How To Care For Your Blinds

How to care for roller blinds

Few blinds are as iconic or popular as roller blinds. Luckily, roller blinds are also very easy to care for so you can keep them looking fresh for the long term!

If you’ve chosen either PVC or easy wipe roller blinds, your blinds will be even easier to clean, thanks to their water resistant and wipe-clean properties. If not, it’s still easier to care for roller blinds than you might think.

Simply roll the blind all the way down and wipe from the top to the bottom with a clean, damp cloth. Before you roll the blind back up, make sure the fabric is fully dried. Aim to clean your rollers a couple of times a month for best effect. You can use baby wipes to clean your roller blinds, just be sure you’re gentle with the fabric.

For the plastic roller blind chain or cord use warm soapy water. Do not clean steel or brass chains with water as they can become rusty over time, instead use a light furniture polish applied to a microfiber cloth. You can also clean the mechanism with a silicone spray, which will remove dirt while preventing squeaking and stiffness. Avoid the spray getting on the fabric, which may lead to bleaching or staining.

How to care for Roman blinds

Roman blinds are an elegant window dressing. The beauty of these blinds comes from their ability to stay appealing whether they are raised or lowered, ensuring your windows are always fashionable. Moreover, they’re easier to care for than you might expect. 

Roman blinds require frequent, light cleaning to sustain their unique and striking look. Because Roman blinds are made using soft fabrics, marks and stains can be more difficult to deal with when compared with alternatives. That said, dust and dirt can be tackled easily. You can achieve great results with a soft brush and low power setting on your vacuum for example. Lower the blind fully and brush from top to bottom, focusing on the edges of the blind, which tend to amass more dust. You should only vacuum the front of a Roman blind.

You can use baby wipes to remove more stubborn stains. If your blind is made from silk or faux silk, you should not attempt to clean it in any way. All fabric types come with advice for cleaning, and if you are ever unsure, you should seek advice from a dry cleaner who is aware of the fabric’s requirements.

How to care for aluminium and wooden venetian blinds

Venetian blinds, whether they are made from metal, wood, or faux wood, are easy to care for and keep looking stylish!

To start, close your blinds and glide over the slats with a soft, clean duster. Be sure that you wipe from the middle of the slats moving outwards. Once clean, open, and then close the slats in the opposite direction and repeat the process. If your aluminium Venetian blinds, or faux wooden blinds, have sticky or greasy marks, try a gentle detergent like washing up liquid. Use a damp cloth to softly buff the spot and then pat the slats dry with kitchen roll. For a more comprehensive clean, remove your faux wood or metal blind from the headrail and place it down on a towel or blanket. Fill a bowl with warm water and add a small amount of detergent. Use a soft sponge to wipe each slat, then rinse with clean, cold water. Don’t apply heat to the blind, let it dry naturally.

Remember, don’t use excessive water when cleaning real wood Venetian blinds. Instead, use a damp cloth to remove the mark and dry with a clean cloth. By using a damp cloth and not too much water, you can avoid any potential warping or cracking. Any varnishes and finishes on your wood slats may also fade if inappropriate cleaning products are used. To avoid any unwanted mishaps,avoid using liquid or chemical products when cleaning your real wood blinds.

How to care for vertical blinds

Vertical blinds require little maintenance as their lengthy, downwards-hanging louvres mean they are less prone to collect dust. The majority of vertical blinds are made using flexible polyester, or a similar material, which means you can wipe-clean these blinds with a clean, damp cloth. If you want a more thorough clean for your vertical blinds, concentrate on each louvre separately. It may even be easier to unclip and remove the louvres from the rail for the best outcome.

You should always dry vertical blinds naturally to maintain their shape and colour. If your louvres have been soaked, do not hang them to dry. Doing so will cause the water to settle at the bottom of the fabric which can cause discolouring and reduce the visual impact of your blind. As an alternative, rest each louvre on a flat surface and allow them to dry naturally. Once fully dry, you can re-hang them.

Pay additional attention to the headrail and chains as they may have become dirty or sticky. Start by disconnecting the louvres, then softly wipe under the rail with a damp cloth. For the mechanism and any chains, use a silicone spray. You could also use baby wipes. Allow these components to dry naturally, then reattach your louvres. It couldn’t be simpler!

How to care for shutter blinds

Shutter blinds are sleek, charming and supremely elegant. As with all blinds – and potentially even more so – it’s important to keep on top of the maintenance of your shutters. 

As with natural wood blinds, wooden shutters need a water-free approach to maintenance. Whether your shutters are made from natural wood, or shutters made with faux wood, one of your top priorities should be to keep them free from dust. As a first step, close the slates and wipe over them with a duster. For day-to-day care, close simple wipe over the area with broad strokes. 

If, however, your shutters need more accurate cleaning, focus on each individual slat. As with Venetian blinds, turn the slats one way, clean that side, and then repeat the process with the slats turned in the opposite direction. 

Once you’ve tackled the slats, don’t forget to clean the frame too! If there are stains on your shutters, use a slightly damp cloth and dry with a soft cloth afterwards. This drying step is vitally important for natural wood shutters.