Care & Maintenance

General tips

A little regular care keeps blinds looking good and working smoothly.

• Dust regularly with a soft cloth, a duster or the brush attachment on your vacuum.
• Spot clean marks gently, and test on a small area first.
• Avoid soaking fabrics or wooden slats.
• Follow any care instructions supplied with your product.

By type

• Roller & Roman: dust or vacuum gently, and spot clean any marks.
• Venetian & wooden: close the slats and dust in both directions, so you reach both sides.
• Vertical & Allusion: dust the louvres (the vertical strips) or vanes gently.
• Shutters: dust the louvres, and wipe with a slightly damp cloth where the material suits it.
• Curtains: check the care label, as some fabrics need professional cleaning.

Room-by-room care

Where a blind hangs makes a big difference to how often it needs attention.

• Kitchens: cooking leaves a fine layer of grease that catches dust. A quick wipe or dust every week or two stops it building up. If you're choosing new blinds, wipe-clean blinds make life much easier.
• Bathrooms: steam and condensation are the main things to watch. Open a window or run the extractor fan after a shower, and leave the blind open so it can dry. Moisture-resistant options such as faux wood blinds (slats made to look like wood but from a water-resistant material) suit these rooms well.
• Conservatories: strong sun and warmth can dry out dust and make it stick. Regular light dusting is better than an occasional deep clean.
• Bedrooms and living rooms: these usually just need a gentle dust every few weeks.

Mistakes that shorten a blind's life

Most problems we're asked about come from a few habits that are easy to avoid:

• Using strong cleaners: bleach, solvents and abrasive sprays can mark fabrics and strip coatings.
• Getting wood wet: real wooden slats can warp or stain if they're soaked. A dry or barely damp cloth is enough.
• Pulling at an angle: tugging a chain or cord sideways wears the mechanism and can pull the blind off-line.
• Raising a blind that's tilted shut: on Venetian blinds, open the slats before raising or lowering so they stack neatly.
• Rolling up a damp blind: a roller blind wound up while wet can mark or grow mould. Let it dry fully first.
• Removing safety devices: chain tensioners and cord cleats (hooks on the wall that cords wrap around) are there for children's safety, so please leave them in place.

Motorised blinds and small checks

If you have motorised blinds, keep the area around the motor and any sensors free of dust, and replace remote control batteries when the response starts to slow. If a battery-powered blind needs charging, follow the instructions supplied with it.

For all blinds, it's worth a quick check now and then that brackets feel secure and that the blind runs level. Catching something small early is usually simpler than fixing it later. If a part does wear, our repairs and spares page explains how we can help.

We look after customers across Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough, Darlington and the rest of Teesside, so if something isn't working as it should, you don't need to sort it out alone.

Common questions

Can you wash roller blinds?

Most roller blinds shouldn't be soaked or machine washed. Dust them and spot clean marks with a damp cloth and mild soapy water, testing a small area first. Always check the care instructions for your fabric.

How do I clean wooden blinds without damaging them?

Close the slats, dust in both directions with a soft cloth or duster, and avoid water where you can. For a sticky mark, use a cloth that's only very slightly damp and dry the slat straight away.

How do I stop blinds going mouldy in a bathroom?

Good ventilation is the key. Open the blind and a window after bathing, and wipe away condensation from the glass. Choosing a moisture-resistant blind helps too. Our bathroom blinds ideas show what works well.

Why has my blind stopped going up and down evenly?

It may have been pulled at an angle, or a bracket may have worked loose. Try not to force it, and get in touch so we can take a look.

Keep them working

Operate blinds gently and try not to force the controls. If something sticks or doesn't feel right, contact us and we'll help.