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Introduction To The World Of Mini Blinds

The mechanisms that are used to open and close blinds range from simple cords and easy to use chains toremote controlled electronic devices.  Mini blinds will block out sunlight, prevent people from looking into your house, and also add style to your home.  Mini blinds come in various styles  and you can even make them yourself at home.Mini blinds are available in a wide range of sizes and colors, along with custom sizes and styles.  This allows you to control the direction and amount of natural light while still  providing a sense of insulation. There are some blinds styles that even adjust to allow breezes to flow from the window into the room by raising or tilting the slats.


With one style, slats are sandwiched between two sheer fabric layers that diffuse light when the slats are open.  With another style, the slats are laminated vertically to a single fabric layer for a curtain effect.  Mini blinds can come in wood, faux wood, vinyl,even aluminum. Wood type blinds offer rich, subtle colors along with unique textures.The classic types of blinds look elegantly simple and can help to enhance a contemporary look or even add a classic flair to your home.


A less expensive alternative to wooden mini blinds is faux wood, or a synthetic wood  made of PVC or a composite material.  Aluminum is a good choice as well, as it provides a  low cost and durable solution to your window problems.  Aluminum mini blinds are also  easy to clean and easy to maintain. The least expensive variety is vinyl blinds, that come in standard sizes only.


Measuring:

The first thing to do, is to determine the position of the mini blinds, deciding if they will be inside or outside of the window.  Inside mounting will look more customized, although outside mounting will  provide better control of lighting. For inside frame mounting, measure the width between the points where the brackets will be placed; top, middle, and bottom. Record the narrowest of the measurements you receive.  Now, measure the length from the top inside casing of the windowsill.  At least 1 inch of flat surface will be needed on the inside casing in order to attach the brackets. For outside frame mounting, you'll need to measure the overall width of the area to be covered.  Hang your mini blinds outside of the frame if there is less than 1" of flat surface on the inside casing. The measurement should overlap the window by at least 1 1/2" on each side. 

Installation:

1.  Determine if you want inside or outside mounting, and measure your window accordingly.
2.  After you have purchased the correct size of mini blinds, remove the window stop from the top of the window on the window casing.
3.  Screw the brackets that came with yournblinds to the side window casing at the top, using
either two or three screws per bracket.
4.  With the wand on the left and the lift cord on the right, slide the mini blinds into the
brackets you just installed.
5.  Once you have the mini blinds in place, secure the caps over the brackets.
6.  If the blinds are too long, remove the slats from the bottom of them, as this should help to get them to the appropriate height.



At some point in time, all of us have come across mini blinds at the local home improvement center. They look really nice sitting there, although no one wants to spend a few days removing the dust from them.  Regardless of what you may hear or think, it doesn't always have to be this way. Detail oriented It will probably seem obvious, but you should close the slats prior to dusting.  Weekly blind dusting is the best way to go, using a lamb's wool duster, as lamb's wool will naturally attract dust and can help prevent buildup as well. If lamb's wool isn't available, a paint brush may also do the trick.  Make sure you place some towels underneath the blinds to catch any excess dust.


If you want to be thorough, you can also take the blinds down and clean them in your bathtub. To remove the grease from the blinds, an all purpose cleaner can be used.  Spray the blinds good, then let the cleaner work on them for a few minutes.  Then, wipe the cleaner off with a soft cloth, although rinsing the cloth will make it even more effective.  To clean the other  side of the blinds, flip it over and do the same thing as mentioned above. 

Fast and simple:

This one is simple - simply use an old pair of cotton gloves to clean your blinds.  Slip the gloves on, dip your fingers into a solution of 1 teaspoon ammonia and 1 quart water, then  run your fingers through the mini blinds.  If you prefer, you can also use the vacuum  cleaner hose attachments.  You can even use the vaccuum cleaner without having to remove the blinds. Putting a dryer sheet on the blinds will remove any static so that dust will no longer be attracted to the blinds.

By John M. BetanCourt


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