Tuesday, June 28, 2011

The Process of Cleaning the Vertical Blinds


Just think of the time when you first bought the vertical blinds and how clean they were. Definitely you would like to see them in this good condition only. The bad news for you is that it is not possible that they remain in this new condition all the time. Their color can change to dull and grey because of the accumulation of dirt. However you can clean your vertical blinds at home. The best part is that cleaning does not require any expensive material or machine. In this article, you will find about five simple steps of cleaning the blind without spending any money.

Ø  Step 1

The first and foremost step is to remove the blinds safely and securely. This process should be done with delicacy because you would not like to damage the blades. Make sure not to apply any undue force. For unhooking the blades from the tracking system, gently left the top of the blades and take them out. Fold the blades in half for convenience.

Ø  Step 2

Take a bath tub and put some cold water in it so that the tub is half full. In the available water, put a quarter cup of cleanser. If you are unable to get cleanser, then you can also add carpet cleaning solution, or any liquid detergent. Make sure to stir the water well in order to ensure that all the substances have dissolved. 

Ø  step 3

Now, in the bath tub, put the blinds and leave them for a minimum of 45 minutes. In the meantime of this process, you will see that the color of water changes. The water will soak all the dirt, present on the blades, and thus the color water changes. If there is any spot left on the blade, even after putting them in water for 45 minutes, then you can use a nail brush to remove that spot. But be careful enough because you can damage the fabric.

Ø  Step 4

Next, pull the plug of the tub and let the water out from the tub drain. Again put some cold water in the tub to rinse the blinds again. After that, take the blades out and hold them over a bucket so that so that all the excess water gets collected in that bucket. Now, carry the blades in the room.

Ø  Step 5

The last step is to install the blades back into their position. It is better to use a towel to wipe out the blades. Once installed in their tracking system, leave the blades for drying about 30-45 minutes.
These are the simple five steps which should be done time to time.
If you want to get prevented from this cleaning procedure, then you can go for roman shades which look very elegant and simple.

Venetian Blinds: Helpful in Changing the Atmosphere of the Room


There are many different ways by which you can cover the windows of your home. They can be shutters, curtains, window covering, shades, blinds and the vertical blinds. One of the most common methods is the “horizontal window blind” which is also known as the Venetian Blind. These types of window blinds composed of the thin slats which are made up of different materials which are threaded on the ladder of strings which provides a rigid support which can allow you to shift the angle and can also tilt the slats. This control mechanism separates the Venetian Blinds from other different vertical blinds.

Most of these blinds include the slats which are made up of special type of alloy of aluminum which undergoes the process of enameling so that it can retains it coloration for a longer period of time. Other parts of these window blinds are made from the plastic and steel materials which are designed so that blinds can last for long time.

Blinds Venetian is very much easy to install in general into the recessed window frame or it can also be fastened to the ace. You can make choice from slats of various sizes. Some of the common widths of these slats are 16mm, 25mm, 35mm and 50mmm. Most of the times, these slats are constructed with the help of 8 gauge or 3.2mm aluminum and it is properly inspected for its strength and durability. Some of the inclusions of this are the card locks which are crash proof, have got an enamel finish which is baked and are versatile when it comes to the passage of sunlight and the privacy. The venetian blinds of 50mm size can be purchased with the woven tape design and moreover they can also be customized to match the interior colors of the room. 

When the Venetian blinds are drawn, you can make adjustment of them at the different and multiple heights. These window blinds can be dropped or turned which simply means that you can adjust them to have the total privacy inside your room. The adjustment can be made in such a way that you can be able to see out and other can see inside, or it can be adjusted in such a way that there adjustment can be made for offering the complete privacy. In this way, you can adjust the ambiance of the room depending upon the angle of the sun.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Window shades and blinds are recommended for privacy and thermal control of the home


Window shades and blinds are actually coverings for windows on the inside. They can include every type of window covering – shutters, roller blinds, vertical and horizontal blinds. Solid blinds can be raised on lowered and are called shades. Besides being used for their function of keeping out the heat from sunlight in hot climates and the warmth in colder countries, they are also looked upon as vital design components in the interior design industry.  They make important contributions to the visual design of a particular room, control the amount of light entering the room, insulate it and make it more energy efficient, as well as add to privacy and beauty of the room. They have thus come a long way in the last few decades.

Window shades and blinds are usually made with slats of fabric, wood, plastic or metal. These slats overlap when rotated and either close or open and can be operated manually or mechanically. In offices and business establishments, these blinds are metallic to protect against theft, temperature, fire, and bad weather.

There are many kinds of window shades and blinds:
1. Horizontal blinds that use a thin ladder system to suspend the slats and close it through a drum that is rotated. A lift allows the slats to be pulled up and piled on the top of the window.
2. The vertical blind has a wider slat than the horizontal blind. These slats are attached to a cord that can be pulled to either open or close the blind. In rooms of cold storage, these are made of thick plastic and prevent the heat from entering the room. They are less likely to attract dirt and can be cleaned quite easily.
3. Persian blinds are made of metal or vinyl and are connected with a string to rotate it in such a way that light can pass through.
4. A Venetian blind has slats made of metal or plastic, horizontally placed one above the other. They are connected through pieces of cloth called tapes. All the slats can be rotated together in either direction to allow light into the room.
5. Cellular blinds are also called honeycomb blinds. This is because they are made of individual cells that are glued together. They look like a honeycomb from one side.

Cellular blinds are energy efficient. This is due to their formation of cells that trap pockets of air inside them and are responsible for insulating the room. This holds the room temperature steady. They are available in both light and thick fabrics. The former allows light to filter into the room and the latter acts as a room darkener. They come in many configurations from standard corded, continuous cord loop, top down/bottom up and top down only. They are actually a softer substitute to Venetian blinds that are made of wood.

Water should not be allowed to Reside in Wood Blinds


The use of the wood blinds is becoming really very popular in each and every house. Also it is tending to be very ideal for the number of areas in the room. The reason they are becoming ideal for number of areas of room is that they are really very easy to use. There are number of things and areas in our houses which are to be cleaned on regular basis in order to make house beautiful and regular cleaning also increases their durability of the household items as well. But above all very good news is that cleaning a wood blinds is not a difficult task. The ease of cleaning a wood blinds depends upon the design of the wood blinds you are using and the solution or cleaner you are using to clean it. The most common designs of wood blinds which are available in the market are wooden slat wood blinds and pleated shades wood blinds. Those who are having wooden salt wood blinds have to work little more than those who are having pleated shades wood blinds.

How to clean a wooden salt wood blinds completely and easily has been stated as follows:

Cleaning a wood blinds which are having salts can be a really very tiring and boring task as one may have to detach them from their installations and then clean them. But if one cleans them daily or on regular basis then he or she never faces any problem as far as their cleaning is concerned. Such cleaning may require a brush off or cleaning the whole wood blinds with the help of any dusting cloth.

There is one more way to clean the wooden salt wood blinds besides from the traditional method of using a cloth to remove the dust away. This method is basically simpler than any other method. The method is to wipe your dirty wooden salt wood blinds with the help of wet cloth and then rubbing it with the dry cloth in order to remove the moisture on it. While opting for this method please take care that water does not get accumulated inside the wood blinds. If the water gets accumulated or seeps into the wood then it may lead to discoloration and due to this your wood blinds may disfigure very soon. And it also deteriorates the beauty and strength of the wood blinds so accumulation of water must be checked or avoided. This will increase the life and beauty of your wood blinds.

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Blinds and Shades - Ample Means for Interior Grooming


As dressing styles change in accordance to what is in vogue, so does the change in the looks of exteriors as well as interiors of a home or any construction for that matter. To give a modern look to your interior you could use window blinds that suits your style and reflects your personal choice. Different kinds of blinds are available today, which includes blinds made of

  • Wood
  • Woven shades
  • Vertical blinds
  • Solar shades etc.
The appeal of a home is what can be observed from the outside of it. The owner of a home can decide what to present and hide from an on looking stranger. The best choice here would be the use of blinds.
           
Honeycomb style shades are popular today because of its advantages such as:

  • Natural insulating property
  • Insulation property imparted by its hexagonal shape.
  • Light weight.
  • It is temperature regulating.
  • These are economical and at the same time, have an attractive look.

Wooden blinds and blinds having metallic shades are on the move these days. Rich paint can create an illusion i.e., blinds made by low cost material can be polished and painted to look like wood. This is a cost effective way to use blinds and the look is also not compromised on. Wooden blinds that are horizontal provide good light control. A little slant provides privacy too. Shades that are naturally woven and made of substances like bamboo and reeds increase the aesthetic appeal of the interiors. This also reduces glare and provides protection from UV rays. Some other types of blinds are leveler, mini vinyl blinds etc which are available in various colors and textures.

Shades are easy to handle. There are two types of blinds and shades, versions with cords and cordless one's. There is a handle provided at the bottom with the help of which one can adjust the shade. Some shades have features like top down and bottom up. In roman and cellular shades, one can just drop down the shade by using a handle given at the top of the shade. These are easy to handle and provide a classy look to one's interior.

There are shades like the roller shade and sunscreen shades which can be handled in a cordless manner. These work using a spring loaded function. These are of superior quality, convenient to handle and long lasting. Blinds have cords on the left side which helps in tilting the blind. This cord would be a multipurpose one as we can use this cord for lifting as well as bringing down the blind.

Solar shades are special kind of shades that can block the sun and heat .This helps in reducing the use of air conditioning, thereby reducing your electricity bill. Furniture would not fade as it remains protected from the sun's glare .Natural shades are the ones with a special appeal that it would suit well with any kind of decor. Bamboo shades are popular as they are renewable and can be grown economically. Its fibers are durable and assure that it can be considered for long term use.

Faux blinds or blinds made from artificial materials are used where budget is a major concern. It provides the look of natural wood, so it is a choice favored by many people

Faux blinds can be made of cent percent PVC. This would be heavier when compared to a natural wooden blind. It can also be manufactured using a wood and PVC blend. Here color is given by a baking process. It would be nearly fifteen percent lighter as compared to the pure PVC variant of faux wood blinds.