Horizontal Blinds in the house

Bakers2

With the 'fashion' for shutters and blinds as house window dressing does anyone have cleaning tips?

I ask as 5 years ago we foolishly had a red metal venetian blind fitted in our kitchen. It looks great and fits in beautifully BUT it is so hard to clean 😣. I have just spent two plus hours wiping over every slat back and front, four times so in between each of the cords, all whilst kneeling on a granite work top which included the draining board as it's over the window. I know it's cleaner but not convinced it looks much better, but splashes have gone after much elbow grease! We have fairly high ceilings and being only 5'4" I am able to stand on the work surface for the top of the blind 😉.

Any vigorous rubbing can result in bent slats 😣 and although I try hard not to steam up whilst cooking it is impossible not to entirely thus dust sticks so the suggested daily whizz over with a feather duster or similar (I have a synthetic one which allegedly holds the dust) suggested by the sales assistant which I was draft enough to fall for 😂😂😂 does not work even vaguely.

As the window is overlooked by next-door's landing and constantly open toilet window it needs some form of dressing. Hubby is fanactical no idea why. We do have a 7 foot fence between our paths so the bottom of the window. It used to be full length net and a roller blind. How simple was that?

tombar

Personally, over many, many years, venetian blinds have always been a bind.  I have always had either nothing at the window, or lace curtains, usually with a "v" formation so that I can look out.  They are easy to take down and put up and to clean.  No "elbow grease" needed at all

DavidKlyne

You can buy a cleaning tool for venetian blinds like this one which might help. You could take the blind off and dip it in a bath of water and swish it around a bit.

David

milliehull

Bakers 2, like David I take the blind down (or rather Mr H does ) and then I put it in a bath of warm soapy water, let it soak for a little and then give it a gentle wash with a sponge.  I put an airer flat over the bath and lay it on there to dry.

KjellNN

We have mainly wood venetians, OH got a dusting thing from Lakeland which she says is OK for plain dust, but no use if grease or splashes are involved.

We only got the venetians 2 years back, we have a lot of windows, lots of big south facing windows, so many venetian blinds, about 22 in total, plus we have 5 rollers in the kitchen and bathrooms, I have a lot of blind fitting experience!

Previously we had verticals, easy to keep clean, but they succumbed to old age after 27 years.

Bakers2

Thanks for your responses.

David I have one of those things from Lakeland a faff not easy to use as they have to be inserted between each slat and removed when reaching the corded part to be reinstated on next bit., several times over the whole blind 😟

Milliehull if we knew how to take it down we'd probably try the bath technique however hubby didn't fit it and can't see how to get it down. One of the rare occasions it was made and fitted for us - thus I can't possibly suggest we ditch yet 🙄

 

KjellNN

Is it fitted inside the window reveal?

Can you post a picture?

DavidKlyne

Usually venetian blinds that are top fixed have a frame screwed into the window recess. If you can get to eye level with the top of the blind you should be able to see two lugs that can be pulled out at right angles to the top of the blind which will release it from the frame.

David

63ellsbells

We have them at the front of the house and they're great for controlling the level of light coming in and also to restrict the view in/out as necessary.

For cleaning, I take them down (3 easy quick release clips) cable tie them to the washing line and then clean them with a bucket of warm soapy water and a sponge/soft brush - easy to do both sides, tilt the slats to get fully cleaned and then gently hose off - leave to air dry and as good as new. Cords dry out naturally as well.

For me, quicker, easier and a more thorough clean than trying to do them in situ.

KjellNN

Agree.  The other fixing method is end pieces that the top box sits in and then there are securing bits that hinge down and clip into place to hold it securely.

On our ones the whole top box and fixings are hidden behind a decorative cover strip that is held on by velcro.

Bakers2

Thanks for all the replies.

Now I'm over the effort to clean I'm pleased with them. That'll probably last for a while now 😆. 

Sorry KjellNN can't post photos from my phone on here. But it is in the recess.

David I'm not getting up there again today but I think there are some clear plastic things,  very tiny before the 'box' fitting. I think you'd need an implement to move them, sure a flat  screwdriver would do. My idea of heaven to take them outside and apply plenty of soapy water and good rinse. I love the idea of using cable ties to hold them on the line to wash and dry them 63ellsbells. When I tackle it again I may well update you all on here but don't hold your breath, despite having a really mad blitz at present I'm not over keen on housework,,  as tasks going reckon it's pretty overrated 😉. If I can find the thread 😉

lornalou1

take it down, lay it flat outside on floor and pressure wash. we had 6 in conservatory and cleaned them like this twice a year. worked well.