The first thing to note about cleaning your blinds is that there are a few things you should avoid doing, as they will cause damage to your blinds. These are:
- DON’T soak your blinds in the bath – Some of the materials used on blinds can be cleaned like this, but it is down to protecting the blind mechanism, as it increases the risk of rust forming.
- DON’T use a vacuum on your blinds unless you have an upholstery attachment on, as this could cause damage to your blinds.
When it comes to your wooden blinds, whether they have collected a small amount of dust or have gathered a layer of grime, it is essential that you make sure that they are dirt-free.
Whilst wooden blinds do look great, they can be one of the toughest to clean and maintain. For those seeking the aesthetic without the maintenance, faux wood blinds are a durable and easier-to-clean alternative.
To help reduce the amount of dust your blinds attract, you should ideally clean them every few weeks. This small amount of work will help avoid having to do a large cleaning session a few times a year, as the dust and grime that will build up in that time will be a lot harder to clean off.
Luckily, Wooden Blinds are able to be cleaned in a wide variety of ways, from a vacuum cleaner to a feather duster. Soft microfibre cloths are also a great cleaning weapon to have when facing your blinds. All of the methods and equipment mentioned above will help to make sure that all of the dust is picked up and gripped tightly. Instead of falling down onto the slats below.
If your easyfit roller blinds are fixed to a particularly high window, then you may need to use a step ladder or a sturdy stool/chair.. This will help you to reach up to the highest point. Ensure that you are comfortable before you begin cleaning. You cannot use the blinds for support, as you may end up pulling them down.
One of the first things to check is for stains, you may be able to buff them out quite easily. But, if you are struggling then you could try a mild detergent or wood cleaner. Once you’ve removed the stains, make sure that you dry any damp patches you may have made thoroughly.
When you are using a vacuum cleaner to clean your wooden blinds, it is recommended that you use the brush attachment.
As this will remove the dust and dirt build up gently, causing the least amount of stress to the blinds. The soft bristles will help to do most of the work without risking damage to your blinds.
Tilt your blinds with the cord mechanism so that the slats are closed and are on top of one another. Don’t force the slats to close, as you could potentially bend or break a slat. If this does happen, then you will need to order a replacement in order for the whole blind to continue functioning correctly. If the blind cord mechanism breaks, then you could take a look at fixing it yourself.
Once you have made sure that your blinds are in the closed position, you can start cleaning your wooden blinds much more efficiently. Run your vacuum from the tapes to the end of the slats. Once you have done this, tilt your blinds in reverse. Then you can clean the underside, repeating the same process above.
When you are cleaning with a cloth, duster or slat cleaner, it is best practice to wear a cotton glove. You could also wear an old sock on your other hand. The reason for this is so that you can use your other hand to steady the blinds whilst you reach into the smaller areas which would otherwise go uncleaned.
It’s important to note here that using an ostrich feather duster here would be great, as it is electro-statically charged, meaning it will attract the dust and will hold fewer dust particles. It’s a great investment for caring for your wooden blinds.
Moving Home? What About Your Blinds?
When it comes to moving to a new house, many people don’t realise that your blinds can easily be damaged and attract a lot of dirt. The best thing to do once you have taken them down is to wrap them in cling film. This will help to prevent them from unravelling whilst in transit and keep unwanted dirt off. This means there is less stress and certainly less cleaning.
Got Stains & Stubborn Grime? Give Your Wood Blinds A Refresh
Getting stains and stubborn grime out of your wooden blinds can be a hassle. Wood is porous. You have to be careful not to stain your wood further when going through the cleaning process. Here is a simple little trick to have your blinds looking as good as they were when you first had them fitted:
- Get a bowl of warm water. Add a few drops of washing up liquid with around a tablespoon of baking soda.
- Dip your microfibre cloth into the bowl. Squeeze it so that it is just slightly damp to the touch.
- Begin to gently wipe along each slat. Make sure that you are applying light pressure, as any heavier could stain or damage the wood slat.
- Once you’ve completely cleaned all the slats, keep your windows open so that the moisture can evaporate quickly.
Now that your blinds are dry, they will look as good as new! Of course, prevention is always the best route when maintaining your blinds. But, if you have unexpected stains the steps above will help to remove them without causing any damage to the wood.
Getting into a routine of regularly cleaning according to the manufacturer’s guidelines will help to keep your blinds looking as good as when they first arrived. Ensuring that you take a good amount of care when cleaning, your blinds will avoid damage and dirt/dust build up. A suggestion might be to clean the blinds whilst you are in the process of cleaning the rest of your home.
Leave a Reply