Some Tips To Clean Your Vertical Blinds At Home
Vertical blinds are a pain to clean. No one likes to do it and then they keep getting dirtier and dirtier. But, there are some very helpful tricks to clean them so you do not have to do it as often.
Blinds are most commonly available in three different materials: wood, fabric, and vinyl. Cleaning any of these is pretty easy. When cleaning blinds, always follow their direction or you might just miss a spot. Following the direction of the blind will help to avoid causing damage. Do not forget to clean each side of the blind so they are clean whether opened or closed.
It does not matter if you are cleaning wood, fabric, or vinyl, always be cautious for your safety and the safety of the window blinds. Wood and vinyl are very durable but like most things if they are not handled with care, they can be damaged. These will most likely bend or warp. Wood may also splinter and vinyl can get scratched. Fabric is most likely to fray, tear, or puncture.
Probably the best way to clean vertical blinds is by using your hands. Put on an old pair of gloves or socks to clean both sides of the slat in one motion. Gently clasp the slat between your hands and slide your way down for general cleaning. If it has been awhile since they were last cleaned, do not worry, here are some more tricks.
Wood is probably the most difficult type to clean. Never use water because the wood may warp or bend and could even crack. Even after cleaning them with your socks or gloves there is dirt, soft cloths with some wood cleaner might do the trick. Be sure the wood cleaner you use can be used on different types of wood. If they are unfinished, try the cleaner on a small part to see how the wood reacts. With wood blinds, make sure you clean in the direction of the blind, following the grains. The grains are the lines running through the wood. If you clean across the lines, you might get a nasty buildup of cleaner in the grain.
Fabric blinds can also be a little difficult. Try to use the soft brush attachments from your vacuum as a first step. The fabric may be machine washable. Look for labels that tell you how to wash them. If there is no tag, you have three options. You can err on the side of caution and only use a plain cloth with some warm water, hand wash them with a gentle soap, or you could machine wash them on the gentle cycle in cold water.
Vinyl blinds are the easiest to clean. A damp cloth or sponge will usually get rid of most of the dirt. If this is not successful, add a little soap to the water and try again. Caked on grease and dirt can be removed by soaking the window blinds in a bathtub with soapy water. Run warm water and leave the window blinds to sit for at least thirty minutes. Make sure to put towels down to prevent the window blinds from scratching the finish. Once the window blinds have had their bath, the dirt should easily come right off. They can either air dry or be dried off with a towel.
Here is a fantastic tip to keeping your vertical blinds clean. Go over each slat with sheets of fabric softener. Just like it does on your cloths, the sheets will repel dust from sticking to the window blinds. You will be happily surprised at how long it will be until those blinds need to be cleaned again.
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