How to Shorten Faux Wood Blinds?

Don't pay extra to have your blinds shortened. If your blinds are too long, it's very simple to shorten them yourself. This is one of those super-easy do-it-yourself projects that will have you wondering why you ever even considered paying to have done.

STEP 1

Determine how many slats need to be removed to shorten your faux wood blinds. Hang the blind in the window and the lower it to the level where you want it to fall after you have shortened it. Count the number of slats piled up on the bottom rail of the blind. Subtract one and you have the number of slats you need to remove. Write down the number.

STEP 2
Remove the bottom rail.Lower the shade completely and take it down from the window. You may need an assistant to carry one end of the shade. Lay the shade across a long table, or on the floor if it's the best place to work. Examine the underside of the bottom rail of the blind and find the plastic plugs. Use a screwdriver to gently pop the plastic plugs out. Set the plastic plugs in a cup or somewhere safe. You will see the ends of strings and cords up in the bottom rail. (The exact number will depend on the width of the blind.) Some are the string "ladders" that the slats rest on, and some are the cords that raise and lower the blinds. Find the cords that lower and raise the blinds and cut each one just above the knot. If necessary, use the tweezers to pull them out so you can cut them.Pull the bottom rail off of the cords and set it aside.

STEP 3
Remove the extra slats.Pull the cords you just cut up through the number of slats you wrote down in Step 1. Slide that same number of slats out from the string ladders and set them aside.

STEP 4
Replace the bottom rail.Pull the cords and string ladders back through the holes in the bottom rail. Slide the bottom rail up the cords and string ladders until it is up against the nearest slat. Tie knots in the cords as close to the bottom rail as you can get them. Let the bottom rail rest against the knots, and leaving at least 5 inches of extra cord and string ladder below the knots you just tied, trim off the excess string and cord. Stuff the extra cord and string ladder up into the bottom rail and push the plastic plugs back into place.Hang your shortened faux wood blinds back up and enjoy the look of a custom fit!

SOURCE(S) : http://www.ehow.com/how_2320074_shorten-faux-wood-blinds.html

How to Care for Faux Wood Blinds?

There are many positives to purchasing faux wood blinds for your window. They are less expensive than real wood, but a quality set of faux wood blinds will look just as nice. They are also easier to maintain than real wood because you don't have to worry about water spots or stains ruining the slats.

STEP 1
Dust the blinds regularly. Blinds are one of the more overlooked areas in a house when it comes to regular dusting. Dust the blinds with a soft cloth and a dusting spray on a bi-monthly basis. Remember to dust both sides of each slat.

STEP 2
Vacuum periodically for a more thorough cleaning. Every 2 to 3 months, use your dusting vacuum attachment if your vacuum has one and dust all the blinds in your house. This will help you get into the holes and grooves that dusting with a cloth alone can't clean.

STEP 3
Wash faux wood blinds with a soft cloth and soap. Use a dish detergent and a wet washcloth to lightly wash your faux wood blinds once or twice a year. This deep cleaning will remove any excess dirt and residue as well as stains or fingerprints that dusting alone can not clean. Use the washcloth to wash the strings on the blinds as well to remove any dirt as well.

Source(s) http://www.ehow.com/how_4431116_care-faux-wood-blinds.html

How to Clean Faux Wood Blinds?

Using faux materials in place of real materials provides some important benefits. Faux wood blinds, for instance, actually provide better insulation and do not fade as quickly as stained wood blinds. There is also less maintenance associated with faux wood blinds than with real wood. Cleaning faux wood blinds is a simple process and requires much less effort and materials than cleaning real wood blinds.


Step 1
Dust your blinds regularly. A light dusting between each slat of the blind will remove unsightly surface dirt and dust that accumulates. Dusting on a regular basis will ensure that this dust will not be noticeable. Feather dusters as well as synthetic types can be used to dust the blinds while they are still hanging. A soft dry cloth can also be utilized as a dusting tool.

Step 2
Vacuum the blind clean. For light dirt and dust, you may also want to employ the help of a handy vacuum attachment piece. Using the attachment with a brush can be helpful especially in the place of a duster if one is not available to you. Not only can the vacuum be used for dusting, but it is also highly effective for removing cobwebs and small bugs.

Step 3
Wash the blinds. For stains or deep cleaning, another big positive of faux wood blinds is that like normal plastic blinds, they can be cleaned using water. Adding some nonabrasive soap to warm water should do the trick. Remember not to use purely hot water as this could damage the integrity of your blind. Most liquid dish soaps are perfect for this type of cleaning.

Step 4
Remove the blind from the window. Taking the blinds down about once a week or every other week to clean them will help with accessibility. Removing the blinds from the window allows you to inspect them for stains as well as avoid heightened risk of injury if they are up high. You may also find it is easier to clean your blinds with soap and water if they are removed from the window. Rinse your faux wood blinds thoroughly after washing.

Step 5
Allow the blind proper time to dry. Before you rehang your faux wood blinds, you must ensure that you allow for proper time to dry. Although faux wood blinds can withstand much denser humidity conditions, it is still best to allow them to dry before they are placed back in the window. If you had to clean your blinds while they were hanging, you can dry them quickly by simply placing a fan in front of them for a few minutes or by simply opening the window on a sufficiently breezy day.

Source(s)
http://www.ehow.com/how_4678102_clean-faux-wood-blinds.html

How to Hang Faux Wood Blinds?

Faux wood blinds are a great addition to any home or living space. They will not warp, split, crack, chip, fade over time, and they may be treated to resist dust and dirt, making them easier to clean. Some retailers, like The Home Depot, custom-cut faux wood blinds to size either while you wait or to pick up later. They are an extremely affordable option to their real-wood counterparts, making them an extremely popular decor item. Sprucing up your home with new window coverings has never been easier, and installation is a snap.

Step 1
Decide if you would like to mount your blinds inside the window casing or outside of the window casing, and then measure the spaces.

Step 2
If available, have your blinds custom-cut to fit your windows. Otherwise, special order your blinds using the measurements that were taken.

Step 3
After you receive your blinds, attach the mounting brackets in the appropriate manner (for either an inside or outside mount).

Step 4
Attach the valance clips to the head rail. Slide the head rail into the brackets and engage the retainers.

Step 5
Attach the valance to the head rail. Work the blind by opening and closing the blind and by tilting the louvers up and down.

Step 6
Attach the cord cleat to the wall (optional).

Step 7
Install the hold-down brackets (optional).

Step 8
Shorten the length of the blind if desired by following the directions provided in the blind packaging.

Source(s)
http://www.ehow.com/how_4850708_hang-faux-wood-blinds.html

How to Select Faux Wood Blinds?

Blinds have become a popular choice of new homeowners for their window treatments. And like other window treatments, blinds come in many different styles and colors. While wood blinds are a beautiful choice, they are not always the most practical for many homeowner's situations. Thus, to overcome some of the limitations in the use of wood blinds, many homeowners choose faux wood blinds.

Faux wood blinds become a better choice for a number of reasons. They are designed to exhibit the look and feel of real wood. They are easier to clean and maintain. They are a much better choice in places of high humidity such as a bathroom or laundry room because they will not warp, mold or mildew like real wood blinds. After some wear, wood blinds show nicks and scratches unlike faux wood blinds. They are also available in many color choices which enable you to match most any decor.

Faux wood blinds are almost impossible to distinguish from the real thing. And last but not least, they are much less expensive than real wood, which may be a particularly important consideration if you have a lot of windows to cover. The slats of faux wood blinds are made in two different blends. Composite, slats are made from a blend of PVC and wood pulp. PVC, slats are made of just PVC. These blends of material make for long-lasting durability as well as beauty and allow the blinds to be much lighter than their natural counterparts, which make them easier to install and remove for cleaning. Don't get hung up on which blend to buy, there is no evidence that one is better than the other, it's just the process choice of the manufacturer.

Step 1
Decide the slat size and color of your new faux wood blinds.

Step 2
Once you decide on a slat size and color, you now must decide whether to mount the blinds inside the window frame or outside. Inside mounts would be a good option if you have decorative or painted window casings, or if you’d like to pair your faux wood blinds with curtains. Outside mounts cover the entire window, including the casings and would be a good option for a room with small or abnormally shaped windows.

Step 3
Finally, you must decide whether to measure and install the blinds yourself, or have them professionally installed. This is a moderately easy DIY project that can be accomplished by most homeowners. If you decide to measure for faux wood blinds yourself, use the following tips below.

Source(s)
http://www.ehow.com/how_5272281_select-faux-wood-blinds.html

How to Choose Window Blinds and Shades?

As window treatments, blinds and shades are as decorative and functional as curtains or drapes. Choosing the right one for your particular window will depend on several factors including function, décor theme, ease of maintenance and budget. Here are some tips to help you choose the window blinds or shades that are right for you.

Step 1

Choose roller blinds (also called roller shades) for ease of installation and cost effectiveness. Roller blinds are simple window coverings that typically come with easy-to-install hardware. They are mostly made of paper, fabric or natural materials like reeds, rattan or bamboo, making them relatively inexpensive. As low-cost window treatments, they are easy to change when you decide to redecorate.

Step 2

Choose roman shades for simplicity with a touch of class. Because of the folding, cascading style of roman shades, and the tendency to use heavy, textured and colorful fabric, this type of window treatment is good at creating a decorative statement. Because they are easy to install and operate, they are among the most popular window covering solutions.

Step 3

Choose slatted or venetian blinds for universal appeal and functionality. Probably the most common of all window treatments, slatted blinds come in metal, plastic, wood or treated fabric, as well as horizontal, vertical and mini. They are universal because they can be used as is or in coordination with curtains or drapes. They are easy to install and maintain (often requiring only vacuuming and wiping down) and versatile in terms of varying the degrees of light and temperature coming through the window. Venetian blinds are also typically more durable than other styles of blinds.

Step 4

Choose gathered blinds for the luxurious look. Because gathered blinds use heavy or textured fabric and create a ruffled draping effect, they are best used with deep colors and affluent décor themes. They also use more material, putting them among the more expensive types of window blinds.

Step 5

Choose cellular shades for the contemporary look. Similar to venetian blinds, but constructed like honeycombs, cellular shades provide the modern look as well as the functionality of efficient light control and insulation from extreme temperatures. They are available in different colors and types of materials (from flimsy to foil-lined) with varying price tags.

Source(s) : http://www.ehow.com/how_5338304_choose-window-blinds-shades.html

How Do Window Blinds Work?

Raising and Lowering the Blinds
1. Window blinds all generally work in the same fashion. A window covering is manipulated by pulling a lift cord or by pulling the covering itself. In the case of a lift cord, strings that connect to the bottom of the window covering are pulled by the cord. The bottom of the window covering moves higher if the cord is pulled and moves lower if the cord is released. The window covering either folds, rolls or collapses. In applications such as venetian blinds, the blinds must first be aligned so that they can be lifted; failure to first align the blinds may damage them.
Additionally, there must be some method for the lift cord to remain stationary once the window covering has been raised or lowered to the desired position. In some applications, the cord is wrapped around a hook fastened into the wall. Two common types of blinds, venetian blinds and roller shades, offer different solutions to this problem, which are discussed in the sections below.

Venetian Blinds
2. Venetian blinds contain many individual blinds, called slats. The slats are always parallel with each other, and when the blind is fully lowered, they are the same distance apart. The slats also can all be turned at the same time in the same direction. When the slats are turned so that they are parallel to the window and all touching, most of the light from outside a window is blocked. Turning the slats perpendicular to the window allows light to pass between them.
Turning the slats is accomplished by turning a rod that rotates the slats up or down. Typically three sets of three strings run through each slat; each set of strings operates the same way. The middle string raises and lowers the blinds, while the outer two strings form a ladder with a slat on each rung. Turning the rod tilts the slats.
Lifting the blinds lets the most amount of light through the window, since all the slats are moved out of the way. The slats must first be turned perpendicular to the window, which allows them to collapse against each other when the bottom of the blinds is lifted. When the lift cord is pulled, the blinds rise.
To keep the blinds lifted at any given level, a cog with teeth sits inside the rail into which the the lift cord runs. When the lift cord is pulled towards the cog, usually towards the right, the cog's teeth catch on the cord. When the lift cord is released, gravity causes the blinds to fall and the lift cord to retract.When the cog is caught on the lift cord, which then gets caught between the rail as well, it keeps the lift cord from retracting further and holds the blinds in place.

Rolling Blinds
3. Another common form of blinds is the rolling blind or roller shade. Roller shades consist of a single sheet of fabric or other thin material that warps around a roll; when the roll is unwound, the sheet covers the window. Inside the roll is a mechanism that creates tension, such as a spring, that keeps the shades rolled up. Tension in the spring increases as the shade is pulled down. A ratchet and pin allow the shades to stay in place when pulled down, despite the spring tension. When the pin is released, usually by pulling the shade down to its limit, the spring tension automatically retracts the shade.

Article Source From :http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5040406_window-blinds-work.html