Cleaning & Maintenance…is it worth it?
Dirty blinds or blinds that are in need of repair can instantly devalue a house and make a potential tenant or buyer question the maintenance of the rest of the house. Getting your blinds cleaned professionally is surprisingly affordable, with some companies offering a pickup and delivery services. Professional Central Coast blind cleaning companies often use Ultra Sonic machines, that remove the dirt and build up from your blinds without damaging them. Check with your local blind cleaning company ( a list of local professional blind cleaning companies is listed at the bottom of this article) You should expect your custom made blinds to last you up to 8 years, however most warranty extends to 2 years. If it is custom made in Australia you can expect spare parts to be available from local manufacturerers. Off the shelf style blinds that are not custom made may last up to 2 years. Usually the off the shelf blinds have inferior mechanisms, that once broken are not replaceable as the blinds are made overseas and parts are not available. The fabric may still look ok, but the blind may not be operational. Often people prefer Roller Blinds (Holland Blinds) and Roman Blinds over Venetian blinds as they claim they are easier to clean. The truth being fabric style roller blinds and curtains are often just as dirty, it is just the fabric style blinds absorb the dirt, and grit so you don’t see it. Similar to carpet. These days Timber style venetian blinds (not real wood) can be wiped down easily with a damp cloth. RE-OILING CEDAR VENETIAN BLINDS The traditonal cedar are a little harder to keep clean. These will require regular re-oiling. Approximately every 12 months. A professional blind cleaning company can do this for you, or take it to a local Cedar Blind manufacturing company on the Central Coast, such as Premier Shades at 18/482 Pacific Highway, Wyoming. (ph: 02 43248800) This is a fairly time consuming thing to do as it requires dismantling the blind, oiling each individual slat, and then re-assembling it. If you do it yourself, while the cedar venetian blind is within the window, then you could risk spilling oil on your flooring, or furnisher. However, it is possible. Use a clear furnisher or decking oil and lint free cloth. An oiled Cedar venetian is like an antique piece of furnisher. Looked after properly, it will last a long time and look more beautiful as it ages. A authentic Cedar Venetian can also be “re-strung” which means having new ladders and strings put throughout the blind.
cedar blind before re-oilingre-oiled cedar blind
If you would prefer to attempt to clean the blinds yourself, many of the blind fabric manufacturers recommend that you clean your blinds with a damp sponge and sometimes mild detergent. Chux do a product called the Magic Eraser (available in most supermarkets), which has proven popular to spot remove plainer style fabrics. It has no harsh chemicals, but uses a mechanical process to remove stains. click on the link to see if it is suitable for you to use on your blinds. http://www.chux.com.au/faqs/magic-eraser-range/ It is always recommended that spot testing is done in an inconspicuous place in case of discolouration of your blinds. If you are the DIY type, spare parts are available from most local blind manufacturers. Premier Shades at 18/482 Pacific Highway, Wyoming stocks spare parts for vertical blinds and venetian blinds. If they cannot get a part for you, they will recommend a local company that can help you out. In some cases you can freshen up a room cheaply by replacing the vertical blades of an old vertical blind, get new chains or clips. An instant new look for a DIY price. New vertical blind blades can be $5-$10 a blade to replace depending on the length. Weights for the bottom of vertical blinds are often as little as $1 each and chains for roller blinds and vertical blinds are only a few dollars. Do not put Vertical blinds in the bath or washing machine. They can bend out of shape and discolour. The leading blind cleaning companies on the Central Coast are:-
