For homeowners, it can seem as though dirt and stains magically appear, and dust falls onto everything in sight; vases, desks, fake plants, and especially window treatments, like blinds and shades. Due to their fabric nature, cellular shades can trap dust, stains and general griminess. Unlike blinds, shades require extra care when cleaning. Here are some tips on how to treat the most common solar shade cleaning issues.

Spray Air Onto Dead Insects and Bugs

Bugs can occasionally crawl into solar shade pockets and get stuck inside. Don’t worry, there’s an easy way to remedy this! You can use a can of compressed air to blow dead bugs out of cells. Just put the straw into the cell and spray out anything inside.  A hair dryer on the cool setting may also work, but compressed air offers more precision. Dirt and debris can also be removed with compressed air.

Vacuum Away Dust

It is easy to get rid of dust that’s accumulated onto your solar shades. You can use a vacuum and the hose brush attachment. In a horizontal movement, swipe the vacuum brush across the shade. This will loosen up dust and dirt, and prevent fabric from being crumpled out of shape. You can also use a lint roller for more stubborn dust.

Blot Stains Away

Cleaning your solar shades with water is a last resort! Wetting the fabric frequently can cause the shades to lose their shape. Do not scrub the fabric, as this can cause pilling or damage. For safe stain-removal, blot the stain with a damp cloth, warm water and a mild detergent. Continue blotting until the stain is gone. Using a different clean cloth, blot the area to dry. 

Once the shades are mostly dry, leave them raised for a few hours to re-train the pleats.

AwningFX makes window treatment maintenance easy and affordable. Contact us if you have any questions or concerns about cleaning your solar shades today!