Roller shades are popular because they are convenient, sleek, and easy to clean. We all know roller window shades offer all the benefits of your traditional window shades. That includes light control, insulation, privacy, and more.
The question is, are roller window shades really easy to clean and maintain? Many interior designers and professionals say they are. But are they, really?
We are here to talk about how to clean roller shades and offer various tips to make your life easier. You will be the judge if it is easy for you or not. But remember, each person has different lifestyles and capabilities. Some people like cleaning and find it enjoyable while some do not have time in their schedule to clean. Let’s roll in!
What the experts say about cleaning roller window shades
When you hire experts and professionals to install your roller window shades, you can ask them how to clean your shades. Some will tell you to follow the instructions in the packaging. But the professionals who actually want to help you will give you a step-by-step explanation to help avoid damaging your roller window shades.
Wipe your roller window shades using a soft cloth and a solution made with warm water and mild dishwashing soap every few weeks. When you are cleaning your roller shades, you will need to be extra gentle or you might bend the fabric (depending on the material) and leave a permanent fold on them.
Tools and supplies for cleaning roller window shades
Before you start cleaning your roller window shades, we highly recommend gathering all the tools and cleaning items you will need. This way you won’t have to stop what you are doing and get what you need.
These are the tools you need to gather before you start:
- Feather duster or a vacuum cleaner with a soft attachment to remove dirt, dust, and other debris accumulated in your roller shades.
- A clean and soft cloth or sponge to scrub off light stains and debris from the headrail.
- Bucket or container with warm water and mild dishwashing soap solution to help remove light stains.
- Hairdryer (optional) for drying the roller window shades.
- A used toothbrush or soft nail brush (for deep cleaning and stain removal).
Best place to clean roller window shades
In order to properly clean your roller window shades, you need to remove your roller shades. However, this is only for deep cleaning. If you are just doing regular cleaning, you can clean them without removing the whole roller shades. Let your roller shades fully down and start wiping from the top to the bottom. It might be inconvenient especially if your windows are really high.
For deep cleaning, you can clean your roller window shades in your bathtub. It will be easier to scrub off the dust and stains this way.
Basic cleaning for roller window shades
Basic cleaning for your roller window shades is easy and can be done every week or every other week, it depends on your availability and diligence level. These are the steps:
1. Roll your roller window shades down fully
Make sure your roller window shade blinds are fully extended. This way, you can easily reach all the places and remove the dust and debris.
2. Get your feather duster or vacuum cleaner
Brush off all the dust, pollen, and debris stuck in your roller shades, both inside and out. You can also use your vacuum cleaner to do this work. Just make sure you use a soft attachment to prevent any scratching.
3. Start wiping
Get your solution with lukewarm water and mild detergent or soap and your cloth or sponge. Soak your cloth or sponge in the solution and wring it thoroughly. Start wiping from the top to the bottom.
4. Let it dry
Allow the whole roller window shades to dry completely. You can use your hairdryer for this as well. But take note of the material of your roller shades. Too much exposure to too hot temperatures might damage your roller shade blinds.
Stain removal on roller window shades
For stain removal, you can do the basic cleaning above, but if the stain persists you might need to do deep cleaning. Here are the steps:
1. Remove your roller window shades
Remove your roller window shades from their hinges and sockets.
2. Place your roller shade in the bathtub
Fill half of the bathtub with your solution with lukewarm water and mild dishwashing soap or detergent. Make sure the solution is mixed well. Place your roller window shades in the bathtub.
We highly advised against adding bleach to the solution. The fabric in your roller window shades might fade and cause discoloration.
3. Start scrubbing
Get your used toothbrush or a soft nail brush and start scrubbing the stains away.
4. Rinse the roller window shades
When you are satisfied with your work, rinse your roller window shades. You can use the showerhead of your bath.
5. Let it dry
Let your roller window shades air dry. Hang or place your roller window shade on a curtain rod or a clothesline. In addition, make sure your roller shades are dry before bringing them inside your home to place them back to their hinges and sockets.
Cleaning your roller window blinds should be done regularly. This is easy but (let us be real) it is time-consuming. Cleaning and wiping them all will take a lot of time and effort. If you are someone who doesn’t enjoy cleaning, you will probably not do this as much as you need to.
However, to be honest, cleaning and scrubbing all the stains can help be relaxing and rewarding at the same time.
Contact a professional about roller window shades
Wholesale Blind Factory recommends cleaning your roller window shades at least twice a month or dust and debris will be harder to remove and stains might become permanent. If you have any questions about roller shades and blinds or want to have them installed in your home, do not hesitate and contact or call us at 📞 (604) 942-4201.
Professionals and experts will gladly assist you and getting the most out of your roller window shades and keeping them in their tip-top shape.
