Keeping Wood Blinds Looking Like New

Posted by kamal on September 24th, 2015

Wood blinds are highly popular window treatments because of their beauty, versatility and durability, all of which make for great value for your money. But like all window treatments, such as curtains and drapes, wooden blinds require the appropriate care to ensure that the abovementioned qualities remain for years to come.

Fortunately, caring for standard and mini blinds made of wood only requires fast, easy and convenient steps. With these simple steps, you can ensure that the wooden blinds will look like new several years after installation.

Regular Dusting

Wooden blinds are similar to fine wooden furniture in the sense that these require regular dusting to remove the dust, dirt and other airborne particles that have accumulated on their surfaces. Since the blinds already have the fine glossy finish from the factory, dusting them should be an easy task, too.

Use either a feather duster or a soft dust cloth when dusting the window blinds.

• Use a soft brush attachment on the vacuum cleaner for a more thorough cleaning.
• Never immerse the wooden blinds in water since the wood will absorb moisture, which will result in warping.
• Dust the slats while these are in a tilted position.

Regular dusting may be anywhere from once a week to once a month depending on the exposure to dust and dirt that the wooden blinds are subjected to indoors. For example, in a high-traffic neighborhood where cars are common, a weekly dusting or vacuuming may be necessary. Better yet, as soon as any window blind looks ready for dusting, do so as soon as possible to avoid the accumulation of stubborn dirt in hard-to-reach areas.

Yearly Maintenance

Wooden blinds are usually exposed to direct sunlight – their purpose, after all, is to screen out sunlight during summer. The ultraviolet rays of the sun will have an adverse effect on the wooden surface, such as a faded finish or uneven finish. The tapes and cords can also be subject to wear and tear, which will require replacement.

Within 7-8 years, the finish on wooden blind will start to show signs of deterioration. Act on the faded finish as soon as it appears, such as the 6-year mark, so that the blinds can still be rescued, so to speak. Hire a professional for the job of refinishing the slats or find tutorial videos for the task.

Replace the tapes and cords either as a DIY project or return the blinds to the manufacturer for this purpose.

While throwing away the blinds may seem prudent, Mother Earth will appreciate the extension of the life of the old blinds instead.