Blinds are a common sight in most commercial units. They offer a number of benefits, from controlling light and heat to adding an extra layer of privacy in offices. Whereas you might hang curtains or shutters in your home, commercial blinds are a far better option in the workplace.
Whether your blinds are custom fitted or you inherited them when you moved into a rental unit, it is imperative that you keep them clean. Blinds attract dust, cobwebs and dirt. If they are not looked after, it won’t be long before they start to look grubby. Not surprisingly, this isn’t a good look for any business. If you want to impress clients, dirty, dusty blinds are not the best way to do it.
Depending on how large your building is, cleaning blinds can take an hour or a full day. If you only have a few windows, cleaning your blinds is something your office cleaner can probably handle on an occasional basis. But if you have a lot of windows, you may need to hire a contract cleaning crew.
In this post, we are going to discuss how to clean each type of blind.
Roller blinds are an excellent choice for high traffic areas. They are often installed in kitchens and bathrooms, but they also work well in offices and reception areas where sun control and privacy are required. You may even have blackout blinds in conference rooms or media rooms. The best commercial roller blinds are made using a specialist, easy to clean fabric that repels dust and dirt. Nevertheless, you will still need to clean your blinds periodically if they are to remain in a pristine condition.
To clean a roller blind, open up the blind so it is fully extended. Using a clean, damp cloth, wipe the fabric from top to bottom. This will remove everyday dust and dirt. If you are cleaning multiple blinds, rinse out the cloth between each blind. Use a mild solution of warm water and household detergent to avoid damaging the fabric.
If you spot any stains on the blind fabric, treat them with a stain removal product. Always test the product in an inconspicuous area first to ensure it doesn’t damage the fabric. Watch out for cleaning products that contain bleach as they will lighten darker fabrics.
Handy hint: biological washing detergent can be useful for stain removal, especially if the stain is food-related.
Over time, the sidewinder mechanism on a roller blind can become stiff and difficult to use. This is especially common in kitchens where grease can accumulate. Wipe the plastic down with a cleaning cloth and spray silicon spray into the sidewinder to loosen up the mechanism. Be very careful not to inadvertently spray the fabric.
Venetian blinds are real dust traps. If left, clumps of dust and hair will accumulate on the horizontal slats, which looks unsightly and could even trigger allergies in vulnerable workers. Luckily, Venetian blinds are easy to clean.
Use a microfibre cloth to clean plastic Venetian blinds. Run the cloth along each slat, removing dust and dirt. If your blinds are especially grubby, perhaps because they are hanging in a kitchen or damp environment, use a damp cloth and rinse out as often as needed.
If you have a large number of blinds to clean, you can save time by using a Venetian blind cleaning tool. This is a sponge pincer tool that cleans each slat on both sides simultaneously. It will save you or your cleaning crew valuable time.
Cleaning wooden Venetian blinds requires an extra modicum of care, as wood is more porous and, therefore, susceptible to water damage. You can still use a damp cloth to clean each slat, but make sure you leave the blind extended and the window open after cleaning so that the slats dry out quickly.
Vertical blinds are a popular choice in many offices and commercial units. They tend to attract less dust and are easy to maintain. Slats can be replaced when they break or if you are re-branding your unit. Nevertheless, vertical blinds do still need some TLC, so here’s what you need to do to keep your blinds in tip-top condition.
For a quick clean, wide down each vertical louvre with a damp cloth to remove dust and dirt. If the headrail needs a clean, un-clip each slat and remove them from the brackets. Place them somewhere safe, preferably flat. Wipe down the headrail with a damp microfibre cloth and squirt some silicone spray into the sidewinder to keep it well lubricated.
Clean each slat before you attach it back to the headrail, and if any are damaged, replace as necessary.
To clean motorised blinds, first, ensure they are fully extended. Next, vacuum dust and dirt from the blind surface using a brush attachment for your vacuum cleaner. If the fabric still looks dusty or dirty, wipe it down using a damp cloth. Be careful not to tug at the blind, or you could damage the mechanism.
To clean motorised roof blinds, use an extendable brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner if the blinds are within reach.
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