Window treatments are an investment in your home. They can be among the very expensive items you purchase for it. This is why it is vital to look after them so they can appear clean and new and don’t need to be replaced often. Dusting and cleaning your window treatments regularly can help maintain them, which is an important part of making sure they last. For most shades and blinds, vacuuming weekly or once a fortnight is a decent place to start to keep them clean and free of dirt and dust.

However, there are many kinds of window treatments made from various materials such as wood, fabric, plastic etc., which require different methods of cleaning. It is important for you to clean each material in a way that is suitable so that they don’t get damaged during the cleaning process. Among the main advantages of blinds is that for the most part, their maintenance and upkeep can be done at home, using a very small budget. Read our article and discover different ways of cleaning the different window treatments you have in your home.

Equipment needed to clean your window treatments

The equipment you choose to clean your shades and blinds greatly depends on the amount of dirt which has accumulated on them. Make sure that you carry the vacuum cleaner along with all of its attachments. Aside from that, you will need a sponge or a microfiber cloth. Also, keep a bottle of a gentle cleaner close in case the need arises.

Here are some ideas provided by experts to maintain your shades and blinds. Along with saving you from applying strenuous efforts of getting rid of accumulated filth, incorporating them will help increase the durability of your window treatments.

Remember to clean your blinds and shades with a vacuum cleaner or a microfiber cloth whenever you clean your house.
Invest some time every month to dust your window treatments.
Thoroughly clean them at least once, at the end of every season.
Make it a habit to deep clean them twice a year.

Getting rid of a light layer of dust

If you are thinking of giving your existing shades and blinds a cleaning or have recently invested in brand new blinds, a microfiber cloth should do the job. It is usually enough as there is just a light layer of dust. If you have plastic or wooden blinds:

Leave the blinds open.
Use the duster to wipe the slats separately starting from the top and finishing at the bottom. Cleaning in this order ensures that the dust which falls down is taken care of while wiping.
Use your vacuum cleaner to get rid of the leftover dust.

The best ways of cleaning all kinds of Shades and Blinds:

When you are dealing with heavily soiled blinds, dry dusting will not be enough to clean it thoroughly. Also, there are different methods of cleaning used for shades and blinds made of different materials such as plastic and wood. Keep reading to learn about different cleaning methods used for all kinds of shades and blinds.

Faux Wood

One of the main advantages of having faux-wood blinds in your home is that they are easy to clean. Ordinarily, they should be cleaned at least once a week, but if you live in a dirty or dusty environment, they should be cleaned more regularly. A cleaning solution of a litre of water with 5 ml of detergent can be used. First, dip the cloth into the solution and wipe the window treatments thoroughly with it. Always start from the top and work your way down. When you are done cleaning with the solution, go over each slat individually with a clean and dry cloth to ensure none of the slats are wet. Remember that it is vital to remove the soap residue altogether otherwise, it will leave visible and prominent marks behind.

Wood

When cleaning wood Venetian window treatments, you should take care and be cautious with them as they can easily be damaged. When the wood is exposed to water for too long, it can crack and warp. This is definitely something no one wants. One of the easiest ways of cleaning them is by using a vacuum with a brush attachment. For a thorough cleaning, wipe the slats using a cloth dipped in wood polish. You can also use a toothbrush to clean the tiny nooks and crannies. Remember never to use soap and water as it can cause irreparable damage to the wood and may also result in warping.

Fabric (Roller, Roman and Honeycomb)

For daily cleaning and maintenance, your vacuum with its dust brush attachment is sufficient to get rid of the dust and dirt accumulated throughout the day. All you need to do is fully open the window treatments and brush downwards until the whole surface area is covered. Remember to vacuum the side edges and bottom thoroughly as they constantly come in contact with the windowsill and have a higher chance of having accumulated dirt. If you are cleaning honeycomb window treatments, a great tool you can use is a hair dryer set on the cool setting. It can get rid of dirt, dust and even dead bugs that may be stuck on the inside of the openings. If the window treatments have accumulated marks or stains, you can use a microfiber cloth or a sponge dampened by a water and detergent solution to blot the stain. However, if the solution fails to work, you can also use a specialized stain remover. But remember to test it before applying it as it could cause damage to the material instead. Also, wring out the cloth as well as over saturating it can cause much damage.

Aluminium

Aluminium’s durability is what makes it a great material. Cleaning them is also extremely easy as they can be cleaned using the same solution used for faux-wood window treatments, as mentioned above. You can either use a soft and dry cloth to ensure there is no residual solution or allow them to air dry. However, if the aluminium window treatments aren’t overly dirty, you can simply use your vacuum with a dust brush attachment to clean them. All you have to do is work across the slats in order to get rid of as much dirt and dust as possible. Many online resources suggest simply dipping them in your bathtub, however, this should be avoided as it can cause potential damage.

Additional Tips:

When cleaning the window treatments, it’s best to spray the cleaner on a cloth or sponge instead of directly on the surface of the window. It prevents the cleaner from damaging the window treatments.
You can make the cleaning results last by vacuuming or sweeping the window treatments weekly. Then you only need to wash them a couple times a year.
When cleaning window treatments on high windows make sure the step ladder you use is placed on a stable surface. Or, better yet, have someone hold the ladder while you are cleaning.
If you are in a situation where you are constantly getting disturbed while cleaning, use a peg and place it on the slat you were cleaning when you are called away. This way, once you are back, you won’t be confused about where to start again.

Now that you are aware of the different ways in which you can clean your window treatments, you can get started without issue. Don’t forget or delay the cleaning process as it will deteriorate the condition of the window treatments. Proper cleaning and maintenance of your window treatments ensures that they last longer and saves you money as they need to be replaced less frequently.