Have you searched the internet recently to find the latest, easy, do-it-yourself method of cleaning your blinds? Did you give up the search, totally confused, after reading articles and watching videos of dozens of different ways to get your blinds cleaned, when all you really wanted was a quick, simple and effective tip that suited your purpose?

Confused by Too Much Cleaning Information?

Many of our clients at Blind Concepts have had the same experience and we know this because they relate these experiences to our technicians when they pick up the blinds from their homes. We specialise in cleaning, repair and replacement of a range of different styles of blinds and provide free quotes on request.

However, we also know that many people do tasks themselves for personal satisfaction and this is just as important as a job well done. For these avid, diehard DIY blind cleaners, we have a couple of methods here that may be better than the ones you are using.

Old Technique for Venetians Still Works Today

Venetian blinds can be difficult depending on whether they are made from aluminium, timber or wood-composite, lacquered or oiled cedar. An old but still reliable method of getting them clean is to slide a sock over each arm of a pair of tongs, then keep them secure with rubber bands. Then, just clamp the tongs onto each slat, slide them along and repeat until every slat is done. For extra dirt and grime, use damp socks to pick up more dirt.

Easy Cleaning Method for Roller Blinds

Classic roller blinds never go out of style but are often neglected, with dirt and grime not really noticed until they are fully extended. Both fabric and plastic roller blinds are easy to clean with just a cloth and a bucket of warm, soapy water. Start at the bottom and wipe the blind surface over in sections, working gradually upward until the whole blind is clean. Leave it fully extended to dry out, and then roll it up as usual.

Fabric Blinds Need Some TLC

Fabric blinds such as Roman or Oriental need more care than synthetics, so always start with vacuuming to remove any dust before washing. Then, take them down and wash them carefully, both sides, with warm, soapy water on a sponge. The bathtub is the most convenient place with all the space needed to accommodate even the widest blinds. Rinse them with clean water and let them air dry.

Call in the Experts if it Seems Too Hard

For all our satisfied clients, the closest they get to do-it-yourself blind cleaning is to punch our number into their phones and arrange for us to pick up their dirty blinds. Twenty-four hours later, their spotlessly clean blinds are ready to re-hang on their windows.

Most of us like our home to be a place where we can relax and be ourselves at the end of a busy day. When we step over the threshold we want to feel comfortable, and a big part of that is living in a clean and tidy environment. While most times a routine cleanup will get everything spic and span, at some point, window dressings such as curtains and blinds will need a more thorough cleaning.

Use Care When Cleaning Genuine Wooden Blinds

If you have genuine wooden blinds, there are a couple of things we recommend you take into consideration before subjecting them to a vigorous cleaning technique. Even though these blinds are made of wood, they are not robust, and can be easily damaged. They should not be dipped in a bath of soapy water like plastic blinds, as the timber absorbs the water, then swells and cracks.

We consider ourselves to be experienced at cleaning all types of blinds. Here at Blind Concepts, we offer a blind cleaning service to customers who would rather outsource this task to professionals. However, if you are careful, you can do them yourself. To help you out, here are a few suggestions.

The Vacuum Cleaner is the First Step

First, close the blinds up and gently go over one side and then the other with the soft brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner. This should remove most of the surface dust, especially if you have been regularly dusting them as part of your weekly cleaning routine.

Clean Each Individual Slat as the Second Step

Second, open the slats and with a damp cloth, gently wipe each individual blade. A quick way to do this is to put a damp sock on your hand, carefully hold the slat between thumb and forefinger and run your hand along its length. Do this with each slat in sequence and you are cleaning both the front and back at the same time.

Final Step is a Wipe Down with a Dry Cloth

Follow this up with a wipe down with either a dry cloth or a dry sock, using the same technique. This is important because it will remove any remaining moisture that if left, can damage the wood over time. A good rule is to treat your wooden blinds just like wooden furniture and use only mild wood cleaners. Always check that your cleaners do not contain bleach, as this will cause discolouration.

There is Always a Professional Alternative

If your wooden blinds need cleaning and you prefer a professional touch, we will pick them up, put them through our cleaning process and return them to your home ready to hang, usually within twenty-four hours. Our ultrasonic cleaning technology uses high frequency sound waves to remove dirt and grime gently, even from those tiny hard to get at places. Your blinds will look like new and they will last much longer.

Decorating the interior of your home is one of those activities that can be exciting, expensive and stressful. There are usually cost restrictions requiring compromises, checking colour swatches against paint samples, cruising the internet for ideas and finally, the decisions that you hope will deliver the result you want.

Wood or Plastic – Which One is Best?

Window treatments are one of the areas where costs can be reduced depending on the materials used, and two of the most common materials used in window blinds are wood and plastic. Fortunately, choosing one over the other is not necessary as both can be used, depending on the location of the windows.

Wood for Elegance, Privacy and Ease of Operation

Wood blinds, whether natural or painted, add a degree of warmth and elegance to a room. Timber venetians are an excellent choice for a bedroom, especially when you are trying to find a balance between blocking out harsh sunlight, maintaining privacy and having a blind that is light, and easy to raise and lower quickly. They can be oiled, stained or painted to suit any décor and are available in a wide cost band for every budget.

Timber is also a great choice for lounge areas, from plantation shutters that sit inside the window frame to traditional venetians, but this is one is those locations where plastic can have just as big an impact. It really depends on the budget and the style effect you are creating.

Plastic has Style, Versatility and Likes Wet Areas

Plastic venetians come in a wide range of slat styles and colours, so they are also suitable for lounge areas, and can be every bit as elegant as timber. The advantage plastic has over timber for blinds is that it can be used in the wet areas of the house. Steam and moisture can cause timber slats to warp and swell, so plastic is the perfect substitute.

Think for a moment about the amount of times in the kitchen, for example, that the walls and windows are exposed to heat, steam and moisture. It is a similar story in the bathroom which is the room in the house that is most susceptible to damage from heat and moisture. Plastic will last the longest and keep looking good in this type of environment.

Consider Renewing Blinds Instead of Replacing

If you are struggling to meet the budget for your home renovation, there is another alternative to new blinds. Here at Blind Concepts we clean, repair and refurbish your original blinds at a fraction of the cost of replacement. Whether they are timber or plastic, we can have them cleaned and back to you in 24 hours. This means more cash for you to spend on the rest of the house.

Blinds are a convenient, versatile and attractive alternative to curtains or shutters as a window dressing. They are available in a range of styles, materials, sizes and shapes, allow the occupants to control light and shade easily, are easy to install and for the most part, easy to keep clean. However, blinds are not completely without problems.

Slatted Blinds that are Stuck at the Top

Slatted blinds, for example, come in timber, plastic, aluminium and other composite materials and one problem that they all have in common is sometimes, they get stuck at the top of the window. The cause is usually that the cord used to raise and lower the blinds gets caught in the mechanism.

Usually this is a relatively easy fix. The first thing to try is to grab the cord, draw it upward until it is level with the bar at the top, then give it a gentle tug to release the lock. If this does not help, a little more work is needed. Take the blind down, find the lock mechanism and with a flat head screwdriver, push against the pin that is inside. This should free the lock and allow you to replace the blinds.

Getting a Roller Blind Chain Back on its Tracks

Roller blinds were once the “poor relation” of the window treatment world and relegated to bathrooms and children’s bedrooms. They have had a renaissance in recent years and now come in elegant fabrics, lovely colours and hold their own in any setting. A common problem, however, is that sometimes, the roller blind chain comes off its tracks and it doesn’t operate correctly.

The first thing to do is to take the roller blind off the bracket, then hook the chain back onto the tracks. Once you have inserted the cap back into the roller tube, simply hook the blind back up onto the bracket.

Freeing Up Vertical Blind Blades

One of the features of vertical blinds is their ability to be quickly rotated into position. When this no longer happens, there is usually something stuck in the slots where the blades are connected to the carrier stem, which can be manually removed. If the rod itself is jammed, a quick spurt with a lubricant spray in the spot where it connects to the blinds will usually free up the blade.

Repair Solutions Not New to Us

These types of repair solutions are nothing new to us. Here at Blind Concepts, we clean and repair old and damaged interior blinds. We know how expensive these blinds were originally, and when we extend their life for several more years at a fraction of this cost, our clients are happy with their fresh new blinds and with our service.

Getting the right blinds for your windows puts the final touches to your home, whether it be an apartment, a duplex, a semi-detached or a free-standing property. They provide privacy, climate control and, of course, style and they are usually a reflection of the decorating taste of the occupants. There is a wide range of types available from Holland blinds to Venetians, Roman blinds, verticals and others in fabric, timber, plastic and aluminium.

Dust Soon Settles on New Blinds

Like everything else in a home, they look great when they are new, but it only takes a few weeks for the first layers of dust to settle. Depending on the type of material, running a vacuum cleaner over them every week keeps them looking new for a while, but after a couple of years, unless a more intensive cleaning regime is followed, they begin to look shabby and dirty.

Blinds are expensive to replace, so at Blind Concepts we offer a cleaning service that rejuvenates and refreshes your blinds, so they look as good as new. We use a process called the ultrasonic cleaning method, which gently removes ingrained dirt and grime, especially from hard to reach places. We pick up your blinds, take them to our workshop, put them through this process and return them to your home within 24 hours.

The Science of Ultrasonic Cleaning

So, what is ultrasonic cleaning and why does it work so well? There is some solid science behind the process, starting with high frequency sound waves. These sound waves are generated by electrical wave generators and transducers transmitted in a liquid solution of water or solvent base. This causes the cavitation of the solution molecules.

Cavitation? Please Explain

What is cavitation? Put simply, it is implosion of each molecule as the high frequency pressure wave moves through the solution. The movement caused by this very high frequency over a small area creates a lot of surface agitation or micro-scrubbing.

Micro-scrubbing is not really Scrubbing

What this micro-scrubbing does for grime-coated blinds is that it lifts this grime in a very uniform fashion from every surface affected by the high frequency sound waves. It actually “floats” the dirt and grime particles out of every nook and cranny, leaving your blinds fresh, clean and sanitised, without any harsh scrubbing that could damage the surfaces.

Taking Care of the Environment

We are proud of the results we get from what is an environmentally responsible process. Ultrasonic cleaning uses little water, minimal chemicals and a small amount of bio-degradable detergent. It is a practical and efficient way of cleaning large areas of blinds without wasting water or flushing damaging chemicals into our river systems.

With the government ban on the use of light-weight plastic bags from retailers due to take effect very soon in Queensland, the reuse and recycle message is back in the forefront of conversation. World-wide, the oceans are choking in plastic and although tonnes of rubbish each year are recycled, tonnes more end up in land-fill or are dumped in our waterways and oceans.

Don’t Discard – Re-purpose

It makes sense, then, to look at other ways we can reuse products that no longer serve a purpose, rather than throwing them out. With a little imagination, many items can be re-purposed. Take mini-blinds, for example, which have been a favourite for many years and have other uses when their window dressing days are done.

This is an approach that we can fully support, as it is the philosophy on which our business is based. At Blind Concepts, we offer blind cleaning and repair services to customers who prefer to get some extra mileage out of their blinds instead of buying new ones. Not only does this make economic sense, but also it reduces the amount of material that is dumped each year.

Recycling Sometimes Takes Imagination

Sometimes, it just takes a little imagination for us to see the potential in recycling, and this is certainly the case with mini-blinds. Use the slats to create permanent identifying markers for your plants. Cut the slats to size, and then use either paint or a permanent ink to write the plant name on the slat, then push it into the soil.

Old Blind Slats a Substitute for Masking Tape

Doing a quick touch-up painting job and finding that you have no masking tape? For small jobs, hold a slat against the wall and paint along its length for a straight, professionally applied swish of paint. Swap for a dry slat when you move to the next section. It’s quick and easy.

Many Craft Uses for Slats

For people who enjoy craftwork, wooden slats are perfect for spreading glue. Whether you are doing a project of your own or helping your children create a holiday scrapbook, you will get an even spread of adhesive with no mess or sticky fingers. For the ultra-creative, bond a circle of slats to the back of a plain, round mirror, trim them to size then paint. You now have a wonderful feature piece for an empty wall.

Keep Slats in Storage for Immediate Use

When you take down your old mini-blinds, pull them apart and store them out of the weather. If you do this immediately, your slats will be on hand for any use that comes up. You will have the convenience of a ready resource and you will find multiple opportunities to use it.

Most householders do their best to keep the environment around them reasonably clean and tidy, both inside and outside. After all, no one wants to live in a rubbish tip, with all the inherent health hazards that would involve. What we often forget, however, is that not all dirt, rubbish and grime is immediately visible.

What We Don’t Notice Often Causes Problems Later

We do the floors, change the bed linen, clean the stove and perform a dozen other regular tasks, and with a quick glance, we are satisfied that our homes are clean. However, we don’t notice the dust particles drifting through the air until they have settled into a visible layer on the surfaces that don’t attract regular cleaning, such as window dressings and blinds.

Dirt is Unhealthy, Especially for Children

What many people don’t realise is that any type of dirt in our living quarters is not only unsightly; it is a significant health hazard, especially to babies and young children. Where blinds are concerned, dust and other allergens such as pollen attach themselves to all types of blinds, whether venetians, verticals, roman, oriental or roller blinds.

We are specialists at Blind Concepts, cleaning blinds using our ultrasonic technology. We bring the blinds to our workshop for cleaning, and then return them to you when they are finished. If your blinds need cleaning, there is not just an aesthetic reason for contacting us but a health reason as well.

Young Immune Systems Still Developing

Babies and very young children are still in the process of developing a fully-functioning immune system, so they are more susceptible to the respiratory conditions and allergic reactions that are worsened by dust and pollen. Another culprit that can be mistaken for dirt is mould, and this is even more dangerous.

Mould on Blinds is Easy to Miss

Mould is sometimes not obvious as such, as it does not always look fuzzy. It can be present on walls or blinds as a type of stain, a smudge or just a discolouration. It could be one of those nondescript marks that a householder might notice and dismiss as something to be cleaned off during the next major cleaning cycle. In a young child’s bedroom, it could silently grow and cause nasal congestion, sneezing, coughing and make any pre-existing respiratory condition worse.

Cleaning Process Needs to Also Remove Bacteria

In cases where the blinds have not been cleaned for some years, it is difficult for a householder to get them completely clean. Our process not only cleans; it also sanitises and deodorises the blinds, removing not only dirt and grime, but also any bacteria living there. Getting your blinds professionally cleaned is a small price to pay to protect the health of all your family members, especially the youngest ones.

Does your home have a welcoming vibe to it when you walk in the door after a long day? It should envelop you with love, replenish your energy and comfort you. If it doesn’t, you could consider the benefits of Feng Shui and apply them to the layout of your furnishings, your window dressings and the colours that surround you.

What is Feng Shui?

Put simply, Feng Shui is a system of using energy forces (Chi) to harmonise us with our surrounding environment. There are several principles that need to be understood including that of the Bagua or the energy map of your dwelling. This establishes a structure to all the areas of your home that are connected to aspects of our lives such as money, spirituality, creativity, career, health and luck, amongst others.

Five Basic Elements

There are also five basic elements to understand to get the best flow of energy. These are fire, water, wood, earth and metal, and each one is associated with a range of colours. When selecting colours to use on your windows, the Bagua mentioned earlier becomes important. Certain energies are required in each room, depending on its location, so you need to choose the colours that harmonise with that location.

The Year of the Dog

As you can see, there is no “one colour fits all” solution, and to make things even more complicated, colours can change with each year. 2018 is the Year of the Dog, and the energies of this Zodiac sign are linked to the earth element. Some Feng Shui practitioners have named terracotta, light yellow, sand and beige as the luckiest colours this year, with red, orange, yellow, purple, pink and magenta as second luckiest.

Lucky Colours for 2018

What does this mean for choosing colours for your window dressings? Luck could be yours this year with blinds in sand, beige and light yellow. Terracotta seems a bit dark for blinds, but in the right location, they could be perfect. It seems that the style of the blinds does not matter as much as the colour. Team these with curtains in the second luckiest colour selection, and this could be your year to shine.

Clean Blinds in Lucky Colours

If you already have blinds on your windows in these colours but they just need a clean and refurbish, we can help you. At Blind Concepts, we can have your current blinds looking as good as new at a fraction of the cost of replacement. We take your blinds and clean them in our workshop, then return them usually within 24 hours, leaving you with money left over for new curtains to improve your Feng Shui.

Street appeal is one of the most highly desired attributes a property can possess, according to most real estate agents. First impressions are often the most lasting, and a property that is untidy loses much of its original appeal. It also loses its value, which is a major issue if the property is for sale.

Check your blinds

The same goes for your own property, whether it is an apartment, townhouse, duplex or a free-standing dwelling. The lawn may be freshly mowed, the gardens tended and the fencing in top condition, but if the window blinds are broken and need repairing, the property will not look its best.

This does not mean that all the blinds need replacing, especially if you have some experience with hand tools. Many of the problems can be repaired, and in this era of the internet, the do-it-yourself enthusiast has only to follow some video instructions.

Do your Venetians have a broken slat? Open the blinds and remove the two plugs at the bottom that hold the lift strings. Remove the lift strings only as far as the slat you are repairing. Replace the broken slat and move the bottom of the blind up by one space. Rethread the string and tie it off at the base. Sounds easy!

Have you got a roller blind that won’t stay down? You will need to remove the roller from the bracket, take off the metal cap on the end and use a can of air or a brush to clean and remove the dust and dirt from the ratchet. Lubricate any moving parts with household oil, replace the cap, return the roller to its brackets and check the tension to make sure it is fixed.

Roman blinds, verticals, timber venetians, oriental and Holland blinds as well as blinds made from aluminium, wood composite and lacquered or oiled cedar blinds are the most popular and there will usually be a web site that explains step by step how to fix your type of blind. If, after checking out the relevant instructions, you don’t have the confidence to do it yourself, there is an alternative.

We are Blind Concepts, a Brisbane company that specialises in repairing and refurbishing old and damaged interior blinds. We can clean and repair all these types of blinds, using the latest in cleaning technology. We take the blinds to our workshop, clean and repair them and then return them to you usually within 24 hours. If this sounds easier than the do-it-yourself option, give us a call.

With our cost of living still rising with no end in sight, most Australian households are on a mission to save money and reduce living expenses wherever possible. We have always been a do-it-yourself populace and the current economic situation spurs us on to greater efforts. If a task needs doing, and we have the resources and skills to tackle it ourselves, we are onto it.

Window Blinds Essential in our Climate

Whatever our living situations, in our climate we all have window blinds. Even the “grey nomads” who criss-cross the country to see our natural wonders before they settle into retirement, have blinds on the windows of their mobile homes. They are essential in our climate to control the weather extremes.

Are You a Do-it-Yourself Practitioner?

As we all know, any type of window blind looks great when it is first installed, but before long, it will need cleaning and perhaps some repairs to keep it sparkling. If you are an avid do-it-yourself practitioner, you can give it a try, provided you are not afraid to climb the odd ladder or two.

At Blind Concepts we offer an alternative solution if you are having second thoughts. At our one-stop service shop, we repair and refurbish old and damaged interior blinds. Verticals, roman blinds, oriental, plain or exposed batten, Holland blinds and Venetians can all be renewed with our ultrasonic cleaning technology. However, if you still want to go it alone, we offer you a few tips.

Gentle Wash on the Clothesline an Easy Clean for Venetians

Even with regular dusting, Venetians eventually get to the stage where they need a good wash. The quickest way to do this is to take the blinds down, hang them on the clothesline, wash with a gentle detergent, rinse gently with a garden hose, allow them to dry and then rehang them. Be careful with timber Venetians, however, as excess water will cause them to warp.

Follow Manufacturer’s Care Instructions for Fabric Blinds

Plastic blinds will respond to cleaning with detergent and water, but fabric blinds require caution. You should always check the care instructions before attempting to clean them. Only use the recommended cleaning method for the best results. Make sure they are completely dry before closing them.

Besides DIY, the other task we have become good at is outsourcing. Our hectic work and social calendars don’t leave much time for cleaning the blinds. If it seems like too much hard work and you would rather spend your weekends at the beach or pool, then check out our services and let us do the hard work for you.