For anyone currently building a new home or renovating an existing dwelling, the relief you feel once all the major components are in place will soon be replaced by the realisation that critical decisions are needed now regarding your window treatments. Getting this right will be the finishing touch that brings all your efforts together.

Window Treatment Options

Modern fabric blinds currently offer a huge range of colours and patterns in price ranges to suit every budget. They can be recessed into the window frame or face mounted, and old favourites like roller blinds can now compete favourably with Romans, Venetians, verticals and honeycomb blinds. Panel blinds should also be considered for large window spaces.

Fabric is a Versatile Choice

Fabric blinds are also versatile enough to control heat and light. By choosing options such as block out fabric for bedrooms, soft, light filtering fabrics that are perfect for living areas and sunscreen products that block out 95% of UV rays and provide daytime privacy, there is a fabric for every situation.

Easy Cleaning Methods

Cleaning blinds with care is important.

With fabric blinds, keeping it looking crisp and clean is no different from any of the other regular maintenance tasks that home occupiers do every week. Roman blinds, rollers and panel blinds can be kept crisp and clean by a regular vacuum.

Take care, however, to use the brush attachment and put the cleaner on a low setting to avoid the possibility of stretching, or worse still, tearing the fabric. Honeycomb blinds respond best to a hair dryer on a cool setting blasting away any dust or dead insects trapped in the crevices.

Tricks and Tips

Another option is to give fabric blinds the onceover every couple of weeks with a lint roller. This is a quick way to pick up pet hair and cobwebs that are sometimes difficult to remove with a vacuum cleaner on the recommended low setting. S

pots and small soiled areas are best treated carefully by spraying a cleaning solution onto a soft cloth, then gently rubbing the area, followed by rinsing off with a microfibre cloth dipped in clean water. Dry immediately by using an electric fan.

While these methods will keep your fabric blinds in good condition, the pace of modern life means that even with the best of intentions, regular maintenance may lapse for months or even years. When this happens, Blind Concepts is here to help.

Our cleaning service uses the latest ultrasonic technology. This eco-friendly method of cleaning blinds requires minimal amounts of chemicals and water. We clean your blinds in our workshop and return them to you within 24 hours, ready to hang.

Window blinds continue to be a popular and effective way of controlling the amount of light, heat and cold entering dwellings, and still offer a quick and easy way of ensuring privacy to building occupants. There are now many different types of blinds available in a wide range of materials to suit most window and door openings, so today’s consumers have plenty of options.

Modern Verticals Suitable for Every Room

In the past, it was usual for vertical blinds to be found in bedrooms and living areas in homes, and they were also a favourite in office buildings. They were not just used to cover windows but were a popular alternative to floor length curtains on large sliding doors. Modern verticals can now be found in hard-working areas such as kitchens, bathrooms and laundries.

Many Features and Shapes Available

Vertical blinds are perfect for covering large spaces of glass such as picture windows and patio doors. Available in UV and fade-resistant fabrics, modern verticals can also offer buyers the option of chainless blinds and weights that are sewn into the fabric, making them safer for pets and children. Some manufacturers also offer sloping verticals for angled or shaped windows.

Cleaning Options for Vertical Blibds

The choice of materials will determine the cleaning regime needed to keep the verticals looking new. PVC verticals and other rigid fabrics are suitable for kitchens and laundries as they are water-resistant and easy to clean with a spray cleaner and a quick wipe down.

High-quality fabrics are in demand for living areas and can be kept clean and dust-free with regular vacuuming. We are in the business of helping clients keep their window blinds clean. We use advanced blind cleaning technologies that make the task easy.

Here at Blind Concepts, we also offer blinds repair services to give them a second life. Our ultrasonic cleaning process gently removes ingrained dirt and grime, keeping your expensive blinds in good condition. Dirty, damaged or both, we can have them looking like new.

Horizontal Blinds Noted for Versatility

Horizontal blinds are popular because they are versatile, easy to operate and offer greater privacy protection than verticals. While genuine timber blinds are still in demand, the modern option is now faux timber. This is due to its qualities of durability and tolerance for surface scratches, as well as resistance to moisture and cost effectiveness.

Faux timber also comes in an array of colours, cordless options and decorative valances, which add to the luxury look.

Cleaning Options for Horizontal Blinds

While timber blinds are lighter and better suited to large spaces, faux blinds suit most windows and are easy to keep clean. Just wipe-over with a damp cloth or purchase specialised dusters that will clean several slats at a time.

Once the poor relative of fancier blind styles such, as Romans, Hollands and Venetians, advancements in fabric choices and design improvements have created a new breed of roller blinds. In the past, they were relegated to bedrooms, but now they are suitable for most rooms in even the most stylish homes.

Night Shift Workers Love Blockout Blinds

Blockout roller blinds prevent light from entering the room when they are fully extended. In hot climates where rooms face west, they are excellent for keeping out the heat. They are also the best choice for night workers who struggle to get enough sleep through the day in bedrooms that are only partially darkened.

UV Rays Kept Out with Modern Fabrics

Modern roller blinds are available in materials containing sunscreen to keep out UV rays while letting in mood-enhancing light and retaining views to the outside. Double roller blinds have the added benefits of combining light and heat control with blockout, all in one, double layered blinds.

We know a lot about blinds. Our one-stop service provides top quality cleaning and repair services at reasonable prices.

Ultrasonic cleaning with Blind Concepts removes dirt, grime, stains, and bacteria. We take your blinds to our workshop, clean and repair them, where necessary, and return them to you ready to hang.

Cleaning Methods for Roller Blinds

The average homeowner, with a little effort, can keep roller blinds clean. For newly installed or recently cleaned blinds, regular maintenance is the secret. With the blind fully extended, vacuum from top to bottom and wipe over with a damp cloth to remove any remaining material or stains.

If a deep clean is required, take the blind down and soak in a bathtub of water and laundry detergent. Rinse with clean water, wipe over with a non-abrasive cloth, then remove from the tub and hang out to dry. Once the blind is completely dry, rehang in its usual position.

Wide Choice of Materials Offer Durability

Modern materials have increased the durability of roller blinds. For wet areas such as bathrooms and laundries, blinds made from mould and bacteria-resistant material, are available. Other materials that are fire retardant, non-flammable, resistant to dust, staining and fading from UV rays, are also available.

Repair Methods for Roller Blinds

The mechanisms, chains and cords on roller blinds can become damaged with wear and rough treatment, but those who are handy with basic tools can do repairs themselves. You can do simple repairs for blinds. An internet search will provide full instructions, as well as parts lists where required.

If this still seems too difficult, contact us and let our experienced team bring your precious blinds back to ‘as new’ condition.

Now is the perfect time of the year for a total household clean before the heat of a Queensland summer makes vigorous housework a sweaty and unpleasant prospect. The routine usually starts with decluttering, followed by dusting and cleaning every surface including furniture and fittings, hard floors, carpets, matting and windows.

Some mistakes are harder to fix than others

Of course, there is no point cleaning the windows without including the curtains and blinds. Cleaning window blinds is one of the least-favoured jobs as there are a number of things that can go wrong during the process. The task is complicated as different types of blinds need different cleaning methods and mistakes made may not be easy to fix.

Don’t forget to vacuum first

The first mistake is to assume that any surface dust will come off when the real cleaning starts. Not removing this dust just makes the job harder and can result in it becoming ingrained in the fabric. It is so much easier to vacuum the dust off first, leaving a smooth surface that will show up stains and marks that need extra cleaning attention.

Don’t mix cleaning products together

How many of us know what ingredients are in the cleaners we use, and in our ignorance, might think that combining two cleaners will give us a better result. White vinegar and bleach are both effective cleaners, but it would be a huge mistake to mix them together. This action produces chlorine gas which is dangerous.

Don’t dry off with paper towels

Paper towels are popular cleaning aids in most dwellings, and it is easy to have them on hand to blot dry the blind surfaces. However, this would also be a mistake. Cotton or microfibre cloths are more effective and they leave a clean, smooth surface, unlike paper towels that leave lint clinging to the blind. Some brands also have a rough surface that may damage the fabric.

Don’t close up roller blinds unless they are dry

A common mistake with roller blinds is to put a big effort into washing them clean, then not drying them before rolling them up. In a hot and humid climate, this is a perfect breeding ground for mildew. If this is not removed with a mould cleaner, not only will the blinds be damaged, but the spores can also cause health problems to the occupants.

Window blinds that have not been cleaned properly for some time may require more time and effort than you can spare. Our team at Blind Concepts will pick up the blinds from your premises and clean them at our workshop, using our environmentally responsible ultrasonic technology. Within 24 hours we return your cleaned blinds to you, ready for re-hanging. We are waiting for your call.

Householders who take pride in their homes know that getting the right window treatments for each room is the final touch in creating a comfortable space that welcomes them home each day. A regular cleaning regime is also part of this feeling of comfort, and while blinds don’t need cleaning every day, they should be on the cleaning schedule of every well-kept dwelling.

Cleaning Methods for Different Blinds

Window blinds are also expensive, so no householder wants to damage theirs during cleaning. Using different types of cleaning methods for diverse styles of blinds is one way to avoid accidental damage, especially if you are cleaning them on the window.

Cleaning Venetians with Care

Aluminium and plastic venetians, for example, can be safely cleaned using warm water, a soft cloth and an all-purpose household cleaner. Taking the time to clean each slat individually will give the best results, with no patches of dust or grime left behind. A gentle touch is best to avoid damage, and when one side is cleaned, flip the blind to the other side and repeat.

Go Easy on the Water

Wooden venetians need a little more care, as using too much water as part of the cleaning process may cause the slats to warp. The first step is to tightly close the blinds, leaving no gaps and gently wipe over with a microfibre cloth to remove any traces of dust, then repeating the process on the other side. This may be all that is needed, but if not, wipe with a slightly wet sponge for a final clean.

We understand how important clean windows and blinds are to house-proud people. Keeping your blinds in excellent condition is what we do at Blind Concepts. We use ultrasonic cleaning methods to get your blinds spotless and because our process uses very little water and chemicals, it is also environmentally friendly.

Too Scared to Clean Your Roller Blinds?

Many householders are afraid to tackle roller blinds, especially plastic ones, in case they use too much force and tear them from the roller. Have no fear.

1. Place a mild cleaner, even dishwashing liquid, in warm water and using a sponge, start at the bottom of the fully extended blind.
2. Wipe across gently, gradually moving upward until the entire blind has been cleaned.
3. Do both sides and leave them open to dry.

However, if you don’t have the time or energy for any of this, remember we are blind cleaning specialists. We will take your blinds back to our workshop, clean them and have them back to you in no time. Give us a call for a free quote.

How often in our busy lives do we walk past something in our dwelling that needs cleaning or even replacing without noticing it? Experts tell us that this is common behaviour simply because we become familiar with things that are around us all the time. This causes us to give them just cursory glances until we have reason to look more closely.

Often, the first time we notice the issue is when we are preparing our home for a party or some other social event. It is almost like we have suddenly looked through a magnifying glass and seen everything clearly. This usually sets off a frenzy of activity to rectify the situation.

Check behind the Curtains

Window blinds are often the most overlooked item, especially when they are hidden by curtains. Even when running the vacuum cleaner over the curtains to keep the dust at bay, how often do we stop to really examine the blinds behind them? If we did, we might see signs of wear that could be repaired to prolong their usefulness.

At Blind Concepts, extending the life of your blinds is the core of our business. Our clients save hundreds of dollars when they entrust their blinds to our cleaning and repair processes. Our ultrasonic cleaning technology removes built-up grime while our repair and replacement services restore the quality of your valuable blinds.

Are Your Blinds a Hazard?

There are some signs you should look for when checking to see if your blinds are at the replacement stage. Blinds not only should look good, but they must also be practical and suit your situation. If you now have very small children or pets living with you, blinds with cords that were no problem for adults are now a choking hazard.

Is there Irreparable Damage?

Over time, humidity, along with sun and water damage can cause the slats on timber Venetians to warp. While we can replace these slats as part of our service, there may come a time when so many are damaged that you may choose to replace the blinds with new ones.

Old Blinds Don’t Suit New Decor

If your blinds are very old, it may simply be a situation where they no longer suit the décor. Perhaps you have repainted the interior in modern colours, installed new floor coverings or replaced key furnishings and light fittings. This may leave the window blinds and curtains an unsuitable match for these major changes.

Before you make the final decision to replace your blinds, give us a call. Our repair personnel can examine your damaged blinds and possibly offer an alternative solution.

Window treatments such as those for blinds and curtains are not only expensive but are also a very public introduction to the homes and other buildings they adorn. In effect, the state of the windows in the premises you occupy, whether as an owner or a renter, is the first impression that a visitor forms when they arrive at your dwelling.

First Impressions Count

No doubt you would like that impression to be favourable, so if your window blinds are dirty, it may be time to break out the cleaning materials. Before you do though, take a moment to think about the type of cleaning materials you have, and what effect they are likely to have on your blinds. Depending on what they are made of, you may need to avoid chemical products to preserve the life of the blinds.

Take Care When Cleaning Timber Blinds

When cleaning timber blinds, remove the dust first either with a vacuum cleaner and the soft brush attachment, or wipe them with a clean, dry cloth. Any marks that are left can be rubbed gently with a clean damp cloth, remembering that excess moisture will cause the wood to swell. Avoid using liquids or chemicals as any varnishes, stains or other finishes on timber slats may fade and peel.

Need to Clean Roller Blind Mechanisms?

Roller blinds are the workhorse of window treatments and are perfect for rooms such as the kitchen and bedrooms. They are economical, easy to use and if they are made of plastic or PVC, easy to clean with standard household cleaners. However, if as part of your cleaning regime you need to clean the mechanism and if you are using a silicone spray, avoid getting this on the blind fabric. It could react to the chemicals in the spray and leave your blinds looking discoloured or bleached.

Soft Fabrics Make Roman Blinds Difficult to Clean

Roman blinds are more difficult to clean because generally, they are made from soft fabrics such as cotton or linen. Gentle dusting or vacuuming with a soft brush keeps dust at bay, but stains and marks are a different problem. Chemical stain removers should never be used on roman blinds as there is no way of knowing how this will affect the colour of the fabric.

Too Hard? Give us a Call

If all these do’s and don’ts seem daunting, the easy solution is to entrust the cleaning of your precious blinds to Blind Concepts. We clean verticals, Roman blinds, aluminium and timber Venetians, oriental and Holland blinds and others, using our ultrasonic cleaning process that is almost chemical-free. We take your blinds to our workshop, work our magic and return them, sparkling clean, to you within 24 hours, ready to rehang.

Window blinds are a popular and fashionable way to protect your home and its furnishings. They offer versatility of style, options for the control of light and heat, and they are available in a range of materials and types to suit all budgets.

Simple Cleaning Mistakes to be Avoided

The simplest way to look after blinds is to take care when cleaning them. A simple mistake doing this basic task can spoil the appearance of your blinds, perhaps break some of the working mechanisms or in the worst case, render them unusable.

We know a lot about cleaning all types of blinds. In fact, Blind Concepts have been in the business of repairing and cleaning blinds for 20 years. We use an ultrasonic cleaning process that uses minimal amounts of chemicals and water, restoring older blinds to look like new.

Keep Water off Timber Blinds

One of the most common mistakes people make when cleaning timber blinds is using too much water. Unless they are a timber-look synthetic or have been made waterproof during manufacture, genuine timber blinds absorb water, thus causing them to warp or split when they dry out.

Don’t Close Slat Blinds Completely

It is surprising how often this mistake happens. With aluminium and vinyl slat blinds, people often just close them completely and wipe them over. The blinds look clean, but once they are opened, the parts of the slats that were hidden when closed are revealed, still with dust and grime on them.

Don’t Start with a Too Wet Cloth on Fabric Blinds

Roman and cellular or honeycomb blinds are very popular but look difficult to clean. Many householders make the mistake of trying to remove dust and stains by wiping over with a very wet cloth. Unfortunately, this can have the opposite effect by rubbing the dust into the fabric.

Don’t Start on Roller Blinds without a Plan

Roller blinds generally respond well to careful cleaning if you start with a plan. The most common mistake is to start on the worst stains first. If the blind is very dirty, it takes ages and many people just give up, instead of starting at the bottom and working upwards in sections. Dry them before rolling back up.

Remember to Vacuum all the Dust Away First

The number one mistake to make when cleaning your blinds is to not use your vacuum cleaner first. If you move the brush attachment gently over your blinds on a low suction it removes most of the dust. Any left-over stains can be easily removed with a damp (not wet) cloth and some mild dish-washing liquid.

For busy people without the time or desire to clean their own blinds, we will pick them up from your premises and return them to you within 24 hours, clean and ready to hang.

Regular cleaning of your window blinds, curtains, flyscreens and the window glass itself clears away the grit, grime, dust and pollutants that inevitably invade your space and dull the sparkle that clean windows add to a dwelling. However, did you know that there is another reason for keeping your windows clean that has nothing to do with keeping up appearances?

When is Dust not Dust?

If you haven’t cleaned your window blinds for a few weeks, you will notice a layer of what appears to be dust on them. You might think that this is dirt blown in from outside the dwelling, but in fact, most of the dust in your house is actually shed skin flakes. If that knowledge is not disturbing enough, these dust mites can cause health issues. This is especially true if any of the occupants of the dwelling have asthma, hay fever or other medical conditions that affect the respiratory system.

Pollen, Mould Spores and Pet Dander – Yuk!

Dust mites are most prevalent in humid areas like coastal cities and towns and are a major allergen. While they are also present in the drier inland, this is usually at lower levels, yet still an issue for someone who has a chronic allergy to them. Also present in dust, apart from skin flakes, are pollens, mould spores and if you have pets in the home, pet dander.

Blast the Mites with Sound Waves

While dust mites are almost impossible to eradicate from your home, using our blind cleaning process gives you a head start. When you hand over your blinds to us at Blind Concepts, we use an advanced ultrasonic cleaning method that removes grime and dust using high frequency sound waves. This process sanitises, deodorises and lubricates the blinds, and because the sound waves get into those hard-to-reach areas, the dust mites are blasted out.

Regular Vacuuming Will Reduce their Number

While we are taking care of your blinds, you can move onto the other areas of the dwelling that harbour dust mites. They like dark spaces so common hiding places are in bedding and mattresses, upholstered furniture, long-pile carpets and rugs and soft toys. Regular vacuum-cleaning of these and other areas of the home will reduce the number of dust mites, but it will never completely get rid of them.

Other Changes to Make to Reduce Symptoms

For those with asthma and allergies, it is important for their comfort and general health to make some other changes to reduce their symptoms. Avoid upholstered furniture and heavy curtains, and if possible, replace carpets with timber or vinyl flooring. These are just a couple of the suggested changes; using us to clean your blinds will take the hard work out of banishing those pesky dust mites.

Have you ever entered a residence that had great kerb appeal from the outside, only to find that while the interior décor was modern and stylish, the rooms were rather dark and gloomy? Homes like this often need artificial lighting on an overcast day, when the lighting should be adequate, especially in a modern home with large windows.

Perfect Windows need Blinds to Suit their Shape and Aspect

Often, the cause of this lack of light is that the window blinds are the wrong type for the shape of the window or for the aspect of the room. Many people, when choosing window blinds, opt for the same type for every room, thinking that consistency is the goal. However, this approach means that some windows will be perfect, and some will exhibit a varied range of design flaws.

This is something we see quite often when we are picking up blinds for cleaning from clients’ premises. At Blind Concepts, we offer a cleaning service using the latest ultrasonic cleaning technology. This is a very effective way of removing ingrained dirt, grime and grease on slats and hard to reach corners. What we also see are rooms outfitted with blinds that block light and air.

Bedrooms Need Natural Light

Bedrooms are a perfect example. Most homes have at least two smaller bedrooms for children, while the master bedroom and perhaps a guest bedroom have fixtures and fittings designed for adults. Having the same blinds in every bedroom is a missed opportunity. The adult rooms need something elegant that offers privacy but still allows in light, while the children’s rooms, also needing both privacy and light, must not have dangling cords or anything that can cause a hazard.

Blinds that Let in Light can Still Protect Privacy

Moving now to the family room, this is an important function space where much of the family interaction takes place, but often it is visible from the outside. While Venetians may not suit other rooms in the house, they are very versatile for this type of room where lots of light adds to the atmosphere, but a quick adjustment of the slats ensures privacy.

Kitchens Need All the Light they can Get

The kitchen is the heart of the home and needs every fixture and fitting to be practical and contribute to the overall efficiency of the space. Blinds on kitchen windows need to be easy to clean but also allow enough light into an area, which most of the time is busy.

There is no ‘one style fits all’ when it comes to window blinds. Each room should be assessed on its own merits, with function, aspect, need for privacy, climate control and the mood enhancing benefits of light all considered when choosing a suitable window blind.