How to clean horizontal blinds at home -

How to properly wash horizontal blinds

In no case try to wash the blinds in the assembled version, since the lamellas will stick to each other, and you still will not get rid of the dirt.

Before flushing, you should remove the plastic plugs located on the end sides of the lower strip and cornice, so the water that gets in will provoke the formation of metal corrosion.

It is important!

Only after the blinds have completely dried can the plugs be installed back, and ideally it would be better not to soak the cornice and the lower bar with water at all.

The rest of the dirt remained in anticipation of the moment when you walk over the lamellas with a sponge, or even better with a hand in a rubber or cotton household glove. Then the product should be rinsed with a stream of running water, and when the water drains, you can hang the blinds back.

Next, gently unfold the blinds and wipe the slats with a soft, lint-free cloth. It is better to leave the window not washed, since water droplets will inevitably get on the glass and stains will still remain.

And only the next day, after making sure that the blinds are completely dry, you need to remove them and put back the washed and dried plugs. And in the end, experts recommend lubricating the rotary mechanism of the lamellas with silicone grease for better performance.

Indeed, for the most part, many housewives do not bring things to terrible pollution, but prefer to keep their windows clean.

Basic methods for cleaning stains

The choice of method for removing epoxy stains depends on the size, age of the stain and the delicacy of the surface material.

Base heating

A gentle method is to heat the surface with a hair dryer. For this, the maximum temperature is set, and the heating unit is driven from side to side for uniform heating.

If the surface has a wooden base, it is recommended to moisten it with acetone before thermal cleaning. This can protect the surface from cracking. After warming up, the top layer is carefully removed with a spatula. Then the procedure is repeated, and the next layer is cleaned.

Manipulation should be carried out until the base is completely cleaned.

Freezing pollution

The procedure is carried out using refrigerant and protective clothing such as goggles, gloves and a respirator. The room must be well ventilated as the aerosol contains hazardous compounds.

Before carrying out the procedure, the balloon is shaken and evenly sprayed on the required places.

If the refrigerant is selected correctly, the epoxy becomes cracked, then cleaned off with a spatula. Manipulations can be performed several times in a row.

Mechanical removal

The aggressive method removes stains by scraping the resin with the sharp end of the trowel. It is recommended to wipe hardened stains in this way from a metal or other surface that is resistant to such a process.

Chemical solvents

Chemical resistance is one of the main properties of the glue. In order to remove stains, aggressive solvents are selected. These include:

acetone;
methylbenzene;
solvent for varnishes and enamels;
butyl acetate;
nail polish remover.

Some products can spoil the base, so before using, you should familiarize yourself with the composition of the chemical.

What tools are better to use

Blinds are equally appropriate in a city apartment and in a country house. In the second case, they get dirty more often. In addition, in rooms such as the kitchen, soot and grease settle on the blinds, and the dust settles much more intensively, and with it moths and any small debris.

You can change the blinds to new ones as they get dirty, but this event is quite costly.Therefore, we will try to put them in order with our own hands in a timely manner, and so that cleaning and washing is as cheap as possible.

In hardware stores, you can purchase special products or substances designed for cleaning hard, waterproof exterior surfaces and equipment. Each of them contains instructions for use, which you need to familiarize yourself with.

These funds are united by the presence of a strong alkali in the composition, therefore, such substances must be used carefully, always with gloves. It is better to resort to their help if the dirt on the blinds is very strong.

Since such funds, among other things, are not cheap, we will try to get by with simple, familiar means:

soda;
dish detergent;
soap solution;
washing powder.

How to wash roller blinds

In order to preserve the original appearance of the curtains, it is important not only to choose the right way to wash the roller blinds, but also to observe the following prohibitions:

Bend the blinds while cleaning. Also, the product does not tolerate excessive pressure.
Use common stain removers, detergents and detergents. It is not recommended to use universal compounds that are suitable for all types of fabric.
Iron blinds. High temperature treatment evaporates the special impregnation.
Re-moisten roller blinds. This will wash out the impregnation.
Use hard-bristled washcloths.

Users apply 2 cleaning methods. The first will require a wet wipe or vacuum cleaner. In this case, the canvas does not need to be removed from the mount. For the second option, you will need to dismantle the blinds.

Preparing for washing

If the second cleaning option is chosen (general cleaning), then before washing the roller blinds, the canvas must be removed. This will require:

Remove the roll from the holder, being careful not to use excessive force.
Remove the plugs located on the side parts of the structure.
Pull out the gears starting from the opposite end of the chain.
Move the cornice to the side and remove the canvas.

If the roller shutter is attached with adhesive tape, then the structure must be pry off with a sharp knife, taking care not to damage the plastic. In this case, it is recommended to hold the cornice with one hand. Remaining glue can be removed with rubbing alcohol.

Washing method

There are two ways to clean roller blinds at home. The first is used to remove minor contaminants. In difficult cases, a more thorough cleaning of the blinds will be required. For this, both specialized means (AOS, Fairey, Progress and others) with a neutral pH are used, as well as and washing powder (no bleaching ingredients), soap or dishwashing detergent. Next, you need to wash the roller blinds according to the following algorithm:

Collect water in the bathroom so that it completely covers the canvas, and add detergent.
Unfold part of the blade and clean it with a sponge (soft-bristled brush). The procedure should be carried out delicately, without pressing on the material.
Collapse the cleared part and expand the new one, repeating the described steps.
Rinse the unfolded canvas under the shower. This stage can be completed only after the foam ceases to stand out from the curtain (otherwise, streaks will remain on the material).

How to dry properly

As with washing, roller blinds can be dried in two ways. The first will require:

Hang the canvas over the bathroom on a wide basis (it is forbidden to use a rope or fishing line, as kinks will appear) and wait until all the water has drained off.
Spread the fabric backing on a flat surface.
Place the roller blind on top of the absorbent backing, gently straightening the folds.
Wait until it is completely dry and roll the fabric into a roll.

In the second case, it is also necessary to hang the canvas in the bathroom, waiting until the water stops flowing.Then the curtain must be twisted into a roll, set in place and deployed. After that, open a window or start forced ventilation. This allows moisture to evaporate faster. In this case, the formation of strong air currents, due to which the roller blind will twist, must not be allowed.

Cleaning of various types of blinds

After all stripes have been removed, you can start cleaning. But here, too, there are nuances and peculiarities. Separate cleaning methods are used for each type of blind. The classification is carried out on the basis of the materials from which they are made.

Each type of construction requires its own cleaning method.

Tissue

Usually these are vertical or roller blinds. They look elegant and even luxurious. The fabric is quite dense, so you need to thoroughly clean each strip.

You can use a vacuum cleaner or a fluffy brush for washing. This will effectively get rid of dust and some stains.

The fabric blinds can be vacuum cleaned.

For stubborn stains, you can wash the strips. To do this, pour water into a basin or bathroom and dilute the detergent in it. Soak the cloth in water and let sit for a couple of hours. Then rinse with warm running water.

It is best to dry them on a flat surface, placing a terry towel in advance to absorb excess moisture. It is not recommended to wash the blinds too often, as this can severely damage the material.

The steam cleaner is no less effective. But the strips must first be wrapped in gauze or sheet. This will help protect against damage. The steam cleaner will destroy germs and harmful microorganisms that live on the surface.

In some cases, you can even wash in a washing machine, but only with a delicate cycle. To do this, you need to put the strips in a special bag for things. Spread or hang them after washing.

Plastic

It is very easy to wash them. This will be enough for a regular wet rag or sponge. A mildly concentrated soap solution can be used. When using harsh chemicals to cleanse grease and stubborn stains, you must first test the substance on an inconspicuous area of the product.

Plastic blinds are the easiest to clean.

Metallic

Aluminum acts as a metal, since it is quite soft and light. Blinds are usually treated with a special solution that protects them from corrosion.

It is best to use a soapy solution for cleaning. If you have to deal with difficult-to-remove stains, then you should turn to more effective methods. These can be ready-made chemicals.

Use a soapy solution to clean the metal blinds.

To work out inaccessible areas, you can use an old toothbrush and cotton pads. To add shine to the garment, it is recommended to treat the garment with fabric softener. Finally, wipe the strips with an antistatic agent to reduce the amount of dust.

For hard-to-reach areas, you can use a brush.

Wooden

Wooden structures are quite popular, since it is a natural material and its advantages are difficult to overestimate. Their cleansing must be carried out with the utmost care, since the tree does not tolerate brute physical strength and high humidity. It is best to wash them off with slightly damp wipes or towels.

The tree does not tolerate high humidity.

The best option is to use a vacuum cleaner that effectively removes dust and some dirt. At the end, be sure to use a wood polish. This will not only protect the material, but also make it shiny and smooth.

Maintenance of horizontal blinds

If your blinds complement the interior in your kitchen, then soot and fats are added to the dust, which are deposited on the plates (lamellas).For those living in private houses, various insects, moths and other types of insects become additional pollution.

On the Internet, you can find a lot of information where it is recommended to remove the blinds from the window and rinse in the bathroom, washing off the dirt with a high pressure of hot water.

It is also recommended to prepare a soap solution based on washing powder or dish detergent and soak in soapy water from a few minutes to several hours.

After the allotted time, wipe the blinds with a sponge and rinse with a stream of running water, and then dry and hang in the same place.

Of course, you can use this advice as well. But, having examined everything in detail, we came to the conclusion that not all of us know how to remove them, because they are attached in different ways, depending on the fasteners.

Until a certain moment, I had no idea how to do it, but after watching small videos, I realized that everything is not so difficult. It is unlikely that you can achieve the desired result with soapy water.

Note!

This method is more suitable for slightly dusty blinds, and most of the pollution is more serious and persistent. So is it worth taking them off? Do not rush to immerse contaminated blinds in soapy water. First, straighten them and close them as if protected from sunlight.

The next step will be to rinse the cloth with rain under pressure, first on one side, and then on the other, doing all this on weight

First, spread them out and close as you would when protecting from sunlight. The next step will be to rinse the panel with rain under pressure, first on one side, and then on the other, doing all this on weight.

This will help remove most of the dirt. Only after that, the use of soap solution will be much more effective.

What are blinds?

So, blinds are light-shielding devices designed for installation on window and other openings. Blinds are vertical / horizontal (according to the type of arrangement of lamellas). Even in modern blinds, the lamellas are fixed and rotatable along the axis, so that they can be adjusted to achieve the required level of illumination.

The history of blinds

Blinds are a type of curtain made from slats made from various materials. The planks are connected in a one-piece system, they usually rotate, move and reposition to achieve optimal lighting in the home. They can also affect indoor temperatures.

Window blinds

There are 2 ways to set the slats in motion:

manually (in this case, a special cord or cane is used, fixed in the system);
automatically (by means of a switch, remote control or even a computer). These blinds, which are remotely controlled, are ideal for windows with limited access.

Technologies that control the flow of natural light into the home

Dry cleaning horizontal blinds

There is no way to quickly clean your blinds and avoid corrosion. The risk of rusting is always present, therefore it is advisable to dry-clean the lamellas. For her you will need:

ammonia (removes greasy dirt);
two rags or a damp cloth to clean the screen;
a pipidaster (dust brush) or similar tool.

The cleaning method may vary depending on the instruments selected. But the first step is always the same: you need to remove the dust. To do this, you need to walk the entire length of the blinds with a pipidastra or other soft, long-bristled brush. If the dust is not removed before further cleaning, it can cause dirty streaks.

Then you can use either ammonia or a damp cloth. A damp cloth for cleaning screens and office equipment is impregnated with a composition that effectively breaks down grease.

With its help, you can quickly restore all greasy areas. This method is quick and convenient: no additional detergents are needed, the napkin can be thrown away immediately after use. Other tools will have to be cleaned.

If the specified napkins are not at home, ammonia will do. It effectively fights grease and does not leave streaks, as it evaporates quickly. The owner of an apartment can only be repelled by a pungent smell, but it quickly disappears after airing. The ammonia must be diluted in water (see proportions below), then moisten a rag in the resulting solution and walk it over all the blinds. The second rag removes the remnants of the ammonia.

We recommend:
House cleaning - step by step instructions for a housewife

Cleaning methods depending on the material

The owners of plastic products are more fortunate than others, because in this case, cleaning will not require a lot of time and effort. It is enough just to wipe the lamellas with a sponge dipped in soapy water.

The situation is similar with fiberglass products, because they are also not afraid of water. In addition, they can not only be wiped with a wet cloth, but also vacuumed and even washed.

When cleaning metal products, you can also use aqueous solutions of detergents, and you can easily wash away dirt with a regular damp cloth or napkin.

Cleaning metal panels with a special sponge

It is known that wood is very sensitive to moisture, prolonged contact with water can cause deformation of the product. This is why it is best to use little or no water when cleaning wooden blinds.

Fabric products require a particularly delicate approach. Manufacturers of such a product strongly recommend not to use water when cleaning, but to use exclusively dry mixtures.

Features of cleaning lamellas made of different materials

Water is absolutely not terrible for plastic products, and you can soak them for any amount of time. But horizontal plastic structures also collect dirt actively, and it adheres to them tightly. Therefore, to cleanse them, you have to use means that remove fat.

Horizontal aluminum systems should not be soaked for long. 10-15 minutes will be enough, otherwise you will damage them. The plus is that metal blinds get dirty less, and are easier to clean than plastic ones, and they do not need to be soaked for a long time. If the aluminum slats have embossed patterns or perforations, a soft toothbrush can help clean them.

Wooden planks do not tolerate moisture at all. They will swell and lose their shape from water. They should be washed only if absolutely necessary, naturally without immersing them in water, but only wiping them with a damp sponge or with gloved hands. If there is such an opportunity for cleaning wood and bamboo products, use special compositions for the care of furniture, which can be purchased at household chemicals stores.

Blinds with fabric slats are the finest. A vacuum cleaner or a damp sponge can handle light dirt. If the contamination is significant, it is better to use a dry cleaning service. As a last resort, you can try washing the curtains yourself. To do this, soak them for 15-20 minutes in a warm, weak solution of washing powder or gel, and then rinse under running water. This can be done no more than once a year. The washing machine cannot be used. Even with a gentle wash, there is a risk that the fabric strips will wash off the impregnation and lose their shape.

Using special tools

When cleaning the lamellas, you can use a variety of tools to help speed up this process.

Brush

To assist in cleaning, it is recommended to purchase a special brush that is designed for the lamellas.Such products are produced from various materials, but most often they are multi-row "rakes". In addition, additional attachments in the form of sponges and terry rags are provided for them.

Special brush for curtains with textile attachment

The convenient design of the brush allows you to remove dirt from both sides at once. It is useful both during dry and wet cleaning.

Steam generator

If a thorough cleaning is required to remove old stains, then the hostess cannot do without a steam generator. Firstly, the use of the device will allow not to collect a whole basin of water, and secondly, the steam generator removes not only external dirt, but also all kinds of bacteria, mold and mildew, which is beyond the power of ordinary soap.

It is worth noting that this method is great for cleaning curtains that are near the hob, because it is with the help of steam that greasy traces are quickly removed from the lamellas. In addition, such actions do not require much effort - nothing will have to be rubbed.

Prices for popular models of handheld steam cleaners

~~Steam cleaner manual~~

Cleaning the lamellas with a steam generator: step by step instructions

Step one: first you need to close the blinds, and then steam each side of the lamella. Better to start from the top.

Any steam mode can be set depending on the degree of soiling.

Step two: if dirt is difficult to remove, then you can rub the surface with a soft sponge.

The remaining dirt is removed with a sponge.

Step three: upon completion of the process, wipe the entire canvas dry and start processing the second side.

It is necessary to wipe the blinds vigorously

Types of light protection systems

Blinds are an alternative to conventional curtains. The system consists of individual strips (lamellas) connected by a chain. The lamellae drives the opening and closing mechanism. Manufacturers manufacture systems with manual, mechanical or electronic (remote control) drives.

By material

Metal blinds are made from strips or a solid sheet of aluminum. These systems are durable with a long service life.
Plastic systems - the duration of use is short, but they are lighter.
Wooden (or bamboo) slats - made, respectively, from wooden strips or bamboo sticks. The service life is long, they do not corrode.
Fabric curtains are fragile but beautiful. Fabric prints are painted on different themes: floral, sports, geometric.

By design

horizontal - lamellas are located horizontally relative to the floor, blinds are folded in the upper part near the cornice;
vertical - strips of lamellas are perpendicular to the floor, move apart in one or both directions;
roll systems - consist of a single piece of fabric, which is rolled into a roll and fixed from above along the curtain.

Cleaning methods

Blinds care is carried out in two ways:

You can wash the blinds without removing from the eaves. Cleaning with a vacuum cleaner or a damp sponge is used so as not to disperse accumulated dust throughout the room.
Clean the dismantled systems. An effective way when the lamellas are washed in the bathroom or under the shower.

Features of cleaning blinds made of different materials

In addition to the geometric arrangement of the panels, the blinds differ in the material from which they are made. You should be aware that each type of surface requires an individual approach, which should be taken into account when washing. Let's figure out what kind of blinds there are, as well as how to wash and clean them.

Metal

This type of blind is usually referred to as aluminum louvres. This material has such qualities as lightness, elegance and durability. To clean the aluminum blinds, you can use a sponge and a cleaning solution.An important point is that metal blinds cannot be soaked and left damp for a long time, as the liquid can cause rust.

After each cleaning, it is very important to wipe the slats dry with dry towels, napkins or microfiber rags.

Plastic

Plastic blinds are easy to use, inexpensive and not demanding on the environment, which allows them to maintain their appearance for a long time. To wash the plastic slats of the blinds, it is enough to treat them with a sponge soaked in soapy water, and then simply wipe them dry with napkins. Unlike aluminum louvres, plastic blinds can be completely immersed in water and washed under running water without fear of damaging the coating.

Fiberglass

Fiberglass blinds may be cleaned by any means. They can be vacuumed, cleaned with any cleaning agent, and even washed.

Blinds "Day-Night"

The "Day-Night" type inherently refers to roller blinds. For cleaning, it is necessary to remove the entire structure and soak it in soapy water, then rub it with a soft sponge, then rinse it and hang it back on the window, where the blinds dry and straighten out under their own weight.

Bamboo

Blinds made of this material do not tolerate moisture changes well. The reeds can crack, and the threads connecting them can weaken, as a result of which the entire structure can collapse. Therefore, it is best to clean bamboo blinds with a vacuum cleaner and a slightly damp cloth and a wood care product.

Wood

Wooden blinds are usually coated with a special varnish that protects the surface of the wood. It is strictly forbidden to soak or wash them under running water. To clean this type of lamella, the panels should be vacuumed first and then wiped with a slightly damp cloth.

Textile

Fabric blinds differ from other types in that they are the slowest to get dirty. It is forbidden to use hard brushes to wash such lamellas, as coarse pile can damage the material. Thus, a vacuum cleaner is excellent for primary cleaning of fabric blinds. In case of heavy dirt, the panels can be washed, the procedure is as follows:

The lamellas are neatly dismantled one after another.
If available, fittings are removed from each strip.
The lamella is rolled up and placed in a washing bag.
A small amount of washing powder dissolves in a container with warm water, after which a bag with lamellas is lowered into the solution for an hour.
After the allotted time, the blinds are rinsed in warm running water.
The strips are hung in their original place, and as they dry, they are smoothed out under their own weight.

Important! Read the care instructions before cleaning fabric blinds, as not every fabric can be wet cleaned

Polymer materials

Polymer blinds, like fabric blinds, can be removed and washed. The difference is that you can wash them even in the washing machine without fear of damaging them.

At the end of the wash, the lamellas are rinsed in clean water, dried and returned to their original place.

Best options

This is not to say that blinds appeared not so long ago in our homes, but recently they are gaining popularity. They are comfortable, practical and well protected from sunlight.

But there is a significant drawback - blinds, after mosquito nets, accumulate the greatest amount of dust and dirt. And over time, we are faced with the question of how to wash the blinds.

Option number 1

As another way, you can apply such a proposal, which is often found on the Internet: take a dry, by no means wet or wet, soft brush, you can replace it with a paint brush or a piece of sheep's wool and try to remove dust from the lamellas.

Supermarkets offer special brushes - tongs, which I personally do not trust.It is not recommended to use water during work, because only mud stains will remain.

And applying them to dry will lead to the above result, since some of the dust will collect on the brush, and the rest will precipitate. Maybe my opinion is wrong, then share your experience, please.

Option number 2

For me, he is also not very acceptable. Having prepared a soap solution in a basin, wash the slats on both sides, periodically rinsing a cloth or sponge in water.

This assumes that the window will be cleaned after the blinds have been washed. And as I understand it, after wiping, a second step will follow using a dry cloth to remove the remaining foam and dirt. In my opinion, this is very tedious and time consuming. But you can try the next option.

Option number 3

Choose a larger rag that can absorb as much dirt as possible. This size is needed, because the rag will not be erased during the cleaning process, but it is better to have a few of them in stock. We use the most common product suitable for cleaning windows.

We close the blinds by sprinkling a little detergent and holding the slats with one hand. We wipe them one by one and move from top to bottom. The window is being washed at the end. But that's not all the possibilities!

Option number 4

We collect water in a basin and add antistatic polish. Of course, you need to work in rubber gloves, and additionally wear cotton household gloves on top.

With the prepared solution, wipe each plate, holding it with your fingers on both sides. I don't know what effect the polish has, but the antistatic agent prevents dust from settling.

Helpful advice!

It will also be useful to wipe dry blinds with an antistatic agent, regardless of the option chosen.

Option number 5

For me, this method is the easiest and fastest to use. With the blinds closed, wipe the lamellas with napkins intended for the care of office equipment or other wet napkins.

With a little effort, we lean them against the glass and gradually move from top to bottom. We replace already soiled napkins with new ones and that's it. And there will be no streaks and stains, no metal corrosion.

How to clean bathroom blinds?

To clean the blinds in the bathroom, place a towel on the bottom, fill it halfway with warm water and add a little dishwashing detergent:

Unfold the blinds, open the slats and immerse the structure in the bath, shaking the water to create a foamy whirlpool (if the curtain is too long or wide, wash it in parts). Then use a cloth to wipe off any stains that don't wash off.
Drain the dirty water, refill the tub, and rinse the blinds to remove any remaining dirt and soap deposits.
Lift the blinds by one edge, drain the water, then wipe the slats with a clean rag and hang the blinds over the window. To dry them well, do not lift them during the day.

How to wash without removing the structure:

You can wash the blinds without removing from the window. Lower them and close the slats.
Holding the bottom rail, wipe the surface from one end to the other with a cloth soaked in detergent from the back. And then do the same on the front side.
It is even easier to vacuum the blinds with a furniture attachment, or buy a special brush (it captures dust from both sides at once, Eurodom department store), or wipe it with wet wipes.

How to clean vertical blinds?

Vertical blinds are made of plastic and fabric. Each case has its own peculiarities of bringing cleanliness and order.

Plastic

Plastic models cannot be rolled up and machine washed. They are washed, like horizontal aluminum models, on a window using cleaning solutions.

Close the curtain.
Move the slats to the open position so that their ribs are facing you. There should be enough space between the planks for you to work comfortably.
Apply liquid detergent from a spray bottle to the front and back of the louver.
Use a soft sponge or special brush to wipe each strip of plastic.
Using a microfiber cloth or any material that absorbs water well, wipe the blinds dry so that there are no streaks.

Textile

In order to efficiently wash heavily soiled textile strips, it is necessary to remove them from the mount, free them from weights and control cords. Stack the lamellas and roll into a roll.

Pour water into a large container (large basin or bucket) and add the cleaning agent to it according to the instructions.
Soak the curtain in the cleaning solution for half an hour to get all the dirt well wet and away from the material.
Use a soft brush or kitchen sponge to wipe each lamella and clean it of any dirt.
Hang strips over the tub to drain the water.
After drying, hang the fabric in place by inserting weights.
Dock the controls and enjoy a clean window.

How to clean the blinds in the bathroom: step by step instructions

Step one: first you need to wash the bathtub and cover the bottom with soft material. Then you should take warm water and add detergent there, and then foam thoroughly. You will need to place blinds in this bath and leave it for a few minutes (a wide structure should be soaked in parts).

A soft towel will prevent the formation of scratches on the surface of the cornice and the bath itself

Step two: further on noticeable dirt, it is necessary to apply soap and wipe it with a soft cloth or sponge.

Need to soak blinds in detergent

Step three: now the dirty water with foam can be drained and the bathtub can be filled again. In clean water, you should thoroughly rinse the blinds, make sure that there is no contamination (it is convenient to water the structure from the shower).

The structure must be rinsed from the remaining foam

Step four: at the end of washing, you need to raise the curtains, holding them by the edge so that water flows from them. Next, they need to be hung on the window - this way they dry out faster.

The blinds must dry thoroughly.