Roller blinds have replaced curtains and tulle in many interiors. They are distinguished by their stylish appearance and ease of use. But even with careful use, over time, roller blinds require high-quality cleaning.
By following simple care rules, you can not only keep your roller blinds clean and fresh, but also ensure their long service life. To clean roller blinds at home, you can use the dry and wet method. In addition, you can resort to the services of a specialist. Let's look at the main methods and the advantages of each of them.
Know the characteristics
Special technologies are used in the production of roller blinds. The starting material is dense fabric with varying levels of light absorption. More often it is polyester with the inclusion of cotton, silk, linen thread. The fabric undergoes several treatments using special impregnations.
Impregnation components include Teflon, antistatic agents, and acrylic. A reflective layer and aluminum coating are applied. As a result, the curtains are stable in operation, do not deform, do not wrinkle, and acquire super qualities:
- increased density;
- moisture resistance;
- color stability;
- non-flammability;
- light reflection,
- dust- and dirt-repellent properties.
It is easy to care for roller blinds: use a dry/wet sponge.
For heavy soiling, use a full wash in warm water.
Clean roller blinds: 2 ways
Roller blinds will retain their original appearance for many years if they are properly cared for. I know two ways to wash roller blinds.
Method 1. Processing without removing the canvas
Conducted as necessary, at least twice a year. How to clean roller blinds:
Option 1. Vacuum cleaner
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Option 2. Wet wipe
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It is not recommended to use a steam cleaner for roller blinds. Steam has a negative effect on the coating. The fabric loses its unique qualities.
Method 2. Wet processing with dismantling
Sometimes dirt appears that cannot be removed with a damp sponge - dry cleaning or washing is necessary. Don't rush to buy new curtains and spend money on dry cleaning. I'll tell you how to wash roller blinds at home.
First dismantling. Having an understanding of the design, you can remove the roller blind without any problems. The mechanism consists of mounting brackets that hold a bobbin of fabric, gears and a drive chain.
There are two types of roller blinds: closed and open.
How to dismantle a closed system:
- roll the fabric onto a bobbin;
- remove the decorative cover on the bracket (see points 1 and 2);
- unscrew the fastening bolts (see point 5);
- remove the roll with the roller shutter (see point 11).
The image shows how to remove roller blinds with a packet reel.
Photo: www.stroy-podskazka.ru There are no difficulties with an open canvas:
- you don't need a screwdriver - here the roll is held in place by a spring mechanism;
- take the rolled roller shutter in your hand, pressing slightly, move it to the side;
- Having felt the spring move and the release of the holding device, pull down - the curtain is removed.
The installation diagram shows how to insert/remove the open reel. Photo: vostok-dekor.ru
Preparatory work
How to shoot
Dismantling is carried out depending on the design of the curtains. The main thing is to maintain the integrity of the mechanism and the canvas.
Sequence of work in the presence of a spring bracket:
- remove the plastic plugs from the sides of the mechanism;
- remove the screws from the edge without the chain;
- move the cornice to the side;
- remove the sheet from the pipe.
If fastening with adhesive tape:
- use a knife or other similar tool to peel off the tape from below;
- remove the cornice along with the tape;
- Remove traces of glue with alcohol.
There is no problem with magnetic mounting. You just need to separate the structure and remove the roll from it.
Which detergent to choose
Important: do not wash curtains with products that contain chlorine.
For wet cleaning use:
- washing powder;
- laundry soap:
- liquid detergent.
Washing powder is diluted in warm water. The grains must dissolve completely, because the crystals can leave scratches on the surface containing the impregnation.
Pass the laundry soap through a metal grater. Dilute it with water and cook over low heat until completely dissolved.
Do not use when washing with a saturated solution. A minimum concentration of soap is enough to clean roller blinds without streaks.
Washing roller blinds: instructions
I offer a table that describes step by step how to wash curtains:
| Step 1. Preparing roller blinds Remove the roll from the mounting holders. Place the fabric on a surface that is greater than or equal to the width of the fabric. There should be enough space for gradual unfolding and washing | |
| Step 2. Preparing the detergent composition Thanks to impregnations, dirt remains in the surface layer. To wash fabric roller blinds, use any product with a neutral pH. It is better to use washing liquids (Aos, Progress, Fairy, Flat for curtains, etc.). Make the solution slightly concentrated (2-3%). This is safe for the material and easier to rinse out. When choosing a washing powder, exclude options that have bleaching additives. Powders are not suitable for hand washing - they produce a lot of foam that is difficult to wash off. Be careful with powders! Undissolved granules remaining on the fabric under the influence of UV will lead to partial fading | |
| Step 3. Washing curtains The process is performed in two ways: The surface is processed in stages. The roll is unrolled and washed with a sponge/soft brush. The washed area is rolled up. At the end of the work, the roll is rinsed under running water. We take a little warm water into the bath, make a soap solution, lower the unfolded cloth, and rub it with a sponge. Add new rinse water or rinse off with a shower until the detergent is completely clean. | |
| Step 4. Drying Leave the canvas in the bath to drain. You can place several objects under the product. Blot with a cotton cloth. You can roll the still wet curtain, set it in place and open it completely. Small curtains are hung on a rope from the bottom bar. Clothespins are used for fastening | |
| Step 5. Assembly Cleaning roller blinds ends with installing the roller blinds in place. After installation is complete, it is recommended to leave the fabric unfolded until completely dry. |
Washed roller blinds cannot be hung to dry on a rope or thin slats - the fabric will crease. It is better to clean roller blinds using a soap solution in the bathroom. Rinse in the shower - there will be no streaks.
Common mistakes
If you cannot do without ironing, it is recommended to use a damp rag or gauze. Set the iron to the minimum temperature and carefully iron the seams with one tip.
Some housewives wash products in a machine, which is absolutely not allowed. Rotation of the drum and spinning will negatively affect the fabric, it will lose its structure and original appearance.
Some housewives try to bleach the curtains, but this is strictly forbidden. Chemical components will ruin the fabric. It is impossible to treat surfaces even with ingrained contamination with acetone or gasoline. Aggressive components will damage the product. Some housewives find an alternative to ironing and treat the curtains with steam. But in fact, after the procedure, the protective shell is erased.
Know and follow the operating rules: 7 points
Proper care and careful handling extends the service life of roller blinds to 10–15 years. An impeccable appearance is guaranteed if 7 basic rules are observed:
10-15 years
service life of roller blinds with proper care
- Place the curtain away from open fire , heat generators and electric convectors with directional action.
- Use the mechanism carefully . Hasty jerks when twisting lead to creases in the fabric, which are difficult to eliminate.
- Roller fabric does not react well to excessive humidity . Do not install in bathrooms.
- Soot and grease deposits that form in the kitchen quickly dirty the curtains. Rolling the linen into a roll while cooking helps avoid frequent washing.
- Carry out wet cleaning/washing only when absolutely necessary . Frequent washing destroys the impregnation layer. After 3–5 washes, the fabric loses its protective properties by 50%.
- Lubricate the mechanism with silicone grease at least twice a year . This will ensure smooth operation of the mechanism and eliminate the formation of distortions/jams during winding of the roller blinds.
- Ventilate with the curtain down several times a month . This technique allows you to get rid of odors and dust accumulation.
Questions about caring for roller blinds
When using roller blinds, problems sometimes arise and questions arise. For example:
| Can roller blinds be machine washed? Any specialist will answer categorically “no”. Even “hand washing” without spinning deforms the fabric and turns it into a crumpled rag | |
| Can chemicals be used to clean fabric? You cannot use aggressive agents for roller blinds:
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| What kind of water should be used for washing? When immersing roller blinds in a soap solution, use a gentle temperature of 30 °C | |
| How to iron roller blinds? If necessary, ironing is carried out using a special mesh. The iron mode is set to the minimum “nylon”, “synthetic” |
How to remove stains
If stains are revealed during inspection, a school eraser helps to cope with such stains. The last thing you need to do is wipe off the problem areas. You can remove greasy stains using:
- Turpentine or gasoline. You need to soak a rag in these liquids and wipe away any traces of dirt, and then rinse with water.
- Laundry soap. The grease should be rubbed off last and left for 10–15 minutes, after which it should be wiped with a damp cloth.
- Salts or starch, which help get rid of stains left by vegetable oil. Bulk products should be applied to the problem area and left for 20 minutes. Then the salt (starch) should be shaken off and the canvas wiped with a rag soaked in an alcohol solution.
- Dishwashing detergents. These cleaners remove greasy wax marks.
Undiluted dish gel helps to clean roller blinds in the kitchen from traces of grease. For complex stains, it is recommended to use specialized stain removers. But before washing the roller shutters, you need to apply a small amount of the product to an inconspicuous part of the canvas and monitor the reaction.
If there is chewing gum left on the surface of the roller blind, then to remove it, just apply a piece of ice.
Remember
- Avoid frequent washing. The less frequently you wash your roller blinds, the longer they will last. Try to use dry and wet processing.
- Follow the operating instructions . Carefully roll the fabric to avoid creases/kinks, clean it from dust, and take care of the mechanism.
We looked at the main points of caring for roller blinds. Now you know how to wash roller blinds at home. This process requires caution and correct actions. In the comments, share your experience in washing roller blinds.
Cleaning
It is not necessary to immediately wash the fabrics every time they get dirty. It's better to dry clean.
The fabrics are treated with special impregnations, so dust does not penetrate into the fibers, it remains outside. Thanks to this property, you can wash much less often.
How to clean roller blinds:
- Wipe the product with a soft cloth. The number of such wipes depends on the speed of contamination. This should not be done every day, because no matter how high-quality impregnation the material is treated with, it tends to wear off when exposed to moisture. This method can be used once every 1–2 weeks.
- Roller blinds can be vacuumed. This is not a joke, it is really possible and many housewives practice this cleaning method. After all, it takes a minimum of time and shows good results. In this case, there is no need to remove them. The main thing is to ensure that the air stream does not deform the product. You should use a vacuum cleaner no more than once every 2–3 months.
- Surface contaminants can be removed using folk remedies or professional ones. The choice of product depends on the type of stain. Stains should be removed immediately after they appear. Don't wait until they dry out.
All cleaning methods are good and effective. Choose the one that suits you best and feel free to get to work.
If you are afraid of ruining the fabric, or the dust can no longer be cleared, contact a dry cleaner.
