Spring is upon us. This is the best time to open windows, let in some fresh air and cleans up the home to prepare for summer. Smarter Outdoors are experts providing high-quality roller shutters, and exterior blinds to homes or businesses throughout Perth. These tips will help you make your job easier, and ensure you get the best results.
Cleaning Outdoor Blinds
While we tend to retreat indoors in winter, outdoor blinds are more likely to collect dirt, dust, or grime. You can clean them in a few easy steps. You’ll need a microfiber or soft towel, a bristle brush (a dustpan will do), and warm, soapy tap water. A few drops of dishwashing detergent or car washes will suffice.
Roll your alfresco shutters down completely and raise them. This will help to remove debris and dirt from the fabric and frame.
Warm soapy water and a soft fabric wipe can be used to clean the fabric. Do not use bleach, thinners, or cleaning chemicals.
If you have more severe stains, or on the framework or components of the blinds, don’t scrub any harder. You can instead use a microfiber towel soaked in mentholated spirits. The mentholated spirits will be like a polish and remove all traces of metal grime. But, you should not put any mentholated spirits on the fabric.
Use fresh water to rinse off the soap. Wipe the soap off with a soft cloth.
It is important to let your outdoor blinds dry completely before you retract them. This can prevent permanent damage.
Cleaning plantation shutters
Spring is the best time to suffer from allergies. It’s important to regularly clean your interior shutters to prevent them from getting infected.
Use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment on the shutters to get rid of as much dirt and dust as possible.
You can reach any remaining dust by placing a soft dusting cloth between each slat.
You can use warm water on a cloth, or soft microfiber towels to clean up any grime or dirt.
Take a clean, soft cloth to dry each slat. This is crucial to prevent warping and damage, especially if the shutters are made from timber.
Cleaning Roller Shutters
Exterior roller shutters are often exposed to the elements. They can quickly become clogged with dirt and dust. It can be more challenging to clean double-story homes. This is where you might need extensions poles or a ladder to help you clean.
Your roller shutters can be gently wiped down with a damp cloth, water, and mild detergent. You should pay particular attention to areas between the slats or along with the guides, as this is the area where dirt and grime will build up.
Warm, soapy water is used to wash a soft-bristled bristled brush. Keep the shutters closed. Gently wipe them with a gentle up-and-down motion. Use a side-to-side motion as this can cause the shutters to misalign.
Mildew can be removed by using one-part water and five-part mentholated spirits. This solution can be applied to a small area first so that it doesn’t damage your shutters.
Rinse the water with a garden hose, or pressure washer. Don’t put it too close. Keep it at least 1.5m away.
If your electric roller shutters have a motor, you should not spray water into the corner.
You can dry the shutters using a soft, clean towel. Make sure you use the up/down motion to ensure your slats remain in the right alignment.
Clean the shutter between the guides. Make sure your shutter is completely open by raising it. With a soft-bristled toothbrush, gently and carefully clean the guide of dirt and dust.
