Window shades, also called as window blinds, serve a lot of purposes in any home or office. From being a mere window protection, it has now evolved to serve a variety of uses. At present, these window fixtures are now also used as an energy-saving and interior design tools, that provides privacy for the homeowners or office personnel. They also help protect the furniture inside the house or office from being constantly subjected to sunlight, rain, or dust.

How to Maintain Window Shades

Even though window shades are mainly used as protection for windows and other furniture, they also need maintenance and cleaning every now and then. If these fixtures are not given proper maintenance, they can accumulate dust and other allergens that can be harmful to the health of those who reside inside the establishments. Thus, the following are some guidelines in cleaning window shades:

1. Make sure to give some time in dusting or brushing the blinds every time you do house or office general cleaning. There is no need to take down the fixture and you only need to wipe each slat with moist cloth. If the slats of the blinds are too small, a vacuum cleaner can be used to remove the loose dust on it.

2. With aluminium blinds, you can just use water and mild soap in cleaning it. Simply mix hand soap with water, put the mixture in a spray bottle, and apply it on the slats of the blinds. After spraying, wipe the slats with a lint-free cloth or any soft cloth to remove the dirt.

3. For window blinds with cloth materials, dry sponges should be used on cleaning their surfaces. Never apply solvents and harsh cleaners on the cloth especially if the textile is white. The dry sponge can simply be used to scrub off the dust and dirt accumulations. If there are stains, only use hand soap and water to remove it. If there is no dry sponge, a microfibre towel can be used as an effective alternative.

4. Window blinds with aluminium shades can be removed off their dirt by simple brushing. Stains are better off with the use of foamy mixture of water and mild laundry detergent. After applying the mixture, wipe the slats of the blinds with a damp towel.

Tips in Preventing Dust Build-up on Window Shades

1. After cleaning the blinds, wipe them off with a gentle fabric softener. This minimizes the dust build-up on the slats.

2. Vacuum the blinds once a week to avoid dust particle accumulation.

3. Do not use wooden blinds on windows where they can be constantly exposed to moisture or humidity because when they are exposed to moisture they can attract dirt and grime. To avoid warping, avoid the use of water when cleaning them. Dusting or vacuuming them is more appropriate. If you want to install wooden blinds where humidity is high such as the kitchen and the bathroom, you can choose water-resistant blinds such as vinyl or faux.

4. Slats covered with cloth should be dry-cleaned to keep them from getting damaged.

Author Bio: Box sash windows Rehau windows and doors

Category: Home Management
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