Fabric blinds and shades come in a wide range of textures, textile varieties, and even patterns! In this blog entry, the window treatment installation team here at Los Angeles Shades and Blinds will describe some essential cleaning tips for fabric shades and blinds.
Removing Dust from Fabric Blinds
Dust and dirt can be easily removed from fabric blinds. Simply vacuum and dust both sides of the blind – ideally on a regular basis – and take care around areas with creases and pleats. Fabric blinds are long-lasting, but they still can be damaged. Any soiled or stained areas should be spot cleaned right away with a gentle soap solution, but never use strong spot stain removers as they can weaken fabric materials. After you’re done, inspect the blinds for any tearing, drooping, or broken strings or hems – and repair them as soon as possible.
Pleated Shade Cleaning
Any fabric pleated shades require the shade to be removed from the window and laid down on a flat surface before cleaning. Then vacuum both sides of the shade along the pleat. Any spots or fingerprints can be removed with a spray foam cleaner for fabric. Just spray the cleaner on the area and wipe it with a dmp and clean sponge – always wiping or scrubbing in the direction of the pleat. Then blot it with a dry cloth to remove extra water, and hang it when dry.
Roman Shade Cleaning
Roman shades come in many types of styles. If your Roman shades are a washable variety – first dust and vacuum it to remove any loose dirt or particulates, then remove all it’s dowels – either leaving the strings on, or dethreading and taking them out. Then wash the Roman shades according to instructions, hang it to dry, and then either steam or iron away the wrinkles, replace the dowels, and rehang it.
If your Roman shades are non washable – being made of silk, linen, wool, or fiberglass blends, and being easily damaged in a washing machine, you can have them dry cleaned by a professional shades and blinds cleaning service! This is only a good idea if your shades are visibly stained or tarnished. Usually, you can simply vacuum or dust the shades in order to keep them looking fresh and great – but if you do arrange to have your Roman shades dry cleaned, make sure to notify the professional about whether you’ve used any chemical based detergents or spot cleaners on the window treatment before.
