Blinds help control the amount of light and heat that gets into a room. To get the best out of them, be sure the mechanisms are in good working order. Here are some practical tips to keep in mind.
- Pull on some cotton gloves and wipe your blinds down with your fingers to dust them. It's faster and more effective than vacuuming or using a duster. Dampen the gloves slightly to remove thick dust from dirtier slats.
- If the blind's rotating plastic wand doesn't do its job, take the blind down and inspect and lubricate the screw assembly inside the headrail. Also check that the tape or string that holds the slats is still attached to the horizontal tilt tube.
- Instead of discarding worn blinds, give them a face-lift. Choose a fabric to complement your décor, and cut it to fit your blinds. Apply a thin coat of rubber cement or spray-on adhesive to each blind; then attach the fabric. Carefully smooth the fabric to eliminate air bubbles that could cause individual blinds to wrinkle when they're all rolled up.
- When raising or lowering Venetian blinds, always have the slats in a horizontal position. It reduces the risk of tears or tangles to the cords and tapes that make the blinds move.
- If a spring-loaded roller blind won't roll up with a snap, take it down, roll it up by hand to halfway, then rehang and test the tension. If it's still slack, take it back down, roll it up a little more and try again.
- To restore a spring-loaded roller blind that has wound itself up too tightly, take it down, unroll it by hand to halfway, then rehang and test.
- Clean vertical blinds in your bathtub. Pull the blinds to one side and then, holding the blades together in a bunch, unhook them from the hangers. Lay stacked blades in a bathtub half-filled with cool, soapy water. Leave to soak for about 45 minutes, then drain the dirty water and refill the bath with clear rinsing water. Lift the blades out of the water and rehang to dry. Some old towels laid across the windowsill will catch drips.
- To remove mould from a bamboo blind, soak it for a few minutes in a solution of one part bleach to two parts water, then put it under a shower or hose to rinse. Hang the blind out to dry in a sunny spot.
Keep these practical tips in mind and you'll get the best out of your blinds.
