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Cleaning Blinds And Using Them In Interior Design
- By Thomas Pretty
- Published 10/30/2008
- Interior Design
- Unrated
Thomas Pretty
Interior design expert Thomas Pretty looks at the variety of blinds on the market today and how they can be used as attractive design features.
View all articles by Thomas Pretty
Blinds are now a popular and widespread choice for window coverings all over the world. As with any window covering however, blinds will require some form of cleaning and maintenance from time to time. While some may be put off by this fact, the process of cleaning a blind is not as bad as many people think, while maintenance only needs carrying out as and when it is needed. Fundamentally blinds need to be cleaned as the build up of dust can lead to allergic attacks and for asthma sufferers can be extremely dangerous. Hopefully the following article will provide practical advice on how to clean and repair the blinds in your home.
Vertical blinds are some of the easiest to clean, especially the PVC variety that with a little warm water and detergent, any unsightly fingerprints and smudges can be easily removed. Fabric varieties are slightly harder to clean but once again water and detergent will suffice. In most cases it is advisable to test the cleaning solution on a small part of the blind, while it should not affect the blind; some stronger detergents can leave marks. Older varieties can be harder to clean and in some cases may require removing slats and washing them separately, once again, testing on a small area first is advisable.
Horizontal blinds are a little harder to clean as due to their horizontal alignment they collect far more dust than vertical variants. In fact horizontal blinds are particularly adept at picking up dust and hence cleaning them can be laborious. Roman shades made of fabric can typically be vacuumed although
for this to be done easily it is essential that the task be carried out regularly. If the blinds are made from PVC or aluminium a specialist duster can be bought in order to clean each slat; however it is worth remembering that this duster must be kept clean so that it can remove dust effectively.
Now the cleaning of blinds has been covered it is time to look into the repairing and maintenance of window coverings. While it may sound taunting to repair a blind, the task is not as scary as it first seems, once the correct parts have been found it is essentially simple, these parts can typically be found in drapery shops and other retailers, although some specialist parts can be hard to find.
However, disassembling the blind can be troublesome, it is easy to find yourself in a tangle of string and slats before you know it. If this all seems too much work, then simply ordering a new blind is the best course of action, some varieties are extremely affordable making replacement a breeze.
With so many different types of blinds on the market today the consumer is spoilt for choice in terms of design and features. For instance, increasingly blinds are being constructed with interesting patterns and colours so they can be used as design pieces in their own right. With such a range on offer a blind can be found to suit nearly all themes and design styles in a room, whether this is minimalist chic or children's castle themed bedroom. As a window covering they are unrivalled in terms of versatility and usability, while the cleaning of blinds may be a chore, it is a necessary evil of producing such a high spec and attractive form of window covering.
Vertical blinds are some of the easiest to clean, especially the PVC variety that with a little warm water and detergent, any unsightly fingerprints and smudges can be easily removed. Fabric varieties are slightly harder to clean but once again water and detergent will suffice. In most cases it is advisable to test the cleaning solution on a small part of the blind, while it should not affect the blind; some stronger detergents can leave marks. Older varieties can be harder to clean and in some cases may require removing slats and washing them separately, once again, testing on a small area first is advisable.
Horizontal blinds are a little harder to clean as due to their horizontal alignment they collect far more dust than vertical variants. In fact horizontal blinds are particularly adept at picking up dust and hence cleaning them can be laborious. Roman shades made of fabric can typically be vacuumed although
Now the cleaning of blinds has been covered it is time to look into the repairing and maintenance of window coverings. While it may sound taunting to repair a blind, the task is not as scary as it first seems, once the correct parts have been found it is essentially simple, these parts can typically be found in drapery shops and other retailers, although some specialist parts can be hard to find.
However, disassembling the blind can be troublesome, it is easy to find yourself in a tangle of string and slats before you know it. If this all seems too much work, then simply ordering a new blind is the best course of action, some varieties are extremely affordable making replacement a breeze.
With so many different types of blinds on the market today the consumer is spoilt for choice in terms of design and features. For instance, increasingly blinds are being constructed with interesting patterns and colours so they can be used as design pieces in their own right. With such a range on offer a blind can be found to suit nearly all themes and design styles in a room, whether this is minimalist chic or children's castle themed bedroom. As a window covering they are unrivalled in terms of versatility and usability, while the cleaning of blinds may be a chore, it is a necessary evil of producing such a high spec and attractive form of window covering.