As with
all furnishings, routine cleaning and maintenance of vertical
blinds is important. If the blinds
become heavily soiled, the cleaning process will be much
more difficult and time-consuming. Blinds as per curtains
and carpets will attract dust, smoke and grease which can
build up quite quickly.
If you
have inherited the blinds
with a house purchase for instance, the blinds will probably
be soiled already and you will be surprised at the difference
a clean will make to the colour, the appearance, and the
smell.
Although
it is possible to clean
blinds while they are still hanging, this can be very
messy and you will need to protect the flooring and may
need to clean the window afterwards. Therefore it is simpler
and less time consuming to remove the slats. This is not
difficult, although it does require some time and attention.
You will have to take each slat off of its hook, and then
disconnect each from the chain at the bottom. Fabric slats
may have a weight in a pocket at the bottom of the slat
and this should be removed before cleaning.
It is
necessary to first dust them either with a duster or vacuum
cleaner, depending on the material. Next sponge down with
soapy water and then rinse with clean water taking care
to not bend them; a bath can be a good place to do this.
Do not dry in a tumble dryer but over a washing line. With
wood, aluminium etc, a soft absorbent dry cloth should be
used. Material blinds
can also be dried with a towel if necessary. Once they are
dry, material blinds can be lightly steamed to get out any
creases. Some material blinds can be washed in a washing
machine, but first check with the manufacturer and ensure
this is carried out on a low heat and slow spin cycle. If
you have stains you may need to spot clean with a small
brush or cloth. This can also be done whilst the blinds
are hanging.
If you
have purchased new
blinds, it is a good idea to get into a routine of regular
cleaning. Although vertical
blinds do not show dust as much as horizontal blinds,
they should be dusted regularly with a feather duster or
vacuumed. It is possible to buy a special attachment for
the vacuum made especially for vertical blinds. It resembles
a thick fork and fits most vacuum hoses. The attachment
fits between two slats and cleans as it slides down the
length of the blinds. Used frequently, the attachment will
keep your blinds dust-free. If this is done regularly, it
will reduce the need to remove the slats to give a full
clean to perhaps once per year.
Be aware
that if you have an open fire, smoke etc, even if the blinds
are in a different room, both the smell and the dust created
will be absorbed by the blinds and as a consequence, they
will require a greater level of cleaning to keep them in
tip top condition.