Cleaning Wooden Blinds
Wooden blinds provide a durable and attractive solution to your window treatment needs. They are also one of the simplest, most affordable ways to improve energy efficiency. For instance, did you know that fifty percent of home heat is lost through the windows? Experts also tell us that installing wooden blinds can lower heating and cooling costs by nearly a third.
There is only one common concern when it comes to these blinds—homeowners often dismiss them as high maintenance. On the other hand, wooden blinds are the number one choice of professional decorators. Why the difference of preference or opinion? Well, in this case it certainly seems that the decorators know best.
In this article we are going to talk a bit about cleaning wooden blinds. No, it is not nearly as difficult as you might expect. Like most horizontal blinds, wooden ones consist of a series of slats that must be cleaned from time to time. If they are not dusted and polished on a regular basis, the wood may fade, become dull and even get scratched.
The number one concern of any homeowner with wooden blinds is dust. Yes, these treatments are virtual magnets for motes of dusts that often swirl around open windows, especially in the spring. That is why you may want to put down an old soiled or unwanted sheet before you start cleaning. Afterwards, you can take the sheet outside and shake it out to get rid of dust and dirt.
What should you use to clean them? Most decorators and home improvement specialists will tell you that you should dust your blinds at least once a week along with the rest of your furniture. This does not have to be a thorough cleaning, but it should involve a duster and maybe even some water spray.
For a more comprehensive cleaning you may want to use the duster or the vacuum at least once every other week. The brush attachment for your vacuum is the perfect tool for cleaning the dust and dirt that will accumulate. A word of warning: do not use wax or regular furniture polish. These sprays will simply seal in the dirt and make it extremely difficult to clean in the future. However, once the blinds have been cleaned, often with a damp cloth, it is possible to use a little polish to make your blinds shine.
