6 Tips On How To Clean Blinds

The significance of blinds in the house cannot be underestimated. Blinds are not just there to act as aspects of adding glamour to the house. Rather, they help also to act as a barrier from the direct light, and also for privacy. Blinds are used in various sections of the house. They can be used on the windows of the living room, the bedroom, or any other rooms around the house. The blinds will also be used in the patio, whereby they will help to offer privacy. The patio also receives more sunlight, that is why the blinds are used to reduce the direct sunlight from entering the patio. There are also very many types of blinds that are used on windows and patios. The materials used with the blinds are also very unique. One major challenge with the blinds is the way to clean them. They need to be cleaned as frequently as possible. This is because the material used tend to attract more dust.

There are many ways of cleaning the blinds, and here are 6 tips on cleaning them:

1. Vacuuming
The most common type of cleaning the blinds is by vacuuming. Regardless of the type of blind, the vacuum will perfectly clean the blinds. Here, you will mostly use the brush attachment, which will help to get rid of the dust that are trapped inside the spaces. The best way to clean the blinds is to run the brush attachment across the slats. You should not run the attachment vertically. This is because the dust and other dirt will be trapped between the slats. That is why it is advised to run the brush attachment across the slats, for the dust to completely get off.

2. Dusting
Dusting is another easy and fast way of cleaning the blinds. With dusting, you will need to use a soft cotton cloth. You can also use a broom to do so. The direction of the cloth should also be done like the vacuuming. Run the dusting cloth from right to left, or left to right, avoid running the brush from top to bottom. This will not get to the dust that is trapped inside the slats. But if you carefully run the cotton cloth in between the slats, you would get rid of the hidden dust and dirt. Avoid using plastic dusters to dust the blinds. This is because they will not remove the dust from the blinds. The plastic dusters will only run over the dust, rather than removing them from below. But if you are working on the vertical blinds, then you should dust them vertically. This is because the slats will normally run from top to bottom.

3. Steam Cleaning 
You can also use the steamer to clean the blinds, which will not exactly use direct water. With the steam cleaner, it will still use detergent, which will be put in the section for the cleaning agent. The detergent should be used according to the type of the blind. Since the blinds come in different materials, it will mean that you will need to pick the right detergent for using on them. There are the roller blinds, commonly known as the Roman blinds. The Roman blinds will need a mild detergent, due to their delicate surface. Whichever type of blind that you might be having, you will need to choose the right detergent for it. The steamer will release detergent in between the slats, which will get rid of the trapped dirt, dust or any other insects.

4. Wet Cleaning 
You may also clean them by using the wet method. However, the blinds should not be soaked in water. To clean them, you will get a bucket with warm water, and the appropriate detergent, then mix them thoroughly. Once you mix them, you will then get a cotton cloth, or a special rubber sponge, which can be found in several hardware. You can begin by slightly soaking the rubber sponge into the water, then washing across the slats, and on the surface of the blinds. After that, you will squeeze out all the water from the sponge, and wipe out the water.

5. Complete Washing With Water
For the vinyl and metal blinds, you would need to take them off the window, and take them out. You may decide to wash them in your driveway, the patio, or simply on a piece of carpet or rug. You will then take a bucket of water, and add some drops dish washing soap. Then you will use a brush for washing the car, and wet it into the water with the dish-washing soap. After that, you would brush them across, but this will depend on the type of blinds, and their positioning. When you are done, you would then rinse them with a garden hose as you tilt them for the water to naturally run down. The rinsing process should be done gently, and the overall cleaning process must be gentle. In order to avoid the spots of water from forming, you will run your finger immediately as you splash the water. When you are done, run your fingers along the slats in order to remove the excess water. Once all is done, you will then drape the blinds over the fence, and allow it to dry.

6. Dry Cleaning
You may also choose to dry clean your blinds, especially if the blinds are vulnerable to being tampered by water. The dry cleaning option is also the most preferred, because it will get rid of all the dirt, inside and on the surface, without tampering with the quality of the blind. For dry cleaning, it will be advised to take it to a dry cleaner, who would work on it as expected. Mostly, one would not have a dry cleaner at their home, so it is advised to take it to a professional.

Conclusion 
Blinds can be very easy to clean, and they can also be difficult to clean. For the special blinds like the Roman blinds, ensure that you clean them with much care. Most of the other blinds like wooden, vinyl and metal blinds are tougher. All in all, clean your blinds with extra care.