Spring Cleaning for Your Blinds

The gloom of winter is finally lifting away for the brightness of summer. Now is the perfect time to open up windows for fresh air and clear away the last stronghold of winter dreariness: dingy window coverings.  Your shades have been down all winter, keeping the cold out of your home, and they too may need a little TLC. Here’s a breakdown of the “how-tos” for the most common dirty-blind culprits.

Vinyl Vertical Blinds and Faux Woods:

Because these are usually made of PVC or a PVC-Wood Composite, the size of faux wood and vinyl vertical blinds needn’t stop you from cleaning them up. A rag and some warm water will easily clean up lingering dust. If you’re wiping them down and notice a thick layer of grunge that resists your efforts and just sticks to the blind, constantly being pushed forward by your rag, don’t despair! This is usually the result of oils from fingers, hair, and airborne skin particles sticking to the surface, and can happen anywhere. Add a few drops of mild dish soap (not dishwasher detergent!) to your warm water and watch the grime lift away.

Mini Blinds:

Although they are dust resistant, aluminum blinds still collect dust over time. However, aluminum blinds are exceptionally easy to clean. In fact, most mini blinds can be taken outside and sprayed off with your garden hose. If you do this, be sure to avoid spraying the headrail directly and to allow your blinds to drip-dry on the grass or open the window your blinds hang in so they can dry out quickly. While the aluminum won’t rust, the headrail may if not properly dried. Don’t want to take your blinds down? Most feather dusters work great for a quick cleaning, and the tips above on dealing with greasy spots on your blinds also work for vinyl and aluminum minis, with one added step. Because mini blinds use a thinner slat than faux wood or vertical blinds, they bend more easily and need a more gentle touch when scrubbing the slats. Make sure to rinse and dry them off thoroughly after using soap and water.

Wood Blinds:

Wood blinds are a thing of beauty: all they truly need is a good dusting. However, if you live in a dry climate, you can restore some beauty and add extra protection against the splitting that can occur over time in any wood product with wood polish. Pick your favorite: they are safe on stained woods and will add a luster and shine to your home in keeping with your spring cleaning goals. It should be noted that these cleaners aren’t meant for painted woods, only stained woods. The paint on a white or cream wood blind offers all the protection you need. For spots, use a damp cloth and dry thoroughly.

Cellular Shades:

Cellular shades can collect reasonable amounts of dust, especially in the winter. After long months of being down to keep you warm, the first time they’re raised you may see little poufs of dust press out of the pleats, leaving you wondering about the inside of the honeycomb. There’s good news though: most fabrics can be cleaned in your home with no professional help. Using a feather duster, start at the top of the shade and run the duster horizontally across the blind and work your way down the shade in rows. Shake off the duster over a trash can and repeat the process on the back of your blind. Then, lowering your blind as far as you can, run the duster up and down on the shade to knock out any dust bunnies that were hiding in the crease. If you need a deeper clean, use a vacuum cleaner with an upholstery  attachment. Don’t use the brush attachment, as it may damage more delicate fabrics. If you know the inside of the honeycombs need cleaning, call the manufacturer. Some fabrics can be submerged in your bathtub, while others can be cleaned through injection-extraction cleaning, and you’ll need the manufacturer’s opinion on which should be done. Injection-Extraction cleaning is done in your home by a professional without taking down your shades, so you won’t need to carve out too much time for the process.

Are you shopping for blinds and shades? Check out the “Details and Specs” tab on each product for cleaning and care information to choose the blind that’s right for your needs.

When properly cared for, your window coverings will create exceptional beauty and privacy in your home. So don’t skimp your windows this spring cleaning, and enjoy the beauty of a fresh and bright view for years to come.

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5 New Year’s Resolutions to Make Your Home Bright

The holidays are over. Cousins, grandparents, and long-lost friends have gone back home, and the only disturber of your peace is that talking stuffed animal a well-meaning Auntie gave your little one- or the string of lights in every window- maybe it’s that cranberry sauce stain on the rug by the couch? It may actually be the thought of putting up all the knick-knacks you had to take down to put up your holiday decorations… Hmmm, maybe it’s the dusty film gathering on your window coverings that were neglected in favor of mountains of dishes?

Before you retreat to your bedroom to hide from the aftermath, take a day or two to face it. With five simple, no-fuss resolutions, you can have your home back in working order, leaving you free to veg out without looking guiltily at the Christmas tree in the corner every five minutes.

1. Don’t let holiday decorations stick around until Valentine’s Day.

Nothing wears you down quite as much as thinking about putting away your decorations- so do it fast. Thinking about it is more tiring than doing it, especially if you get organized. Sort things- garland in this box, ornaments in the next, lights in the next, etc. Get out the label-maker (or a thick black permanent marker if you don’t have one) so you can find things easily next year, and your storage space will be just a little friendlier throughout the year. Take the opportunity to pitch holiday décor you haven’t used in a few years. And please take out that tree! It’s the perfect home for bugs looking for a warm winter refuge. Bonus- your house will automatically feel better with no pine needles on the floor, and the embarrassing spectacle of a brown tree on the curb in the spring need not be yours this year.

2.  Start off the New Year with a New Look.

Garlands, cute little deer, and ceramic holiday villages take up lots of space. Once they’re gone and you have space again for your normal knick-knacks, consider this: you can redecorate a room without purchasing new things. Try rearranging them instead. Moving your furniture can make a room feel new again, and forces you to move pictures, vases, and other little treasures. Sometimes, putting something in a different space will make it seem new again. Bonus- now is the perfect time to zip-tie all the cables for your electronics into neat bundles for easier cleaning behind your furniture.

3.  Update playrooms and toy storage.

This may take some “strategery”- even though your children’s rooms are full of new toys and they never play with the old ones, kids want to hold on to toys forever. Send them outside to play and go in for the casualties- toss toys that are broken or missing most of their pieces. Also gather toys that never got much love and donate them to reputable charities. This doesn’t have to be a hassle- try visiting www.donationtown.org for local charities. Most areas even have free pickup services! Bonus- if you have older children, you can include them in the process, and use the chore of creating space for new toys as an opportunity to talk about giving to those in need.

Once you have tidied up the toy collections, try using cube furniture with bins to store the keepers. The bins may not be organized, but clearing the floor at the end of the day will be quick and stress free- and easy for the kids to do.

4.  Touch up damage to floors and upholstery.

For a quick way to freshen any room, tackle your floors. Most stains can be removed without shampooing. Mix 2 tablespoons of liquid hand dishwashing detergent with two  cups of cool water and blot at the stain- first to loosen the stain and then to lift it. Have a tricky stain? Check out the Good Housekeeping website for tips that don’t require a chemical arsenal to master. Bonus: by taking care of the worst spots now, you can save the heavy duty chemical deep-clean for springtime, when you can open up the windows and breathe fresh air.

5.  Clean dingy window coverings.

Windows are the best source of light in a room, and the first thing your eye goes to. Bring new life to a room by cleaning the window coverings. Most can be cleaned with a duster or a damp wash rag, and some can even be cleaned by submerging them in warm water in the bathtub (always check with the manufacturer first!). Have some cellular shades that have been getting dusty on the inside? Have them professionally cleaned- right in your home! This is a great option since the shades don’t have to be taken down, and the deep-cleaning will bring the color of your shade back to life. Bonus: even if you haven’t had the heart to go out in the cold to clean them, your windows will look brighter behind freshly cleaned shades.

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