How Should You Care for Blinds and Shades Before a Waukesha Winter?

Go material by material. Dust wood, faux wood and metal blinds with a soft cloth or a vacuum brush. Vacuum cellular and other fabric shades on low. Spot-clean only as the care label allows. Vacuum drapery on both sides. Then test every cord, wand and motor. In Waukesha County, late fall is the time. Get it done before snow and cold keep the windows shut for months.

Below is a quick care card, then the details for each material. You don't need special tools. Most homes can get through every room in an afternoon or two.

Why is late fall the time to care for window coverings in Waukesha County?

The windows are about to close for a long stretch. NOAA's numbers for the Waukesha station tell the story. The first fall freeze usually shows up around mid-October. January averages a high near 28 and a low near 11. A typical winter brings about 14 nights below zero (NOAA 1971 to 2000 normals for Waukesha). Few people open a window between Thanksgiving and spring.

That timing matters for three reasons:

1. Summer dust is still on everything. Months of open windows bring in road dust, grass and grit. It settles on slats and in fabric folds.
2. You'll use your coverings more in winter. Shades go up and down twice a day to let in sun and hold in warmth. A sticky cord or weak motor battery is easier to fix now than in January.
3. Dry, heated air is coming. It's easier to spot-clean fabric on a mild fall day. It dries fully before the furnace runs all day.

Lake homes and country homes feel this most. Delafield is centered on Lake Nagawicka in the Lake Country part of Waukesha County (Encyclopedia of Milwaukee, Delafield). Many lake homes there spend summer with windows open to the water. Around Eagle, the Kettle Moraine State Forest covers nearly half of the community (Encyclopedia of Milwaukee, Eagle). That means plenty of homes on gravel drives and open land.

What does the care card look like?

Print this table or keep it on your phone. Then work through the house one room at a time.

The "How often" column is a common rhythm, not a rule. Rooms with open windows, pets or a wood stove may need more.

How do I clean wood, faux wood and metal blinds?

Start with the blinds. They hold the most visible dust.

Wood blinds. Lower the blind and tilt the slats down until they're nearly closed. Wipe each slat from the cord side out with a soft, dry cloth or a duster. Then tilt the slats the other way and repeat. A vacuum with a soft brush tool works too. Keep water away. Moisture can warp real wood, so skip the damp cloth. A wood-safe polish keeps the finish looking fresh. Test it on one slat first.

Faux wood blinds. Dust them the same way. Faux wood can take a little moisture. Spot-clean marks with a damp cloth and a drop of mild soap, then blot dry. You'll notice the difference most in kitchens and bathrooms.

Aluminum and vinyl blinds. Lower the blind and tilt the slats down. Wipe with a cloth dipped in mild soapy water and wrung out well. Dry each slat right away with a second cloth. That prevents water spots.

One tip for all three: do the top of the headrail and the bottom rail. They catch the most dust, and they're the parts people miss.

How do I clean cellular, roller and Roman shades?

Fabric shades need a gentle touch. Most of the time, dry methods are all you need.

Cellular shades. Lower the shade all the way. Dust with a feather duster or vacuum on low with a brush tool. Move side to side along the pleats. Got dust or a stray bug inside the cells? Use a hair dryer on the cool setting and blow through from one end. For a deeper clean, go with a professional or ultrasonic cleaning. Budget Blinds' own window treatment cleaning tips recommend it too.

Roller and solar shades. Lower the shade all the way so you can reach the whole fabric. Vacuum with a brush tool. Spot-clean marks with a damp cloth and a little mild soap. Blot instead of scrubbing. Never soak the fabric. Let it dry completely before you roll it back up. Otherwise you may trap moisture and set a crease.

Roman shades. Lower the shade and vacuum on low with a brush tool. Pay attention to the folds where dust collects. For stains or a full clean, call a professional. Roman shades have layered fabric and lift parts that home washing can damage.

If your sunroom shades get the most sun in the house, they also get the most dust. Our Delafield and Mukwonago sunroom guide covers which fabrics hold up best in a room full of glass.

What about woven wood shades and shutters?

Both are natural-looking favorites. Both are mostly a dusting job.

Woven wood shades. Bamboo, reeds and grasses trap dust in their weave. Lower the shade and go over it with a vacuum brush on low or a soft duster. Keep water away from natural fibers unless the care tag says it's safe. Water can stain or warp them. If the shade has a liner, dust the back too.

Shutters. Tilt the louvers open and wipe each one with a soft cloth or duster. Then close them and wipe the faces. Painted and composite shutters may handle a lightly damp cloth for marks. Stained wood shutters are better kept dry. Check the hinges and the tilt rod while you're there. A louver that won't hold its angle can often be adjusted.

Older homes often have wood blinds or shutters worth keeping in good shape. Our post on window coverings for McCall Street's historic houses matches styles to each era of that historic district.

How do I freshen drapery before winter?

Drapery is the biggest piece of fabric in most rooms. It's also the easiest to overlook.

1. Read the care label first. It decides everything else. Silk, wool and linen drapery is usually marked for dry cleaning.
2. Vacuum both sides. Use a brush tool on low. Work top to bottom and get into the pleats and folds.
3. Shake out light panels. Take lightweight curtains outside on a calm day and give them a good shake.
4. Spot-clean with care. Blot marks with a damp cloth. Test any cleaner on a hidden corner first.
5. Wash only if the label allows. If it does, use a gentle cycle with cool water and mild detergent. Hang to dry. Press or steam while slightly damp for smooth folds.
6. Check the hardware. Make sure rings slide and the rod is tight to the wall. Any traverse cord should move freely.

Lined drapery deserves a second look. Check that the lining isn't torn or pulling away at the hem. A loose lining lets the drapery sag. It also takes away the extra layer it gives on cold nights.

How do I check cords, wands and motors?

Run every covering through its full range once. Raise it all the way and lower it all the way. Tilt it if it tilts.

• Cords. Look for fraying, stiff spots or knots. Replace a cord that's wearing through before it snaps. Got kids or pets at home? This is a good time to ask about cordless options.
• Wands. Turn the wand both ways. If the slats don't tilt evenly, the tilt part may need an adjustment.
• Lift systems. Cordless shades should stay where you leave them. If one creeps up or drifts down, it may need its tension adjusted.
• Motors. Charge or replace batteries now while the shades are easy to reach. Mild weather makes it easier too. Test every remote and any app or schedule. If your shades run on a timer, reset it for shorter days.

Write down anything that doesn't work right. One short list makes a service call fast.

Does a lake home or a country home need extra care?

Often, yes. It comes down to what blew in all summer. A few things to watch for:

Lake homes. Windows facing the water often stay open from May to October. Check the shades on that side for grit along the bottom rail. Look for fading on the side that faced afternoon sun too. If a fabric looks uneven, raise and lower it a few times and look at it in daylight. You can't clean fading away. But it helps you plan which shades to replace first.

Country and acreage homes. Gravel drives, field work and long dry spells bring fine dust. Vacuum before you wipe so you don't smear dust into fabric or along slats. Check the corners of wide windows where dust collects behind furniture.

Homes with a wood stove or fireplace. Smoke and ash leave a film. Dust the coverings near the stove more often in winter. For fabric shades in that room, lean on a professional clean.

You can see the full range of blind styles on corporate's blinds page. It runs from wood to faux wood to aluminum.

When is it time to call for a repair or replacement?

Some things are quick fixes. Others mean a covering has reached the end of its life.

Usually worth a repair call:

• A shade that won't stay up or keeps drifting down.
• Blinds that won't tilt, or tilt only on one end.
• A motor that hums but doesn't move the shade.
• A broken cord on a covering that's otherwise in good shape.

Often time to replace:

• Slats that are cracked, warped or bent in several places.
• Fabric that has faded or yellowed. Splits along the folds count too.
• Coverings that no longer fit how you use the room.

Your product may also be under warranty. Check your paperwork before you pay for a fix.

A simple one-afternoon plan:

1. Start at the top floor and work down. Dust will fall on rooms you haven't cleaned yet.
2. Do all the blinds first. Then move on to the shades and the drapery.
3. Test cords, wands and motors as you finish each room.
4. Keep a running list of anything that needs a repair.
5. Vacuum the floors and sills last.

Need a hand with a repair? Or ready to replace what's worn out? We serve homes all across the area. Visit Budget Blinds of Waukesha and schedule your free consultation.

Kevin Sill is CFO and co-owner of the family-owned Budget Blinds franchises serving the Waukesha area.