When straightening up and cleaning your home, window treatments are often the last things we think about taking care of. But before you add the task to your to-do list, it's important to know how to clean the kind you own. So, let's break down the helpful tips for every kind of Hunter Douglas window treatment.
Simple Window Treatment Cleaning Tips
Most of Hunter Douglas' window treatments are designed to require minimal care and cleaning that may include regular dusting and periodic vacuuming.
Dusting: Regular, light dusting maintains a like-new appearance of most blinds, shades, sheers, shutters and window panels. However, don't use magnetic cleaners such as a dusting mitt on light-dimming fabrics. This will damage the light-dimming backing.
Vacuuming: Vacuum gently using the brush attachment on any vacuum cleaner. Most products may be vacuumed using a vertical stroke. However, don't use a brush attachment or long vertical strokes to vacuum the Luminette Privacy Sheers as these actions will crease the fabric.
Also, don't vacuum Architella Elan and Architella Elan Eclipse fabrics.
Blowing: Use a can of compressed air or a hair dryer (on the cool setting) to dust off your window treatments.
Spot-Cleaning: Spot-clean shades and blinds with a soft cloth or sponge moistened with lukewarm water, then add mild detergent if needed. Blot gently to avoid creasing or damaging the fabric, as rubbing can damage fabrics.
Recommended Professional Window Treatment Cleaning Tips
Ultrasonic Cleaning: Professional ultrasonic cleaning is recommended for several Hunter Douglas window treatment products. This process involves immersing the product in a tank of cleaning solution.
Injection/Extraction Cleaning System: This type of cleaning injects a cleaning solution into the fabric and immediately extracts the dirty solution—hence the name! It's a very effective way to deep clean your Hunter Douglas window treatments. The service is typically performed in the home so there's no need to remove your window treatments. Products that can use this method include most soft fabric-based Hunter Douglas products. To see if your window treatment requires this type of specific cleaning treatment, check out the Hunter Douglas manual and product chart.
Steaming: The simple task of steaming can be done to remove wrinkles from some fabrics. A hand-held travel size steamer that provides continuous steam is best. Heavy-duty steamers are not recommended.
Methods for Removing Bugs
To prevent damage to delicate fabrics, don't use any type of stick, wand or handle to push out pests that are caught in your window shades. It's recommended to gently blow them out using a can of compressed air or even a hair dryer on its cool setting.
Helpful Care and Cleaning Tips for Specific Window Treatment Materials
-To reduce static cling and help repel dust, wipe the product with dryer sheets. That's right, dryer sheets help with more than just your laundry.
-Don't use rough or chemical cleaners, as they will scratch or damage the surface.
-If you have the Everwood Collection or First Edition blinds, allow them to air dry to help preserve their slat dust repellent properties.
-If you have Palm Beach Polysatin Shutters, clean them with mild soap and water—not with ammonia-based cleaning products.
Wood Products
-Clean using a dry, soft feather duster, clean cloth, dust cloth or dusting mitt. A vacuum with a soft brush attachment can also be helpful to use.
-Ultrasonic cleaner, chemical solvents and scrubbing cleansers are not recommended for wood window treatments
Now that you know the best tips, you can officially add cleaning your window treatments to your to-do list. If you have any further questions or concerns, call or visit Hunter Douglas' website here.
