Blinds are increasingly gaining popularity due to their appearance and practicality. With proper care, they practically do not need to be washed. However, there may come a time when cleaning is necessary.
Cleaning horizontal blinds at home
There are a great many ways. When choosing, you should rely on the material and location of such curtains. A nice addition: simple stains can be removed without removing the curtains from the windows. There are times when a serious wash may be needed. But this is also a completely doable task.
How to clean
A soap solution with vinegar added is ideal. Or you can purchase special cleaning products, depending on the material.
How to clean without removing
If there are no strong stains, you can get by with a regular vacuum cleaner. The main thing is to do it carefully, without pressure. Then wipe with a damp cloth soaked in cleaning products.
The most unpretentious materials are plastic and metal. They tolerate almost any substance and are not afraid of moisture. You need to be more careful with wood.We'll talk about the details of cleaning such blinds a little later.
Handwash
If the contamination is severe, a more serious approach may be needed. It is necessary to remove the blinds and soak them or wash away stubborn stains. Remember not to use harsh chemicals.
Cleaning vertical blinds at home
The fabric of the blinds is impregnated with special substances that prevent them from becoming too dirty. Simply brushing off the dust periodically is enough. But sooner or later there comes a time when it is necessary to thoroughly clean them. There are several ways to do this.
How to clean vertical fabric blinds
First of all, you should remember that under no circumstances should you rub them with a wet cloth. This will only worsen the situation, streaks will appear, and the dirt will be absorbed even deeper.
A steam cleaner will be a great help. It is very simple to use: just hold the device a short distance from the curtain. A powerful jet of steam removes dirt without any detergents. After this, you just need to wipe off the dirty water with a dry cloth.
In the washing machine
Definitely, this is the best invention of mankind and an indispensable assistant for any housewife. But is it possible to clean blinds this way? The answer is clear - yes, but you need to follow a number of rules:
1. First, we disassemble the structure to remove the slats. If there is no smart man nearby who can help you, for the first time it is better to sketch and write down the location of all the parts, so that later you can easily assemble everything as it was.
2. It is important to evaluate the stains. Particularly caustic ones will need to be washed manually, perhaps even the use of special products. If everything is really bad, you can pre-soak them in a soapy solution for a while.
3.Under no circumstances should slats be thrown into the machine in a chaotic manner. Then it will be completely impossible to untangle them and, among other things, they may become deformed beyond recognition. How to avoid this? Very simple: roll them into separate, neat rolls. It is important that they do not unfold, and for this you need to secure them. All kinds of elastic bands or strings will help with this; you can use old stockings or rags.
4. No aggressive chemicals. Preference should be given to soft powders and gels.
5. Washing mode - extremely delicate, without spinning or anything else.
Important: the lamellas can only be dried in an unfolded position on a horizontal plane. In this case, direct sunlight should be avoided.
6. If your blinds have bright colors, you need to do a paint fastness test. A piece of white cloth soaked in vinegar will help with this. Rub the curtain with it - if marks remain on the fabric, it is better to refrain from washing.
Handwash
Cleaning with improvised means is also a simple solution. This can be done without literally removing the blinds from the windows. To do this, you will need a basin of water, a rag or a special brush. A soap solution will help you deal with dirt better. You can also soften the water with a little vinegar.
How to clean horizontal wooden blinds
There are certain difficulties with this material. He doesn't tolerate water well. Excess moisture can cause the lamellas to become deformed and lose their presentable appearance. Therefore, you should limit yourself to dry cleaning or special products.
Progress
You can use a vacuum cleaner with a furniture attachment. And in case of severe contamination, it is better to contact a specialist or use a combination of alcohol and boric acid.But be careful: this method may damage the product. It is better to first try on a small, hidden area.
Tips for housewives
Cleaning the blinds without removing them from the windows seems like a great solution. Yes, but in this case, the soap solution and dirty water will splash and flow onto the windowsill. It is better to immediately wipe it with a dry towel or rag, this will reduce contamination of nearby surfaces. With wood, it is better to exclude water altogether. To reduce dust settling, regularly wipe wooden blinds with polish.
It is also important to remember that blinds must be handled carefully and carefully. No sudden movements or strong pressure. Otherwise, the slats may be damaged. This especially applies to plastic options.
Prevention
General cleaning can be delayed for some time. To do this, you should follow very simple rules. When vacuuming rooms, use a soft nozzle to run over the slats. This will significantly reduce the concentration of dust settled on them. And then go over them with a damp cloth.
Important: The rate at which dust settles depends on many factors. If there is a busy street with a lot of cars or a construction site outside the windows, the pollution will be much more intense. In this case, it is necessary to perform preventive procedures more often.
Cleaning blinds is not particularly difficult. This can be done without removing them from the windows. If this is not enough, assistants come to the rescue in the form of a steam generator or a regular rag with soapy water.