If previously vertical blinds were found only in offices, today they are increasingly decorating private households and apartments. Gradually they become dirty, and the housewife is faced with the question of whether it is possible to wash the blinds in a washing machine. This is indeed permitted, but only for certain varieties, because there is a risk of damage. In addition, you need to know what mode is acceptable for washing, with what detergent, and also understand other nuances of this process.
Which blinds are machine washable?
Only some types of vertical blinds can be washed in an automatic washing machine. This process is prohibited for expensive products with slats made of natural materials (jacquard, cotton, etc.). Due to exposure to moisture, they can break and shrink in size, so they are only allowed to be dry cleaned.
Preparing the washing machine
Before washing blinds in a washing machine, household appliances must be prepared for this procedure. This is explained by the properties of the material from which the lamellas are made. Synthetics do not like exposure to chemicals, so traces of detergent remaining in the drum or ditch can harm vertical blinds.
Before washing vertical blinds, you must clean the washing machine drum. For this purpose it is used special mode, if it is present or the “Cotton” program is simply launched at a temperature of 60°C without detergents and laundry. During its execution, the remaining powder, bleach, dye, as well as debris, threads, etc. will be washed out of the machine. Before starting the program, you can add to the cuvette citric acid – it will allow you to clean the internal parts of the device from lime deposits.
After washing machine cleaning completed, you can begin preparing the slats for washing.
How to prepare blinds for washing
Before removing vertical blinds for washing, it is recommended to vacuum them. This needs to be done by two people to prevent kinks or other deformation of the slats. This will remove dry dust from the product, after which it will become much easier to wash. Such preparation is relevant in cases where the windows face a dusty street with busy traffic.
After cleaning the slats, you can remove and disassemble the vertical blinds. It is necessary to disconnect them one by one from the frame. You will also need to remove all lacing, beads, controls and other items.
Each detached lamella must be carefully rolled up.This precaution will not allow it to become deformed or form a lump together with other lamellas, which will be impossible to untangle. To prevent rolls with lamellas from coming undone and breaking, you need to carefully tie them with thread or lace.
Soak
If vertical fabric blinds were in the kitchen, grease and dirt would constantly settle on them, which means they were significantly dirty. To wash them as best as possible, before placing them in the drum, you need to place them in a container of water and soak them for several hours. The selection of detergent must be approached with caution.
Program installation
Roller blinds can be washed using one of the delicate programs. These are “Synthetic”, “Delicate Wash”, “Hand Wash”, “Sensitive” and the like, depending on the brand and model of the washing machine.
If there are no such programs, you can set the mode yourself, focusing on the following rules:
- The water heating temperature should not exceed 30°C.
- It is recommended to turn off spin.
- If your washing machine has a drying option, that should also be turned off.
- The EcoBubble mode found in most modern Samsung washing machines cannot be used either. When it starts, a lot of foam is formed, which can leave streaks on the slats.
- If it is possible to reduce the drum speed during washing, it is recommended to set it to the lowest value.
Choosing a detergent
Roller blinds can be washed with liquid detergent. The use of washing powders, various bleaches or other substances can damage the slats.
How to dry washed vertical blinds
After finishing washing, the vertical blinds will need to be dried. Without spinning and drying, they will be very wet, so you need to place a container in front of the washing machine in which you want to put the product.
In a private house with its own yard, it is very easy to dry the slats: you need to hang them on a clothesline without bending them, carefully attaching them to the edge with a clothespin. This way the water will drain from them and then they will dry out.
If this option is not available, you can hang the product in the bathroom, on the balcony or loggia.
When drying lamellas, the following simple rules should be followed:
- To prevent vertical blinds from being damaged during drying and losing their appearance, it is necessary to attach a small weight to them from below.
- Drying in direct sunlight is not allowed; in this case, the color of the products will be lost.
- It is not recommended to dry the slats using heating electrical appliances (heaters, dryers, etc.).
- After drying, the lamellas should remain slightly damp, they will dry completely and straighten out in their place after assembly.
How to wash horizontal blinds
Horizontal blinds also require periodic maintenance.Washing them in a washing machine is not allowed, so at home they are cleaned as follows:
- Raise the slats so that their front side is directed upward, towards the ceiling.
- Remove structural elements: weights, plastic elements, etc.
- Move the protruding flags to the right and then towards you. To remove horizontal blinds from the brackets, you need to carefully, holding the slats, pull them towards you.
- The entire structure must be placed in the bathroom and washed under the powerful pressure of water from the shower. The slats need to be opened, otherwise they will stick to each other.
- After the top layer of dirt has been washed off, it is necessary to soak the open horizontal blinds in water and baby soap.
- After soaking, rinse the slats thoroughly under water and leave for a while to allow the water to drain.
- Now you can hang the product in its original place. Use a cloth or gauze to collect the remaining moisture and leave to dry.
- Install the disconnected parts, apply machine oil to the rotating mechanism.
How to clean blinds manually
If you have doubts about whether blinds can be washed in a washing machine, you should not conduct risky experiments, but take them to the dry cleaner, where they will be carefully and efficiently put in order.
It is sometimes possible to clean the slats manually using the following methods:
- Vacuum the blinds thoroughly, then mix water and ammonia in a 1:1 ratio, wet a soft cloth and thoroughly wipe both sides of the slats.
- If you add soda to water and ammonia in a ratio of 1:1:0.5, then even traces of ink can be easily removed with this product.
- A mixture of squeezed lemon juice and baking soda in a 1:1 ratio also effectively removes stains on light-colored blinds.It is necessary to thoroughly rub the stains with this composition, and after 15-20 minutes, remove the remaining product.
- An acetone-free nail polish remover efficiently removes marker or felt-tip pen marks. You need to soak cotton wool or cloth in the product and wipe off the stains.
- To remove dust, it is better to use a vacuum cleaner or a soft bristle brush. Rough pile is not allowed.
Conclusion
Only vertical fabric blinds can be washed in a washing machine. To avoid spoiling them, you must carefully follow the rules of preparation, washing and drying. If you have doubts about the safety of such cleaning, it is better to take them to a dry cleaner, where all dirt will be removed efficiently and carefully.
