02 Sep 2016

Spring (September) Cleaning – How To Clean Your Roller Blinds.

How to Clean Roller Blinds

September swung around quicker than you can shout ‘school’s out!’, and your children are racing home from a hard days’ work grubbier than ever. Although you appreciate the peace and quiet of their absence throughout the day, as soon as the clock strikes three, you’re well aware that they pose a threat to all of the delicately placed belongings in your home.

Here at Blinds Direct Online we understand that you chose your roller blinds for their robust and durable features, as they are able to withstand the wrath of a child’s greasy fingers, whilst maintaining a stylish exterior. The roller blinds do, however, require regular upkeep and cleaning to ensure that they stay looking their best.

 

How to Take Down a Roller Blind

First things first, you may want to take down your roller blind. For some people, this is a challenge in itself.

  1. Firstly, roll up your roller blind right to the top and remove any ornaments that may be in the way.
  2. Uninstall the child safety clip if you have one. Unstress the screws holding the clip in place and remove the clips from the wall.
  3. The opposite side to the wheel where the chain opens roller blinds is where you want to start with this part. Depending on the type of bracket you may have a screw-type when you can screw the end and the roller blinds is release. Push and lift your blind casting against the pin on the opposing side to release it from the bracket.

 

SO WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO CLEAN A ROLLER BLIND?

We have created this quick and easy-to-follow guide on how to clean roller blinds, to give you hints and tips when cleaning, which also debunks many roller blind cleaning myths along the way.

  1. Dust before putting the blind in water.

This can be done either using the removable head of a vacuum cleaner or by using a good old fashioned feathered duster.

  1. You do not need a bath.

Although bathing the blind in a bath in hot soapy water is the best way to ensure that it’s whole surface area is engulfed, if you own a large bucket – preferably a five-gallon-bucket, – this will do the trick just as well. Bathe the blind in the bucket for thirty minutes to allow the dirt and grime to detach from the surface.

  1. Washing detergent.

A gentle dish washing liquid and laundry detergent are both suitable soaps to use when soaking your roller blind in water, as they don’t contain any harmful peroxides or chemicals.

  1. Allow the blind to soak.

Allow the blind to soak in the warm soapy water for a while to loosen any ingrained dirt and grime before wiping them down with a cloth; this will make the wiping stage less harsh, and prevent any damage to the blind. If you do need to scrub away at a stain, do so with a toothbrush; this will isolate the stain and prevent any damage to the rest of the blind’s surface area. Rinse the blind with fresh clean water until the blind runs clear of soap suds.

  1. Clothes horse.

Drape the blind on a clothes horse outside in the fresh air and wait for it to dry.

  1. Add bleach.

If your blinds are white, it may be helpful to add a little bit of bleach to a bucket or bath full of clean warm water, and allowing the blind to soak in it for thirty minutes before rinsing and hanging out to dry.

  1. You need to do more than ‘spring clean’.

Spring cleaning a mere once a year is an utter tomfoolery; dusting and wiping your roller blinds on a regular basis (at least once every two weeks) will help prevent the build up of dust, dirt and grime, ensuring that you do not have to deep clean them as often.

So there we have it, an easy-to-follow guide of how to spring (September) clean your roller blinds. All of our British manufactured blinds here at Blinds Direct Online are easy to clean, ensuring that you spend as little time as possible on your household chores. Contact us today to discuss whether Venetian, roller or blackout blinds are the best option for your home.