Spring has sprung!

Spring has sprung!  The days are getting longer and the gray days of winter are behind us.  With the sun streaming through the windows, we’re reminded of all the summer fun that lies ahead.  Unfortunately, the sun brings to light something else, dirty blinds.  Window blinds are one of the household furnishings that seem to get ignored more than anything else in our homes. However, the task doesn’t have to be as bad as we make it out to be. Cleaning the blinds requires few materials and only takes a few minutes.   If done on a regular basis it is not all that bad.  Below are few tips that should help make this task a little easier for you.

• Dusting - Regular light dusting maintains a like-new appearance of most blinds, shades, shadings, and    sheers.
  
• Vacuuming - For deeper cleaning, vacuum gently with a brush attachment of any vacuum cleaner. Most products may be vacuumed using a vertical stroke.
  
• Compressed air or hair dryer (non-heat setting) - Use to blow dust off selected window coverings.
  
• Spot-cleaning - Spot-clean shades and blinds with soft cloth or sponge moistened with lukewarm water. Add mild detergent if needed. Blot gently to avoid creasing or damaging the fabric. Rubbing can damage fabrics. Spot-cleaning may result in cleaner areas.

         ****Note: Our blackout honeycomb fabrics should not be spot-cleaned.

• Vinyl vertical blinds. You can reduce build-up of static electricity by applying a thin film of detergent on all vanes.
  
• Ultrasonic cleaning - Professional ultrasonic cleaning is recommended for several products. Do not use this method for: wood blinds, honeycomb Skylights systems, faux wood blinds, room darkening Window Shadings. Important! Do not immerse headrail on Cordless Lift, Continuous Loop, or Vertical Honeycomb systems.
  
• Injection/extraction cleaning system - This type of cleaning injects a cleaning solution into the fabric and extracts the dirty solution in the same motion. It is a very effective way to deep clean your window treatments. The service is typically performed in the home so there is no need to remove the window treatments. Dry method is recommended for certain fabrics. Important! Do not use this method to clean fabric-covered headrails on valances.
  
• Steaming - Steaming can be done to remove wrinkles from some fabrics. A hand-held travel size steamer that provides continuous steam is best. Heavy-duty steamers are not recommended.
  

Faux Wood or Vinyl Products - 

• To reduce static cling and help repel dust, wipe the blinds with dryer sheets.
  
• Do not use abrasive cleaners or chemical solvents, as they will scratch or damage the surface.
  

Wood Products -

• Clean using a dry and soft feather duster, clean cloth, dust cloth or dusting mitt. A vacuum with the soft brush attachment can also be used.
  
• Ultrasonic cleaning or use of chemical solvents and scrubbing cleansers are not recommended. They will damage the product.
  
• Do not expose wood products to steam or high moisture areas to help ensure their long life.
  
• When cleaning any window, spray glass cleaner on a cloth rather than spraying directly on the window. This will prevent damage to the wood finish by splattering cleaner.
  

Cloth Tapes - 

• Tapes can be spot-cleaned with fabric cleaning wipes that can be found at grocery stores. These will typically not leave a stain or discolor the tapes.
  
• 100% polyester tapes can be spot-cleaned by blotting with a clean white cloth and cool distilled water. Support the tape from behind using another clean cloth that is dry. Use a gentle blotting action to clean the spot or soiled area. Rinse by blotting with clean distilled water, then let air dry. A gentle detergent can also be used on the 100% polyester trims.

Fabric Shades and Shadings - 

• Do not use magnetic cleaners such as a dusting mitt on room-darkening fabrics. This will damage the room-darkening backing.
  
• When cleaning any window, spray glass cleaner on a cloth rather than spraying directly on the window. This will prevent damage to the fabrics by splattering cleaner.
  
• While some fabric window covering products may seem perfect for an outdoor setting, all are recommended for indoor use only.
  

For most of our window treatments, a light dusting with a vacuum cleaner brush attachment on a regular basis will keep them looking new for years.