Can cellular fabric shades be cleaned?

Question

Over the winter our vacation house had a furnace malfunction, what I'm told is a blow back. It resulted in the whole house and its contents being covered in soot. I've been painfully washing everything that we could save and since the fabric cellular shades are expensive, I wanted to try to save them as well. Does anyone out there know if how to clean blinds made of fabric? Thanks S.A.N.

Swan Road Designs · Answer

You might want to contact the manufacturer of the shades, if you know it. Many times the maker's name is on a label on the weighted bottom rail or somewhere on the headrail. You might have to remove the blinds from the brackets to inspect the headrail. That's really no big deal.

The makers that come to mind are Kirsh, Levelor, Graber. There are more but you probably recognize these names. Go online to your manufacturer and see if there is a 'contact us' email or toll-free phone number. Then, you can explain your dilemma and see what they say.

Initially, I wouldn't try to clean them myself for fear of imbedding the soot in the synthetic fabric of the blinds, I'd check with the company first for advice.

B. Enne · Answer

I don't have these, but these links seem good. The 1st 1 is from a blind company: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDQSYvnDyAE http://www.doityourself.com/stry/how-to-clean-your-cellular-shades#b Scroll down to the comments on this site: http://www.howdididoit.com/home-garden/cleaning-window-blinds-and-cellular-shades/

SMB · Answer

I have Graber cellular shades that I soak in the bathtub with a little bit of laundry detergent. I then take them outside and rinse well with the hose and hang to dry. They are 20 years old now and still look great.

Nancy Bowen · Answer

Use bathtub with mild laundry detergent. Swish subs around the shade. Rinse well, drain well, wrap in large towels. Lay out on large label outside.

JodiJeanne · Answer

I redecorated an RV. The cellular shades were a bit dirty and faded. Washed as stated above, let dry in the sun and used a light coat of spray paint to freshen.

Debora Leen · Answer

I've used the bath tub method & it works really well. I have two cats who love looking out the windows, so they rub up against them to see out. Any dirt and oils in their fur leaves dingy marks on the shades. The vacuum doesn't get it all out over time. So once a year, in the summer I wash in the tub, then dry outside on a hot dry day.

Linda Gotschach · Answer

I've used the bathtub method, as well. Used laundry detergent as well as vinegar, with success.

However, if my cellular shades are really dirty, Oxyclean (or any generic version), works a treat. For some reason, the powdered oxygen-based detergents get stains out of my cellular shades, like nothing else will.

Ari Rosenthal · Answer

I've used the bathtub method and it made no difference. Here is a photo of the white vs. the staining. I have no idea where this staining came from.

Mogie · Answer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlyDZ4l7bfo

Johnavallance82 · Answer

Ask the makers of the Blinds what you can do! Proffessionals? Steamer? Did you not have Insurance?

Can cellular fabric shades be cleaned?

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Can cellular fabric shades be cleaned?

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