Spring Cleaning! Don't Forget Your Window Blinds

Spring cleaning time is coming up. That means it's time to start dusting and polishing up your home. You don't want to overlook your window blinds, as they can carry a lot of dust and grime. Here's some tips to clean them properly.

Wood Blinds
Regardless of the type of wood applied on each slat of the blinds, you must take extreme caution when cleaning it. Avoid using water or water-based solutions on them. Water, excessive moisture and related cleaning products can permanently damage your wooden blinds. The recommended way in cleaning wooden blinds is to use a feather duster, a soft head vacuum attachment, or a clean but dry cloth. If you are using a cleaning product, make sure that it is made for cleaning wood and it is not water-based. If you regularly clean your wooden blinds with the recommended methods, you would not need to use a cleaning product.

Aluminum and Vinyl Blinds
For aluminum and vinyl blinds, the first recommended cleaning option is similar to the wooden blinds: feather dusting. If you clean your blinds in a regular basis, you do not need to have a heavy cleaning and use of other cleaning products become unnecessary. To clean the blinds, first turn the slats downward in a sloped position. Work your way from the upper portion to the lower part and dust them briskly using a feather duster (a dry cloth and soft vacuum attachment can also be used). Be sure to brush them gently to prevent the slats from acquiring damage. If your blinds are heavily dusted, you may use cloth and warm water or a mild detergent to clean over them.

Vertical Blinds
Compared to other blinds, vertical blinds are the easiest to clean. The vertical position of slats prevents dusts from being collected unlike blinds with horizontal slats. You can simply get a feather duster and gently brush the slats from top to bottom.

Fabric Shades
Fabric shades can be cleaned with a duster or with a soft vacuum attachment. Cleaning this blinds type is usually minimal. If your fabric blinds have stains, you can use sponge blotting or use a cleaning solution. But make sure that the cleaning product are made especially for fabrics.

Faux Wood Shutters New York
Faux wood shutters require only a mild detergent or warm water to preserve its new look for years. Get a piece of clean cloth and wipe over the panels and louvers to remove the dust, dirt and grease. Do not use paint thinner or petroleum-based products to clean faux wood shutters as this may surely damage the blinds. Feather duster and soft vacuum attachment is fine for regular cleaning.

The Historical Significance of Wood Shutters

Wanna hear a little history behind your shutters? Well, it is believed that shutters originated in ancient Greece where they were made of marble and used for ventilation and heat. Wood shutters came into the picture when they were on their way to continental Europe. Wood was a more practical agent and enabled more access to ventilation and more control against the elements. The original intent for the use of wood shutters was for protection from the elements as well as protection from enemies.

The first glass windows made were during the Elizabethan era however, because of their expense only the upper half of the window had glass and of course, only those people of means could afford to have glass windows. Shutters made of wood still protected the bottom half of the window.

It is interesting to note that the original shutters were interior shutters rather than exterior. The window sills were very deep, too deep to accommodate the shutters thereby making them somewhat inaccessible and difficult to reach. Eventually the shutters made their way to America when they when brought here by Spanish colonials. They continued their original use as protection from the elements and enemies.

Although many kinds of wood are used to make exterior window shutters, the preferred wood is Western Red Cedar. This wood is impervious to insects and fungus and it is naturally resistant to deterioration. Basically, Western Red Cedar is a naturally preserved wood and has a pleasant scent.

If you have an older house perhaps in the style of the Victorian, Elizabethan or Early American eras you may have or want shutters made in the style of those eras and of the same wood used in those days. Of course, if you live in New England shutters would not be an addition to your community but they would be an integral part of the community as almost everyone has them even in newly constructed homes. Part of the reason for this, is the weather.

Get Ready to Spring Clean

There’s no better way to welcome the coming of springtime than with a little tidying up around your home. It’s a great way to shed off any layers that the harsh winter brought on you. It will help you make your home a healthier place and get rid of extra clutter that may be hampering your relaxation at home. Here are some great tips to making your home spring fresh…

1. CLEAN THE WINDOWS – What better way to let the beauty of the outdoors shine into your living space than by cleaning the windows so you have a better view?

2. DUST OFF THE LIGHT BULBS – For every light source in your home, unscrew each light bulb and clean it off using a rag dampened slightly with water. It will make your home shine brighter and having less dust will help you breathe more clearly.

3. CHANGE BED LINENS – For winter you may have had a darker, warmer set of sheets on your bed. Now that it’s sunny springtime, change your sheets to a lighter color, in a lighter blend to keep you cooler at night. It will brighten your mood instantly.

4. CLEAN THE REFRIGERATOR – No one particularly enjoys this task all that much but once it’s completed you will feel a lot better. Refrigerators pick up a lot of dirt and grime over time. Take the time to clean any spills or buildup from them.

5. WASH ANY BLINDS – Over time, blinds can build up dust and grime. For wood blinds, clean with a few drops of gentle wood cleaner on a mostly dry sponge. Aluminum blinds can be wiped down with a sponge and a cleaning solution, but if you’re feeling particularly adventurous, take them outside and scrub them down on a slanted surface.

6. TAKE CARE OF YOUR CURTAINS – If your curtains appear dusty or dirty, vacuum or dry-clean them.

These few tips should take care of some spring cleaning tasks for you and help you get ready to embrace the fresh, clean air of the new season!