Tips for Cleaning Window Treatments

Posted by All About Blinds

June 10, 2013

Many people find the task of cleaning their window treatments a rather arduous and drudge affair, usually relegating it to the bottom of the list of housekeeping chores. But cleaning your blinds, sheer curtains, shades and drapes should not be a task that you avoid until the times when they inevitably get intolerably dirty. With the right know-how of how to go about cleaning your window treatments, you will discover that the chore that you dreaded so much isn’t anywhere nearly as difficult as you previously imagined. 

window cleaning

 

Here are a few window treatment cleaning tips:

1. Periodic Cleaning – the ideal situation is where you clean your window coverings once a week. Remember that the longer you take between your cleaning, the harder they will be to clean. Clean your window treatments by making use of your vacuum cleaner’s hose addition. Just fix a handy pair of old pantyhose at the hose’s end, or attach a brush attachment to the hose. Sweep over the inside and outside of your window treatments; this should take you just a minute or two. This simple, yet quick, cleaning method works perfectly for sheer curtains, drapes and blinds, and considerably reduces the amount of deep cleaning that you have to do periodically.

2. Cleaning Blinds – it’s always a good idea to vacuum your blinds regularly. It doesn’t matter what type of blinds you have in your home; all blinds respond well to vacuuming. Vacuuming removes most of the dirt and surface dust and makes deep cleaning much, much easier. Plastic blinds are best cleaned using an all-purpose cleaner. Spray the cleaner on a sponge or cleaning cloth then wipe down each individual slat. Wood blinds are best cleaned using a cleaner that’s specifically designed for cleaning wooden surfaces. When cleaning wood blinds, use water sparingly since too much of it can spoil the blinds. Fabric blinds should be dry-cleaned to remove those tough grime and dirt stains.

3. Drapes and Curtains – lined curtains and drapes should be dry-cleaned unless there are specific instructions on the Care and Handling section indicating otherwise. If you find that the lining in older lined curtains has already started to rot, then it’s better to replace them since any vigorous cleaning will lead to tears. Unlined curtains should be washed using a washing machine running on a gentle cycle, and then dried in a dryer on cool or low heat settings. Take care to remove the curtains from the drier before they dry out completely to prevent shrinkage.

4. Sheer Curtains – many people are rather cautious of cleaning their sheer curtainssince they look so fragile. Most people prefer taking them to the dry cleaner, although this is not strictly necessary. You can clean your sheer curtains at home using your washing machine. It’s best to use warm water; if your water is sourced from a well, add some water conditioner to soften it. Place half the load of curtains in the machine and distribute them evenly in the tub. Leave your curtains to soak for 5-10 minutes before setting your machine on gentle cycle. If your sheers are particularly old or delicate, place them inside a mesh laundry bag. Set the final rinse on cold; you may add a fabric softener if you so wish. Sheer curtains are best cool air-dried in the drier. Throw in a couple of small hand towels in the drier to help with the drying process and also to help in removing wrinkles. Take out the curtains before they dry out completely and hang them on the windows.

All About Blinds and Shutters is the leading Jacksonville blinds and shades manufacturer. If you live in the Ponte Vedra, Fernandina Beach area, or in Jacksonville, visit our showroom and get a firsthand look at our window shadings and window treatments. You can also visit our website at www.allaboutblinds.net and view our exquisite products or get a free in-home estimate of your blinds and shades project from one of our consultants.

Topics: Window Treatments, Tips