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Blinds.
Youcan imagine
howmuch dust has collected
in the fabric over the years. Regular dusting
and even vacuuming will assist with keeping
the dust off them. Just use the light brush
nozzle. If you have any little scuff type marks
on your blinds, try using a CHUX blind magic
eraser. These are available from Premier
Shades or local supermarkets for about $5.
The Chux brand is often the best and found in
the cleaning isle. It’s similar to a normal eraser
and will easily remove little marks from your
blinds.
Replacement hooks andweights for verticals
or brackets for roller blinds. Most are available
from local blind manufacturers (like Premier
Shades) for Australian custom-made blinds.
Vertical blind tracks
that are not too old
and still working well, you can freshen up
the drapes. Just unhook a drape, count the
number you need and take 1 sample one to
a local blind manufacturer. They will be able
to show you the latest range and give you a
quote per drape so you can re-hook them
yourself.
Get a Professional in.
Any more serious
issues, like mould should be consulted with
a professional blind cleaning company. Yes,
there are companies that just clean blinds!
The cost of cleaning old blinds can amount to
half the cost of the new blind, so if you have
had the blinds for a while, it may be time to
invest in some new ones. Fabric can become
fragile when its exposed to a hot window for
a long period of time and may have faded or
deteriorate over time.
Fabric Awnings and External Blinds.
Wind your fabric awnings out when it is sunny
and dry and give them a light brush with a
soft bristle brush (similar to the brush from
a dust pan and brush). Then give the fabric
awning a gentle hose. Be sure to make sure
it’s completely dry before winding it back
in. Dust left on fabric awnings can turn into
mould and mildew when it’s left damp, so the
more regularly you do this the better.
The fabric on fabric awnings can be easily
replaced.
It is half the cost of a new awning
and as long as the mechanisms are working
and in good order, it could be a really cost
effective freshen up. It’s a great way to
freshen up and modernise a fabric awning.
PVC Café Style blinds or PVC Ziptrak
blinds
can be cleaned with a product called “Vuplex”
especially designed to make them clear again
if they have become smokey and hard to see
through. This product can be expensive at
$50 a can, but will do as promised.
Plantation Shutters
Dust with a damp microfibre cloth
all blades
and frames. Use a clean unused toothbrush
to get into the ends of the blades and remove
any dust or dirt. If blades are chipped or
broken, they can be replaced. Best to contact
the supplier you used, because not all are
interchangeable. A warning though, replacing
a Plantation Shutter blade is expensive. If you
have several broken, you may be better off
replacing the panel. You will still need to wait
the 6-10 weeks for blades, just as you would
have waited for the Shutters, so keep that in
mind when you are planning replacement.
Everything has a life...
Most people replace their blinds every 8
years.
When you think of it your blinds do cop
a fair bit of wear and tear. They are often in
the hottest part of the house - the window, or
in high traffic areas, like sliding doors where
hands and pets touch them daily. Just like
a fresh coat of paint, a new blind can really
freshen up a room and bring it back to life.
Blinds that are dirty or in need of repair can
scream out neglect and can be a red flag for
potential home buyers if your home is on the
market.
Article supplied by Sharon Tieman. Premier Shades.
18/482 Pacific Highway, Wyoming, NSW, 2250.
Ph: 0243248800.
www.premiershades.com.auCleaning your Blinds, Awnings and Shutters
Spring
16
Home
&
Lifestyle Magazine |
Spring 2017
With the end of the chilly weather, time to open up and air out the house. Test
everything is working and is free of mould, dust and mildew. One of the first jobs is
to clean the windows, but as Sharon Tieman from Premier Shades explains, a spring
clean of your window furnishing can make all the difference too...
Zipscreen
White Shutters
Vertical. Louvolite fabric. Banbury-Parchment