sizes. Blinds in this case carry out both protective function, and decorative.

Roman curtains also often referred to as curtains blinds, since they are very similar in design to blinds-pleated. The main differences are that Roman blinds are made of soft fabric, so they can be inscribed in the interior of absolutely any room. In addition, they are going to accordion gradually during closing, while the pleated curtains are in this form all the time.

The choice of different bases for the manufacture of blinds is quite large:

• Aluminum Blinds - the most inexpensive option for horizontal products. They are easy to clean, do not accumulate dirt and static. Moreover, it is almost impossible to bend or spoil such models (unless you do it on purpose, of course).The disadvantages include the fact that they are not suitable for installation on windows that overlook the sunny side, as they quickly and strongly heat up.
• Plastic blinds - modern alternative to aluminum. They also have low cost, are easy to maintain, repel dirt, do not get electrified, but are deformed due to their own weight. The service life of plastic horizontal blinds is extremely small.
• Fabric blinds chosen mainly for bedrooms, living rooms, children's rooms, as well as for office space, where there is work with clients. This type of curtain creates more comfort than its metal or plastic counterparts.

• In this category, you can select not only rag blinds. Jacquard is also quite common material for manufacturing. It is different texture. So, the jacquard canvas is not completely flat, but complemented by convex patterns that can be of the same color as the main one, as well as of contrast.
• Wooden shutters require more energy to care than iron or even tissue. The tree itself is capricious, does not tolerate water, so placing this type in rooms with high humidity is prohibited.When choosing wooden blinds immediately need to purchase a special tool or polish to care for them.

• Bamboo models lighter and more pleasant to care for. In addition, they look no worse than wood. An experienced designer can easily fit them into almost any interior. For the care of bamboo structures do not need to buy any special tools, because they are less demanding, unlike their wooden "brothers".

It should be noted that aluminum, plastic, wood or bamboo is chosen for the manufacture of horizontal blinds. They are able to almost completely absorb light, which makes them indispensable in overly lit rooms. It is also necessary to take into account the properties of the material when choosing blinds for any room. For example, aluminum or wood is not suitable for the kitchen. Aluminum heats up easily, and wood can be deformed by the effects of heat. In addition, wooden blinds can not be cleaned of greasy deposits.

Fabric or jacquard materials are mainly used in the manufacture of vertical blinds. Bay windows and pleated blinds are also mainly made of fabric.It is important to remember that rag variants are better left to decorate living rooms, as installing in rooms such as a kitchen or bathroom will damage the appearance of the product due to the constant exposure to steam and moisture.

To get started, be sure to read the instructions and find out if your blinds can be cleaned at home. For some models only professional dry cleaning is possible. If it is prohibited, it is better to refrain from dangerous experiments, otherwise you risk permanently spoiling the product. As a rule, cleaning blinds from professionals costs much less than buying new ones.

Wipe the eaves before cleaning. Sometimes the housewives forget about this inaccessible place and remember it only when the curtains are already cleaned and hung in place. To avoid having to repeat the entire care procedure, start cleaning the top: eaves, blinds and window sill. Be sure to process the elements of the cornice responsible for opening with silicone grease. You can buy a suitable lubricant in the furniture store.Contact a specialist who usually advises there. Before going to the store, write down the name of the company and the models of your curtains so that the specialist can choose the best option for you that is exactly suitable for lubricating parts.

Often, the hostess does not allow severe contamination of the blinds, timely shaking off dust from them, but sometimes it happens that this type of curtains must be thoroughly cleaned after wiping off the stain. In this case, before bathing, they must be removed from the window. Removing the blinds of different configurations is somewhat different. To get started, study the design that distinguishes exactly your model. It may be different from the typical one, and the methods described in this article will not work for you.

Removing vertical fabric blinds is quite simple:

• Close the blinds so that the slats are fully distributed over the entire length of the eaves. Fully open them so that they are perpendicular to each other, letting the maximum light in the room.
• Pull out the cap located on the side of the eaves.
• Disconnect the chain, with which the lamellae are connected below, and pull out the plastic weighting.
• Now carefully detach the slats, moving the attachment point slightly up and at the same time sideways toward the longer part of the slider. Gently, but with a quick movement, separate the lamella. After separation, the slats need to be carefully folded down one after the other, especially if you are the owner of multi-textured or shaped blinds.

We offer you a video that will help you better understand the principle of unfastening individual lamellae.

Dismantling horizontal blinds is somewhat more difficult, because in order to understand how they work, you need to carefully examine the upper part of the structure. The instruction in this case will save a considerable amount of time and nerves, since it probably contains all the necessary information on removing your model of blinds.

Usually the brackets fix the entire system completely, so first you need to dismantle the eaves from these brackets. Be sure to ask someone to help you with the removal of the horizontal model, since it is almost impossible to cope with it alone - this is too complicated and cumbersome design.This is especially true in those cases where the blinds are installed on large windows or made of fragile materials such as plastic or wood.

Dismantling horizontal blinds with a retainer type "swallow" is as follows:

• To begin, move the front and back panels of the topmost bar back with your fingers or a screwdriver. Remove the bar.
• Remove the bolts with a screwdriver.
• Now remove the design from the brackets.

In the presence of decorative caps use the following method of removing the slats:

• Raise the slats to the top, in other words, open the blinds as much as possible.
• Remove the plugs.
• Find the tabs of the clamps and sharply pull them towards you. Then pull to the right.
• At the same time, the assembled plates need to be pulled up and down.
• You can proceed to disassemble the device.

Dry-cleaning blinds can be carried out both in a suspended state and after removal. It should be remembered that the use of any means other than a brush for dusting when cleaning vertical fabric louvers is prohibited. At the same time, there are several ways to clean horizontal or vertical nonwovens:

• The simplest thing you can do is brush the dust off with a fluffy soft brush. Such cleaning will take a minimum amount of time, at the same time allowing the dust blinds to be brought into a more or less proper form. Also for these purposes, you can use a microfiber cloth. This method is more suitable because microfiber collects dust, while after using a soft brush, it rises back into the air and settles on surrounding objects or later on the same blinds.

• To get rid of dust, along with the listed tools, paint brushes or a piece of sheep wool are used. But the greatest interest is a special invention, designed to help in the care of blinds - brush. It is made using different materials in the cleaning part, but usually it is microfiber with fibers of different lengths. The photos show two different configurations of such brushes. As you can see, they allow you to clean the strips simultaneously on both sides.

• The next method of cleaning is the use of wet wipes. Judging by the reviews, the use of conventional antibacterial wipes for hands in this case is not the best idea. It would be much more correct to opt for office equipment, since they help to relieve static voltage, and also do not leave stains.You can gradually wipe each bar from the top on both sides, but it is much easier to bring the blinds to a closed position, first with one side of the slats, to wipe them from top to bottom. Then unfold the lamella with the other side and wipe it again. Do not forget to replace wipes as they become contaminated with fresh and clean.

• Another way to quickly clean the blinds is done using a window cleaner. Bring the blinds to a closed position. Spray a little on the canvas and wipe gently, without pressure, using a microfiber cloth. Process panels from top to bottom, gradually moving from left to right. Repeat the same procedure for the other side.

• The following method will require such equipment as rubber gloves, several pairs of cotton work gloves and detergent. Dissolve a little bit of the product in a bucket or basin. Wear rubber gloves and cotton gloves on top. Moisten your hands in soapy water and gently wipe the slats simultaneously from both sides, holding it between your fingers.Rinse contaminated gloves regularly to avoid mud stains.

• Dilute the acetic solution on the basis of 1 to 1. Gloves moistened in the solution, again wipe each strip separately, pinching it between your fingers. This will give shine to the coating material. Put on dry cotton gloves and run over each of the slats again, collecting the remaining moisture and drying them. This method is suitable for heavily polluted blinds, as it allows working separately areas that need it separately.

• Wooden blinds are cleaned only using a special tool or polish. When heavily soiled, the slats are simply better replaced with a new one. So you will get rid of the risk of damaging the adjacent planks during aggressive cleaning.

Blinds can be quickly cleaned of dirt by using a multifunctional agent for washing various surfaces. Many companies produce similar formulations, so that you can choose the appropriate option in any price category. To wash the vertical blinds from the fabric, use the following method:

• Remove the blinds, separate from additional accessories such as weighting and chains. stack them in small stacks on top of each other and gently twist the roller into a cushion, trying not to crush the panels. Place each of the rollers in a delicate laundry bag.
• Dilute the solution with a multifunctional agent, following the instructions on the package. Now several times rinse the bags in the solution, then lowering them, then removing. Repeat the procedure several times. In case the lamellae are very dirty, we advise you to soak them in the tool for a while.

Also, you can not erase the panel selectively, it is better to wash the entire array. Otherwise, the lamellae will differ from each other in color and texture. After you have thoroughly rinsed the panels in the cleaning solution, also rinse them thoroughly in clean water.Carefully remove the rollers from the pouches, flatten them and lay them on a clean, dry cloth to dry them naturally. It is not allowed to use a hair dryer or a washing machine to dry the blinds.

If some stains are not washed off, you can not try to scrub them with the help of available tools, such as brushes. It will damage the surface texture of the fabric, as well as erase the impregnation, and there is no guarantee that you will get rid of the stain. It is better to contact a specialist, as a rule, dry cleaning easily cope with pollution of any complexity. Washing hard blinds also does not cause much trouble. They can be washed using ordinary laundry detergent.

Gently rinse the blinds with a shower. Water should be cool, use a small pressure. If there is severe contamination, dilute the soap solution in the bath and soak the blinds there. Soaking time depends on the degree of contamination. Next, using a microfiber cloth or a soft sponge, wipe each of the slats. Wash off the foam with water.

There are several tips that will help make caring for blinds at home easier and more enjoyable:

• To clean the blinds from dust, you can use a brilliant device - a vacuum cleaner. Just choose a special nozzle for cleaning furniture, turn on the smallest power and a little "walk" through the closed curtains.
• To clean the blinds in the kitchen from fat, simply rinse them with dishwashing detergent (of course, if they are not wooden and not fabric). Dishwashing detergent has an excellent ability to repel grease, so it will be much easier to wipe off unpleasant stains without using abrasive scouring pads or brushes.
• Wash fabric lamellas no more than once a yearotherwise they may lose color and shape.
• To avoid the need to carry out a “general” cleaning of horizontal blinds, wipe them with a wet cloth once a week.
• Try to fully raise daytime blinds and not just open them.Raised blinds collect much less dust, and the risk of polluting them is negligible.