General tips and tricks
The choice of how to clean the blinds depends on the material of the slats, the type of pollution (for example, the blinds that cover the window openings in the kitchen or on the balcony have different types of pollution), as well as on the version of the blind system itself (vertical or horizontal).
First, consider the general rules for cleaning blinds:
- to clean the lamellas without dismantling the structure, it is recommended to put them in the closed position, and then remove the dirt with a soft cloth or brush;
- persistent stains are removed with special cleaning agents, but before using them, you must read the instructions and apply active substances that are suitable for the type of material of the blinds;
- the remnants of cleaning solutions are most conveniently removed with a dry sponge or napkins;
- it helps to clean contaminated lamellas a regular window cleaner;
- clean closed blinds from top to bottom;
- it is impossible to use abrasive products, because, otherwise, the surface of the lamellas may receive irreversible damage;
- so that the blinds after cleaning remain clean longer, it is recommended that the surface of the lamellas be treated with antistatic agents or coated with polish;
- Quickly clean blinds with special napkins for office equipment. The lamels are turned into the closed position and simply wiped with napkins. Ideal purity in this way can not be achieved, but the appearance of the blinds is freshened up.
How and how to wash the blinds
In addition to the usual soap solution, you can use other improvised means for washing the blinds or independently prepare a special solution to combat persistent pollution.
Consider several options:
- It cleans acrylic bathtubs well with old stains of fat and nicotine. They are impregnated with a wet towel or sponge and applied to the surface of the lamellas. After 15-20 minutes, the solution is removed under running water. This method allows you to save time and get an excellent result.
- White metal lamellas can be freshened with a solution based on soda and hydrogen peroxide. To prepare a cleaning composition, you need to mix 10 grams of peroxide, 50 grams of soda and 200 ml of warm water. The resulting paste is conveniently applied to the panel with an old toothbrush. After cleaning, the blinds are rinsed with running water.
- To give freshness to colored lamellas, it is enough to mix soda and laundry soap, crushed on a regular grater. The resulting paste is spread over the surface of the lamellas with a sponge, wiped and thoroughly rinsed with warm water.
- In some cases, you can clean the lamellas from plastic or wood with an ordinary eraser. The gum effectively removes nicotine stains and other types of impurities.
- Small stains of grease or dirt can be easily cleaned with a cotton cloth soaked in alcohol.
- It is best to remove stubborn nicotine stains with a special cleaner for the car interior.
How to wash blinds without removing
Sometimes blinds need to be quickly put in order, and there is no time for dismantling and washing with your own hands. So how to wash the blinds right on the spot?
Horizontal
Wash horizontal aluminum blinds directly on the window is not difficult. To remove dirt from horizontal blinds without removing, you need to:
- lamels are turned into a closed state;
- preparing a soapy liquid solution;
- detergent is applied on both sides to closed blinds;
- lamels are brought into the open state;
- for the convenience of cleaning the lamellas immediately on both sides, it is recommended to use cloth gloves that are worn on top of rubber ones.Each lamella is captured from above and below, cleaning the surface with gloves;
- it is convenient to clean the lamellas with special brushes that can simultaneously capture several strips, removing dust and dirt from both sides at once;
- in addition to the usual soap solution, it is recommended to use special tools to remove old stains and traces of nicotine;
- washing is completed by drying the blinds, after which it is desirable to treat the lamellas with an antistatic agent or car wax, which will allow to keep freshness longer after cleaning;
- Each time you clean the room, remove dust from the blinds with a vacuum cleaner.
Vertical
To wash the blinds located vertically from dust, you will need to perform the following steps:
- blinds are moved to the open position;
- from the sprayer, a washing solution suitable for plastic or fabric versions is applied to both surfaces of the lamella;
- To remove common dirt, simply wipe the surface of the lamellas with a soft sponge. If there are greasy spots on the strips, a special brush should be used;
- so that there are no stains, you need to immediately wipe the surface with a dry cloth.
The nuances of cleaning blinds
When processing blinds, it is necessary to take into account the type of material from which they are made. We will figure out how to wash blinds made of plastic, fabric, metal or wood.
Made of wood and bamboo
To clean wooden slats, water should be used with caution. It is allowed to wipe the panels with only slightly damp wipes.
It is best to free wooden surfaces from dust with a vacuum cleaner or with a soft brush with a long pile. After cleaning, it is recommended to polish the panels, which prevents the accumulation of dust and dirt on the surface for several weeks.
If the wooden blinds in the house are located in the kitchen, greasy spots may appear on the surface of the slats. In this case, the problem should be fixed with special means for wood, but often it is not possible to completely get rid of an unpleasant trace - the tree absorbs fat.
The best way to combat dust and dirt on wooden lamellas is to coat them with varnish. The impregnated tree can be wiped with a damp cloth and even washed with a stream of water.
Caring for bamboo is easier because it is not afraid of water. It can also be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner, brush and a damp cloth, but it is better to treat the surface with a cloth dampened in a special wood care product.
Made of plastic
The easiest way to wash plastic slats. Plastic is not afraid of water and is perfectly cleaned with ordinary soapy water. Grease, stains of nicotine and other persistent contaminants are removed with special solvents, but before starting work, it is advisable to test the product in an inconspicuous area to avoid the appearance of new stains from chemistry.
From aluminum
Horizontal aluminum blinds should be washed with ordinary soapy water, but for some types of contaminants special agents will have to be used.
For stubborn stains on metal slats at home, the following cleaning methods are used:
- dirty lamellas are treated from the spray gun with Amway cleaning agent. After the expiration of the period indicated on the package, the product should be removed with a regular napkin;
- to protect the inner surface of the holders when washing the lamellas in the bathroom, install cotton swabs on the ends;
- it is recommended to clean relief lamellas with an old soft-bristled toothbrush;
- so that the surface of the lamellas retains its original shine, after removing the dirt, it is recommended to treat it with a conventional fabric softener;
- After washing the aluminum slats, it is necessary to treat the blinds with an antistatic agent that will not allow dust to accumulate.
From fabric
Before washing the vertical blinds from the fabric, the lamellas will have to be removed from the holder, it will not be possible to process the fabric strips in a vertical position.There are three main ways to clean these slats:
- The strips are removed, twisted into rolls and sent to the washing machine. Washing powder is selected based on the composition of the fabric.
- To process fabric lamellas with a steam generator or steam cleaner, you need to wrap them in a clean cloth, for example, a sheet. During the processing of the strips with steam, dust and dirt are absorbed into the wrapper, and the lamellae themselves are also disinfected under high temperature.
- Lamels can be washed manually. First, they are soaked for 20-30 minutes in a container with a solution of washing powder, after which the dirt is wiped off with a soft brush.
It is recommended that fabric lamellas be dried in an upright position, hanging a small load from the bottom so that the strips straighten correctly and take their original shape.
How often is it worth cleaning the blinds
To blinds constantly had a fresh look, it is necessary to adhere to the following rules:
- it is easiest to take care of plastic slats, so for the kitchen it is better to choose this particular material for the blinds, otherwise it will be more difficult to maintain order;
- after washing the lamellas, antistatic agents should be used, so you can keep them fresh and clean for longer;
- when cooking in the kitchen, be sure to turn on the hood - this way you can avoid getting greasy stains on the lamellas.
If you do not neglect these rules and shake off the dust from the lamellas weekly, general cleaning can be carried out no more than 2 times a year.
The best result can be achieved if the cleaning parts are removed from the holders, but only plastic or metal elements are suitable for washing lamellas in the bathroom. Fabric and wood planks are washed with other methods.
It is advisable to soak strips of metal or plastic in the bath in soapy water for two to three hours. After that, they are washed with a strong stream of running water, and not washed dirt is removed with a soft brush. Clean blinds are dried and returned to their place.
When washing metal lamellas, it is important to thoroughly dry all the elements to prevent oxidation of the metal. Lubricate swing mechanisms with silicone or machine oil.
Vertical fabric slats are removed from the holders and remove all unnecessary parts that should not be cleaned. Each lamel is twisted into a roll and soaked in a container with a washing solution.
After two hours, each lamella is wiped with a soft sponge and thoroughly washed with running water. Pure elements are hung up to dry so that they do not lose their original shape. Dry lamellas are mounted on holders.
About how blinds are installed on windows, we wrote here.
In addition to the manual cleaning method, an automated version can be applied to fabric elements. The lamellas should also be rolled up and washed using the gentle washing mode in the automatic machine. At the end of the washing procedure, the lamellas are dried, as well as with manual cleaning. To give shape to the end of the lamella, you can suspend a small load.