Vertical Blinds – Styles For Everyone

January 31, 2010 by Jesita Jerik
Filed under Home

Vertical blinds have been around since before every house had electricity and indoor bathrooms! And believe it or not, styles haven\’t changed much at all. They still can be found in white, narrow slats, aluminum, and two drawstrings – one for the slats and one for the height.

If adding style to a room is your main focus, you now have colors that match any decorative scheme or mood. A room done in Early American, for instance, would look great with verticals that came with matching valance in perhaps pale oak, or a wood that matches the furniture in the room itself.

There are even vertical blinds to help with your energy bills. There\’s nothing like pure white window blinds to help keep out the summer heat. Dark or black blinds will help retain heat in the cold winter months. For anyone who wants to see some serious savings on their heating and air conditioning bills, buy window blinds with thermal backing – these help no matter what climate you live in.

Verticals come in standard sizes that fit the usual windows and patio doors. Custom sizes can be ordered either online or at your local home stores. Depending on the size and the style you are trying to achieve, you have a choice of installing your window blinds either \”inside\” or \”outside\” the window frame. Both have pros and cons, and the blinds themselves will usually dictate your choice – some only come with one option.

Blinds of course will get dirty. Oddly enough, the cheaper ones made of PVC and even aluminum are the easiest to clean! A feather duster can be used frequently to get rid of normal dust and buildup, and just about any type of household spray cleaner can be used to remove other types of dirt. For instance, kitchen verticals are notorious for their grease buildups. No problem! Just squirt at the tops, let the liquid run to the floor, and then use a sponge to remove anything more stubborn. Spray on some clear water and vinegar, and let them drip dry.

Those slats attract dust and dirt and it\’s not easy to get off, no matter what! The easiest ones to clean are the cheapest. The plastic and PVC materials have coatings that actually help the dust slide off – either by itself or with the help of a light weight duster. For spots or heavier all over dirt, you can spray any household cleaner on them. Let the solution drip all the way to the bottom and keep paper towels underneath to absorb the runoff. If spots remain, a soft sponge can help remove whatever stayed behind. To rinse, mix some plain water and water and spray that on; it will kill the suds and remove soap scum.

Verticals can be difficult to hang even for experienced installers. The larger the window, the more difficult the process. If your window blinds have multiple draws – you can pull them to either side – this entails more hardware and more labor. Many stores offer free or very inexpensive installation a few times a year, and frequently with a minimum purchase you can get free installation as well. If you aren\’t comfortable trying this for yourself, have the pros do it. If they make a mistake, they need to fix it, and that includes giving you new blinds if they damage them in the process.

Since custom is the choice for many nowadays, there are even software programs that help designers match vertical designs to wallpaper, carpeting, artwork, and just about anything else. This ability usually comes at a stiff price, but the results are fantastic! The stores that offer this service frequently have terrific sales, so it\’s worth the wait!

Many readers may desire to find out more about vertical blinds, and may visit Jesita Jerik\’s web store to choose the best window blinds for their needs and save money at the same time.