Ways to Help Your Window Coverings Last
Professionally installed window blinds, shades, and shutters are an excellent way to add beauty, function, and light control throughout your home. When you partner with Blinds and More, Inc. in Bakersfield, you have a wide variety of window coverings to pick from, ranging from vinyl and composite shutters to faux wood and aluminum blinds to high-quality shades. With proper care, they can enhance your home for years to come.
After investing the money to upgrade your home with beautiful window coverings, the last thing you want is for them to lose their beauty or get damaged merely months down the line. While interior coverings are protected from weather elements, they regularly get exposed to dirt and debris inside the house. This is especially true if you have children or pets. Following the tips below can help make your beautiful window treatments last longer.
Shades
Have you outfitted your home with stunning new shades? Here are the best ways to care for common types of shades.
Sheer Shades
We recommend dusting sheer shades with a dry feather duster or gentle air blower. You should avoid spot cleaning or rubbing away dirt, which can damage the shade material. If needed, using a soft, non-abrasive cloth or sponge with lukewarm water to lightly blot the fabric can remove built-up dust without ruining your window treatment. After blotting shades, leave them lowered until they are completely dry. If necessary, you can steam the material on medium to smooth out any wrinkles.
Honeycomb Shades
For honeycomb shades, you can use a clean feather duster, the brush attachment of your vacuum, or even a compressed air tool or hair dryer on the cool setting to remove dust. Like with sheer shades, you can spot clean using a soft cloth or sponge, lukewarm water, and a small amount of mild detergent if needed. You don’t want to cause creasing, so make sure that you’re blotting the shade as gently as possible and keep the shade lowered to dry.
Roman Shades
These classic window treatments can be cleaned using a handheld vacuum or feather duster. For more thorough cleaning, roman shades can be spot cleaned using a soft cloth, lukewarm water, and a bit of mild detergent. Blotting the shades gently will help prevent creasing. Avoid rubbing the fabric as this can damage the material. While you can steam some roman shades, you shouldn’t use an iron on any fabrics that are made up of 100% silk, 100% cotton, or 100% linen/cotton blend.
Roller Shades
Roller shades are extremely easy to maintain. Barring any household accidents, these sustainable window coverings only need occasional cleaning. A feather duster, handheld vacuum, or a vacuum with brush attachment is recommended for removing dust and dirt from your roller shades.
Keep in mind that roller shades should not be spot cleaned. Water exposure will cause damage to the material. They should also not be ironed. Taking care of your roller shades properly will ensure these timeless window treatments last.
Washing Individual Fabric Vanes
If your shades have individual fabric vanes, they can be removed and washed for your convenience. They should be folded into a mesh bag and washed on the gentle cycle using cold water. Keep in mind that you shouldn’t use bleach to wash the fabric. The vanes should be line-dried until they’re damp. Then, place them back on the headrail, leaving the vanes open, to finish drying. Once dry, these can be steamed on low using the “Nylon” setting.
If these tips don’t work to remove dust or dirt from your shades, contact us to learn about other cleaning methods you can use.
Shutters and Blinds
Caring for your shutters and blinds properly will help keep them pristine. Here are some tips we recommend for our valued customers:
Dusting Your Shutters and Blinds
When you fail to clean window treatments frequently, dirt and dust can build up and become hard to remove. When this happens, your window treatments may get discolored or even damage the mechanics, especially if you are using motorized shutters.
For shutters and blinds, a clean and dry feather duster or soft cloth is ideal for dusting. You can also use your vacuum’s brush attachment. These methods will allow you to gently eliminate dust without ruining your window coverings. Rotating adjustable louvers or slats from the open and closed positions during dusting will ensure all areas are covered.
Preventing Moisture Damage
Excess moisture can cause warping and discoloration of shutters and blinds, so you should never immerse your window treatments in water. For shutters, it’s best to use a slightly damp cotton cloth to blot out dirt. Polyester cloths create static, which can attract even more dust to your shutters. If your shutters do accidentally get exposed to water, wipe it immediately with a soft cloth.
Note: It’s not recommended to use ultrasonic cleaning methods for clearing away dirt and grime from your shutters.
General Care Tips
Here are some general care tips you can apply to the window treatments that you’ve had installed in your home:
Avoid Using Abrasive Cleaning Products
From aluminum and vinyl to real wood, the surface of window coverings varies and will require different cleaning methods. When your shades, blinds, or shutters are dirty, you may be tempted to do some deep cleaning, but you should be careful in how this is handled. To ensure your treatments look as beautiful as the day they were installed, avoid using abrasive cleaning products. These can damage the fabrics or finishes of your window coverings, sometimes beyond repair.
Don’t Forget the Hinges
Since the Central Valley can experience quite a bit of dust, it’s recommended to include hinges in your window treatments’ regular cleaning. Otherwise, they could accumulate dust over time and not work as well. If your hinges are stiff or making squeaking noises, be sure to consult with our professionals at Blinds and More, Inc. for the right solution.
Care for Shutter Louvers
The proper operation of window coverings is crucial to preventing damage. For shutters with visible, tilt-rod controls, you should open and close them using the rod. For the ones with hidden tilt rods, hold one of the louvers in the middle and tilt it to operate the other louvers. Opening the slats from the end may weaken the operating mechanism. Gentleness is required when operating window shutters, so if you find that the shutters are too stiff or too loose, have our team take a look so that they are adjusted properly.
Stick With a Cleaning Schedule
It’s easy to assume that your window coverings are clean and skip a cleaning or two. However, over time, you may skip even more cleanings and not notice dirt and dust until it has already collected on your blinds, shades, or shutters. To avoid this, it’s a good idea to set a schedule and clean your window treatments accordingly.
Get Expert Help From Blinds and More, Inc.
The above tips will help you maintain your window treatments and keep them looking fabulous for years. If you notice any issues, you can trust the professionals at Blinds and More, Inc. of Bakersfield. We are committed to helping you service your blinds, shades, and shutters over their lifetime. With over 24 years of experience serving the Central Valley, we can help with everything from broken slats to motorization problems. We have all the solutions you need for your windows. Contact us today to find out more about our window covering services in Kern County.
Be sure to follow us on Facebook for more updates.