Blinds have become a common attribute of the window, replacing in many cases the usual curtains. Plastic products turned out to be much more convenient to use, since less dust accumulates in them, they are easier to care for, and the blinds last longer than fabric curtains.
However, rooms with such accessories on the windows look too formal, so another option was invented. Nowadays, buying roller blinds in Odessa and other cities is not a problem. They are made of fabric with a special impregnation that repels dirt and dust.
But, naturally, such curtains should also be looked after.
What are roller blinds?
Roller blinds are fabric sheets that are attached directly to the frame of a plastic or wooden window using self-tapping screws. At the moment, this is one of the most popular options for decorating a window opening. Families choose them because they are much more practical than regular fabric curtains and look much cozier than iron blinds.
Roller blinds are treated with a special impregnation that prevents dust from appearing on them, so you don’t have to worry about washing. To remove accumulated dust, simply wipe the curtains with a clean, damp cloth.
However, if the roller blinds are very dirty, then they can be washed, but you need to know how to do it correctly so as not to spoil them. But you will have to resort to this option extremely rarely, and all because of the presence of special impregnation.
Caring for roller blinds
Roller blinds, along with Roman curtains, regular blinds and other window decoration options, are treated with a special compound that allows dust to not accumulate so quickly. As a result, the need to wash them occurs no more than once every 3-4 weeks. Special impregnation also allows you to protect the fabric from fading in the sun, but it is this impregnation that forces such curtains to be looked after in a specific way. Ideally, it is not recommended to wash roller blinds, but you can do this if other cleaning methods are useless. In order to resort to drastic measures as rarely as possible, it is necessary to properly care for roller blinds, for this you need:
- Even at the purchasing stage, it is worth choosing the best quality option, even despite the possible higher price. Expensive models are necessarily treated with anti-deformation, anti-dirt and color-protective compounds, which allow such curtains to remain in their original form for as long as possible.
- Roller blinds should not be placed in close proximity to heating appliances. They do not tolerate high humidity well, so they can only be placed in a dry, well-ventilated room.
- When choosing roller blinds, make sure that the kit includes a protective tube or cassette. This simple device will make cleaning the room much easier.
- When cleaning the apartment, be sure to roll up the curtains, even if there is no protective tube, this will prevent large amounts of dirt from getting in, especially if it concerns the kitchen area.
- Do not allow creases, cuts, or punctures to appear on the roller blind fabric.
- Don’t forget to treat the curtain mechanism with special oil or aerosol. Regular care will allow it to work for a long time without any complaints or problems.
- When raising and lowering the canvas, act carefully, without making sudden movements or jerks.
- Try to ventilate the room every day where roller blinds hang on the windows.
Proper drying
A little earlier in the article it was already mentioned that washed curtains must be dried on a flat and even surface, carefully smoothing them with your hands. However, these are not the only subtleties of drying this product.
It is also worth remembering that when drying, you cannot use any additional heat in the form of an iron, hair dryer or heater. Fabric blinds should dry naturally.
During this process, it is necessary to ensure that the fabric itself is not exposed to direct rays of bright sun. This can lead to deformation of the product or premature fading of the fabric.
To speed up the drying process, if necessary, you can place a large terry towel or other fabric that absorbs moisture well under the curtain. In this case, it is necessary to ensure that the canvas is in perfectly even condition. Otherwise, roller blinds with folds will continue to hang on the windows.
The last, but no less important step in washing vertical fabric blinds is drying them. Properly dried strips will remain smooth and continue to serve properly, protecting the room from bright light and heat.
- After washing, the rolls should be unrolled and hung upright in a well-ventilated place. This could be a bathroom, the main thing is not to close it so that excess moisture can evaporate. Or you can dry the blinds outside away from the sun's rays.
- The use of household appliances for drying lamellas is prohibited.
- You need to hang it using a special strip fastening.
- When placing the elements of the blinds, they should be straightened, avoiding creases and distortions.
- Manufacturers recommend drying the product by hanging it back on the curtain rod. In this case, a special weight is hung from below, removed before washing.
How to properly wash roller blinds?
The roller blinds have been hanging for a long time, they have not been regularly maintained and there is an urgent need to wash them. Or there’s a greasy stain on the kitchen window that couldn’t be removed using the usual method, then it’s also worth thinking about more regular methods for removing stains at home. As mentioned above, it is not recommended to wash roller blinds, but sometimes you cannot do without it, then you should approach this process as responsibly as possible and do everything carefully and carefully.
Dry cleaning
Before washing in the washing machine, try dry cleaning. Since roller blinds are treated with a special dust-repellent composition, all dirt does not penetrate deep into the fibers, but accumulates on the surface. For this reason, it is enough to wipe the curtains once every 3-4 weeks. To do this, you do not need to use any aggressive compounds, just water is enough. However, you should use a soft cloth to remove dirt. Do not use excessive physical force or press hard on the canvas to remove dirt. All movements should be soft and non-traumatic.
Light dirt from the surface of the curtains can also be removed using a vacuum cleaner; the main thing is to set the operating mode to minimum and not allow the curtain to be sucked into the pipe of the device.
Wet wash
When dry cleaning does not produce results, it’s time to resort to a more radical and effective method - namely washing. It is best to perform this procedure in the bathroom. During the washing itself, it is very important to make careful movements so as not to damage the fabric.
It is very important to know that roller blinds can only be washed in extreme cases. If possible, this procedure should be avoided. However, under no circumstances should you use a washing machine to wash the fabric.
The washing process looks like this:
- Roll the rolled fabric into a tube.
- Use a screwdriver to remove the curtain from the mount. To do this, you need to press the spring-loaded axis into the body of the plug with one click and remove the tube. Be careful not to lose small details.
- Unroll the canvas and lower it to the bottom of the bathtub. A prerequisite is that the curtains should not be in a state of crease or bend.
- Carefully inspect the canvas for serious stains.
- Once you find a stain, take action.
- Fill the bathtub with warm water and add a small amount of detergent; it is best to use a liquid cleaning composition, as dry powder can leave marks and stains behind.
- Do not use abrasive powders or other aggressive substances to wash fabrics. The composition of the product should be as neutral as possible so as not to spoil the color of the curtain.
- Using a soft cloth soaked in soapy water, wipe the fabric with gentle movements.
- After all visible stains have been removed, rinse off the cleaning solution in the shower using soapy water.
- Before sending the roller blinds to dry, you can blot them with dry wipes.
- Such fabrics should dry in a vertical position.
- If creases do form, you can get rid of them using an iron. The main thing is to set the temperature to low and carry out the procedure through a clean cotton cloth.
Dry cleaning
If all the manipulations performed at home did not give the desired result or you are afraid to start removing stains yourself, then it’s time to turn to dry cleaning for help.
Here, professionals in their field will select the most suitable composition for removing stains and provide gentle and gentle care. The only thing is that such a procedure can be expensive.
When choosing a dry cleaner, pay attention to the reliability of the company and the presence of positive reviews.
Self wash
It’s worth warning right away: it is strictly forbidden to wash linen curtains in a washing machine. To do this, you can use your own hands and a bath:
- fill the bathroom with warm water so that it covers the roller blinds a little;
- Dissolve any mild detergent in water that does not contain bleach or other strong chemicals. There should be no grains left;
- Armed with a soft sponge, wash the curtains in a circular, gentle motion;
- rinse the fabric, changing the water several times - there should be no detergent left in the fabric, as this may affect the color change under the influence of sunlight.
Before purchasing roller blinds, it is recommended to find out what products can be used to care for them.
This is very important, as it will avoid damage to the products during washing and removing stains. Tweet
How to remove stains?
Often you can find a stain on the canvas, but only because of it you don’t want to wet clean the curtain; in such a situation, you can use the following methods for removing stains.
Eraser
Fresh and light stains can be removed with a regular eraser. Rub the stain gently with an eraser, after which all dirt should come off without any problems.
Stain remover
You can get rid of greasy stains on rolled fabric using a natural-based stain remover. Before starting this procedure, you need to check how the material will react to the chemical, to do this, apply the product to an invisible area and wait a few minutes. If no unwanted reactions occur, then you can begin removing the stain.
How to clean curtains if they cannot be washed?
When choosing roller blinds, immediately check with your consultant whether a particular model can be wet cleaned, because not all materials tolerate contact with water well.
The thing is that some curtains are treated with an impregnation that is easily washed off, that is, after the first wash, the curtains lose their main feature.
Despite the impossibility of wet cleaning, you still need to take care of such curtains. Here's how to do it right:
- You need to clean such curtains at least once every two weeks and use a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush. If you are afraid of damaging the canvas, then put a fabric cover over the brush, which will prevent damage. When working with a vacuum cleaner, act carefully so that it does not suck up the rolled web;
- For curtains that cannot be washed, it is advisable to have them dry cleaned once every six months. Despite the fact that this procedure is not the cheapest, in the end you will get a perfectly clean fabric that has not lost its basic qualities after inept washing.
Video: how to wash closed fabric roller blinds?
Dry wash
Before you start washing, try dry cleaning. After all, as a rule, such curtains are impregnated with a special substance that repels dirt. Therefore, the dirt mainly lies on the surface and does not penetrate deep into the fabric. Periodically, once a week or two, you should wipe the curtains with a damp cloth. The curtain should not be rubbed with force. The cloth should be made of soft fabrics. You can use a vacuum cleaner at home, but only if you have a special fabric attachment. To clean roller blinds carefully and as carefully as possible, you need to run the brush over the fabric surface so that it does not deform under the air stream.
