Window Coverings And Shades

Posts Tagged ‘interior decor’

Vinyl mini blinds are in a large portion of residences across America. They have been a consistently popular choice for years and they will continue to be a consistently popular choice for years to come. Why are they so popular? They're popular because they're affordable.

Affordability is an especially high priority in a tough economy. Proper cleaning and maintenance of products is another aspect that is assigned a higher priority during a tough economy. Consumers looking to get the most out of their product realize that properly caring for the vinyl mini blinds can increase their usable life as well as increase their ability to function at a high level. Cleaning them is easy; just follow the steps below.

1. The feather duster is the first step. This will do the majority of the upkeep. If it's done often enough it will be able to knock lose any collecting dust and/or debris easily that is collecting on the vinyl mini blinds.

2. When something is needed that's a bit more thorough than the feather duster owners should turn to a damp rag. The trick with the damp rag cleaning is to make sure it is only damp; not wet. Owners should also develop a pattern so that there aren't any portions of the vinyl mini blinds that are "missed" during the process.

3. Vinyl mini blinds that haven't been properly maintained can collect dust and debris until they require something more intensive than a feather duster or a damp rag. At this point owners need to take the blinds down from their installed position. Take the product outside and spray it off with water from a household hose.

4. In situations where there is no appropriate outdoor area to spray off the products owners should place the dirty vinyl mini blinds in a bathtub filled with warm water and an all purpose cleaner. After soaking for a few minutes the blinds can be jostled around; dirt and debris should wash away fairly easily and quickly.

5. And as a last resort owners can keep the car wash in mind. This would involve transporting wet blinds, but it's worth it if it saves the vinyl mini blinds from being discarded because they can't be cleaned. Owners can take advantage of the affordable high power water spraying devices at the car wash to really spray off the blinds.

In most cases owners of vinyl mini blinds never even have to remove the blinds from their place of installation. Regular feather dusting and occasional damp rag cleaning keep them in top condition. But it is an added advantage that manufacturers took care to leave the possibility for removal available so that blinds that have become dirty can be taken down for cleaning. Owners will find that the removal process is simple and easy, too. There's no intense study required at all.

Chris Stanley is a window treatments expert at Blinds Chalet. Blinds Chalet has over 25 years of experience in the window coverings sector and strives to educate consumers about purchasing and installing window shades before they buy. Focusing on high quality, company tested and approved window treatments at affordable prices, Blinds Chalet is a resource for all things window shades related.

Never shop window coverings in an impatient mood. It can lead to big mistakes. Why? Because consumers tend to purchase the window coverings they recognize. This means that they are absolutely unaware of the benefits of some of the newer (and advantageous) products on the market like cellular shades.

Benefits available with cellular shades include:

1. Energy efficiency is definitely a defining characteristic of cellular shades. This means that they are capable of keeping more "bought air" inside the house. Homes stay warmer in the winter and they stay cooler in the summer when appropriate energy efficient window coverings are installed. The most energy efficient variety of cellular shades are those with bigger pleats and/or triple celled products.

2. Cellular shades come with the top down bottom up option. This means that they're more versatile when it comes to light control and privacy. Top down bottom up means the shade can be opened by pulling the bottom to meet the top or the other way around...by pulling the top to meet the bottom.

3. The honeycomb fabric of cellular shades makes them a popular choice for those who value extensive design options. There are hundreds of pattern and/or color options.

4. The honeycomb fabric is able to do two things simultaneously: offer privacy and provide residents with a nice, muted light or, if necessary, absolute darkness.

5. Cellular shades come in different varieties: single cell, double cell, and triple cell. Some have design requirements that lead them to one or the other, but most consider this option in relation to energy efficiency. The triple celled products are the most energy efficient.

6. Cellular shades also come in varying pleat sizes. Again...many consider this as a design element. But it is an important consideration in the energy efficiency of the product. The larger pleat sizes offer more energy efficiency.

Cellular shades are unarguably one of the most energy efficient window shades on the market. They're probably one of the most energy efficient window coverings in general, as well. They're sometimes called honeycomb shades due to the fabric used in manufacturing, but regardless of what name they are given by consumers...the important thing is to know the benefits of the product. Knowing the benefits of the product will lead consumers to the window covering products that most adequately suit their needs.

Chris Stanley is a window treatments expert at Blinds Chalet. Blinds Chalet has more than 25 years of experience in the window coverings industry and strives to educate consumers about purchasing and installing shades before they buy. Focusing on high quality, company tested and approved window treatments at affordable prices, Blinds Chalet is a resource for all things blinds related.

There are definite differences between faux wood window blinds and real wood blinds. But the differences aren't easy to spot with the naked eye. But the differences are very easy to spot by studying the specifics of each product.

The most obvious difference is affordability. Faux wood window blinds typically come at a much lower price than their real wood counterparts. Real wood has been said to add "warmth" to a design space, but since many can't tell the difference initially this is questionable.

Faux products are heavier, but real wood is stronger. One consideration that shouldn't be overlooked is the makeup of the faux product. Faux products can sometimes have very high foam content. These are not sturdy enough to withstand long term use. They often end up sagging and always require a high number of support string (distracting from the aesthetics of the product).

Real wood is often seen to offer a few additional design advantages. Real wood products often offer a wider variety of color and stain options than faux wood window blinds products. In some instances faux wood window blinds have been known to yellow after many years.

Faux wood window blinds offer the very big advantage of a substantially lower price tag. They also deal well with moisture. You can get them wet. This is a drastic advantage when it comes to certain situations (bathrooms, kitchens, etc.) and cleaning. Faux wood window blinds can be easily wiped down with a damp rag.

In extreme situations faux wood blinds can be removed from their installed position for extensive cleaning. If the blinds have collected a thick amount of dirt or grime they will benefit greatly from being sprayed down with water. It's not difficult. They can be laid out in an appropriate outdoor area and a household hose can spray them down adequately. They can be carefully towel-dried after cleaning so that they can be re-hung immediately.

Wood blinds, on the other hand, cannot undergo similar treatment. They should be dusted regularly with a dry feather duster. They cannot be sprayed off of they become extremely dirty. They cannot be consistently cleaned with a damp cloth without undergoing damage. They cannot withstand the slight moisture of typical cleaning products. Moisture can have an almost immediate negative on wood blinds in some cases.

Both real wood and faux wood window blinds have their own advantages. Both should be regularly cleaned and maintained for the best function. The main differences are the moisture issue, price, and design options. Consumers should consider the advantages and disadvantages of both in relation to their own situation prior to making their buying decision.

Chris Stanley is a window treatments expert at Blinds Chalet. Blinds Chalet has over 25 years of experience in the window coverings industry and strives to educate consumers about purchasing and installing window shades before they buy. Focusing on high quality, company tested and approved window treatments at affordable prices, Blinds Chalet is a resource for all things window shades related.