Friday, November 28, 2014

How To Clean Blinds & Draperies

Curtains add a strong element of decor to any room, but it's important to understand the specific treatment required to handle the work of cleaning drapery. Whether you choose to do it yourself or employ a professional for the task, understand the benefits of drapery cleaning.

When cleaning your house, don't forget about the curtains. This can help eliminate dust and
prolong the life of the fabrics. (Photo courtesy of Angie's List member Carlos S. )

Why clean your drapes

It's often ignored. Drapes in any home can be the last thing you might identify as needed to be clean. Blind can be aesthetically pleasing while still trapping an overwhelming amount of harmful pollutants in your home. The accumulation of dirt and dust can be quite significant in these window accessories.

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Ultimately, the physical appearence will diminsh without proper cleaning. The color, texture and design of window treatment contribute to the decor of a room, as well as modulate light, heat as well as noise. Regularly cleaning drapes and curtains prolongs the life of fabrics and maintains colors from becoming dingy. The net-like structure of a fabric’s weave works like a sieve that traps small particles, mold, insects and dust.
Spring as well as summer are notorious for bringing with them excessive amounts of dust and pollen, both of which readily cling to the blinds in your home. Clean your blinds nicely and avoid irritating allergic reactions throughout your house.

Cleaning reduces build-up of allergens such as dust mites, animal hair and dander, which may offer some relief to people with allergies or asthma.

Drapery of all types tend to accumulate dust along with other small particles of debris more noticeably than do other surfaces. This really is largely due to the fact that drapes are located directly adjacent to windows and doors, where sunlight can achieve it easily.

If drapes are touched often , natural oils in the skin may leave residue that builds up and attracts further dust. Without proper and normal cleaning, dusty and grimy blinds begin to look dull and discolored, preventing a patient from the beauty of the window or door that they cover.

Know your drapes

Prior to cleaning drapes, first determine the fabric content, color-fastness of dyes and kind of weave. Drapes can be made from natural fibers such as cotton, linen, silk as well as wool, as well as synthetic fibers like polyester and nylon and blends. A few materials can be laundered, while others must be dry-cleaned or professionally cleaned.

Wool as well as cotton fibers often shrink when washed. If drapes are lined, both lining and drapery fabric must be washable. Always check the manufacturer’s label prior to washing.

The weave of a fabric affects how easily the material can be washed. Open weaves tend to snag. Trim or other decorative embellishments are often delicate and do not launder well. Pleated drapes should not be laundered.

Some fabrics are given sizing to maintain crispness. Water-repellant or flame-retardant coatings are also commonly used. Home washing may remove a chemical coating, reducing its effectiveness. Flame-retardant chemicals could be hazardous when released into the environment.

How to clean your drapes

Vacuuming having a household unit is the best way for regularly drapery cleaning. Remove curtains, place them on the solid surface and vacuum thoroughly with an upholstery brush. A crevice device can be used to reach into pleats and folds. Valances should also be vacuumed.

Expert cleaning services use equipment that surpasses the ability of home vacuums to wash drapes and upholstery. A trained professional will evaluate the fabric content and extent associated with soil in the drapes and recommend a cleaning program. Professional treatment might include using a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter machine to remove particles, steam-cleaning or even using ultraviolet light to kill mold, fungus and other micro-organisms that may stick around in the fabric of drapes.

To ensure safety of cleaning products in the home, consumers may use products listed by the DfE that are scientifically verified to be safer for the atmosphere The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) of the Division of Health and Human Services provides information about chemicals in cleaning products and indicates safer alternatives, a partnership between the EPA, industry associations and environmental businesses, provides a directory of alternative cleaning product ingredients known to have less impact on health insurance and the environment.

Cleaning blinds

Dust is unsightly and makes your home appear dirty as well as unkempt. But it also is one of the leading triggers of indoor asthma and allergic reactions, based on the American Lung Association.

However , it is difficult to easily eliminate because dust forms everywhere your home. While it is very easy to locate and remove dust from countertops as well as furniture, dust on window blinds is not as easily wiped away. Blinds tend to be rife with crevices, nooks and crannies where dust can accumulate.

Follow these tips when cleansing different types of blinds in your home.


  •  Vertical blinds: These blinds are best to clean whilst they are still hanging. First, go over the blinds with the dust attachment on the vacuum. Then use a duster. Any kind of all-purpose cleaner can be used to clean tough places.
  • Wood blinds: Clean wooden blinds in the same manner. When you are done, use a cloth dampened with wood polish to keep the wood healthy and shiny.
  • Venetian blinds: These blinds must be removed from the window to be cleaned properly. Use vinyl cleaner or a similar cleaning solution to get rid of the dirt, dust as well as grease that collects on both sides of the blinds. If cloth blinds, be sure you know the correct cleaning method to use, whether it’s chemical or dry.
  • Mini blinds: This type of blind is similar to Venetian blinds, but with a smaller slat thickness. They are cleaned much in the same manner. Remove and hang blinds over a fence or even place them in a bathtub. Use a small amount of soap to clean the slats, but make sure to avoid getting water into the headrail, because it can rust the mechanisms within and make the blinds non-functioning. Also, avoid getting the strings too wet, because those can deteriorate.


Cleaning your blinds regularly is an important part of having a attractive looking home with dust-free indoor air. A professional house cleaner is another option for individuals who don't want to undertake the process of cleaning blinds by themselves. These cleaners are very skilled and will be able to do the job more quickly and efficiently.

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