There are hardly any homes or offices which do not use roller blinds. This is because they have some obvious benefits and advantages. First and foremost when you choose the right roller blinders it will give a trendy and stylish look to your room and enhance its aesthetic beauty by quite a few notches. Further, they are easy to install and maintain and they of course prevent sunlight and UV rays from creeping inside the house. Hence they act as natural insulators and help decrease the temperature by quite a few notches and degrees. It also plays a big role in enhancing privacy of homes and keeps the living rooms out of bounds for outsiders and strangers.
While the benefits of roller blinds are there for all to see, they could easily attract dust and debris. This is because of the innate nature of the materials which go in to making these roller blinds. Therefore regular cleaning and maintenance is very important.
We are happy to share seven simple and time tested ways and means by which you can get the best of cleaning of your expensive and good look roller blinds. We are sure it will be a useful tool for ready reference at all points of time.
Check The Instructions When Buying Blinds
Each set of blinds that you buy will most certainly come with its own set of instructions. The onus lies on you to follow the care-instructions and then act accordingly. This will ensure proper cleaning of the roller blinds without damaging them in any manner whatsoever. If the care label allows washing the blinds with water then you can do it. Otherwise you will have to use a wet and dry-squeezed cloth to clean the blinds so that it is not damaged. This is often referred to as spot cleaning and by this you will only be cleaning the places that are visibly dirty.
Always Remove The Blinds Before Cleaning
You must always ensure that the blinds are removed from the window before they are cleaned. You will have to be sure that apart from being removed from the window, they are also removed from the rollers. Roller blinds come with a disk on the side which can be rotated for moving the blinds up and down. You could use the floor space in your room to clean the blinds but be sure that you spread a newspaper on the ground before cleaning. This will ensure that the blinds are not damaged and the floors also remain clean while you are with the cleaning job.
Use Vacuum Cleaners If Necessary
Quite often the blinds may be too dirty and in such cases using a vacuum cleaner as the first round of cleaning is strongly recommended. This will help clean the blinds of any cobwebs and also remove large chunks of dust and also help you to remove the surface grime. This is because good vacuum cleaners have a soft brush tool and it is perfect for cleaning up small pieces of dust which often cling to the blinds of the rollers. It would not be a bad idea to clean both the sides of the blinds. This will ensure that you will be able to remove as much dirt as you possibly can. If you find that vacuuming might not be the best option, you could make use of your hand to wipe the dust clean with the help of an old sock or a microfiber cloth.
Cleaning Blinds In A Bathtubs
It would be a good idea to prepare a bathtub for the purpose of cleaning the blinds. It is a simple yet effective process and would require you to fill the bathtub about 50%. Lukewarm water is always a better option. You must not forget to add around 2 to 3 tablespoons of dishwashing soap to the bathwater. The water must be stirred till you have bubbles that are sudsy. You also could add one tablespoonful of bleach which will go a long way in making the cleaning process much efficient, thorough and professional.
Use A Toothbrush To Clean
While washing the blinds in the tub, you must keep a few points in mind. It would always be better to wash one blind at a time. The blind should be allowed to soak in the tub water for around 20 to 30 minutes. This will help the dried up grime to get loosened from the surface of the blind. You could use a soft toothbrush to clean the corners of the blinds. Do not use a hard toothbrush because it could lead to surface scratches. You also should use a sponge, and cloth to wipe the dirt away which could lay embedded on the roller blinds. Once the blind has been thoroughly cleaned, the soapy water must be drained. You must be generous in adding clean water into the tub. This will ensure that the blind is thoroughly rinsed and it will be free from any soap residues and suds.
Spot Cleaning Could Also Be Useful
It also would not be a bad idea to soft clean the blinds. This could be done easily with a solution of water and laundry detergent. One teaspoon of laundry detergent is enough or you could add a small squirt of dishwashing soap. The same could be mixed with two cups of water. You must use a towel with water fully wrung out and use the same to clean the blind by dipping it in to the cleaning solution as mentioned above. This is called spot cleaning and it should be continued till the blind is totally clean.
Drying The Blinds
Once the cleaning has been completed, the blinds must be dried thoroughly. You could use a drying rack for drying the blinds. If not you could hang them on a drying line outside your home. Once the blinds are dry you could install them back to the rollers and hang them over the window.
The Final Word
At the end of the day, the periodicity of such cleaning would depend on the dirt and grime which your roller blind accumulates. It also would depend on the level of pollution generated in the area where you live. Regular cleaning of blinds certainly enhances its life span quite a bit and gives your home a neat and sophisticated look.
