Know The Different Types Of Window Blinds

This is the third part of a five-part article on window blinds cleaning.

Venetian blinds, pleated shades, wooden blinds, honeycombs, luminettes, silhouettes — there are more varieties of window treatments than most people realize. And each one may require a slightly different cleaning method.

Before offering customers a blinds cleaning service, says Griffin, BSCs would also be wise to consider the material of the blinds in need of cleaning

“I think it’s a service that can be offered as long as it’s not going to create a lot of liability for a contractor who’s doing the work,” he adds.

Some types of blinds are very fragile while others can be more susceptible to stains. BSCs should train their staff members so they can identify the state of the blinds and handle the blinds appropriately, says Mandelstam. Safety training is also important, because janitors often need to use a ladder when cleaning blinds and the window blinds cords can prove hazardous.

The location of the blinds can also affect the size of the job, and BSCs should know what they are getting into in order to avoid creating unsatisfied customers. Blinds in a storage room may not get dirty as fast as blinds in a lobby. Blinds in an executive office may require more frequent cleaning to preserve a high-end look. Blinds in a kitchen may attract unusual food or grease stains. Blinds near a copy machine or a printer may quickly become covered in paper dust.

How frequently the blinds should be cleaned again depends on the location and the material. Mandelstam recommends cleaning a customer’s blinds once a month, dividing the building into four sections and cleaning one section’s blinds each week. If the blinds aren’t cleaned regularly, she says, that just creates more work down the road and may even necessitate repairs.

It’s also important, says Mandelstam, to report any window blinds maintenance issues to a building manager immediately to avoid liability issues.