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Window treatment experts agree that Santa Rosa homeowners should replace their blinds if they notice discoloration and warped or bent slats. Additionally, new blinds should be purchased if the old blinds have a design that is outdated or if they’re hard to operate. Homeowners should also be on the lookout for broken cord clips, low-hanging cords, snapped chains, and frayed pulleys because these complications present safety hazards, particularly for pets and young children.

Cleaning your blinds may not be your favorite chore, but it’s still an essential part of window treatment maintenance. If you want your blinds to last the entire duration of their useful life, then regular cleaning should be a priority. In order to clean the dust, pet fur, and dirt off of your blinds, you’ll need a few tools, including a vacuum with a brush attachment and a microfiber cloth.

Avoid using water or other cleaning solutions initially. Instead, begin cleaning your blinds by removing the dust from the slats with a vacuum or microfiber cloth. Clean both sides of the blinds, and dust them from top to bottom. Make sure to clean up the dust that falls on the window sill and floor as well. If your blinds need a little more elbow grease than a vacuum or cloth can provide, consider using a gentle cleaning solution appropriate for the material of your blinds.

The method you’ll use to measure your window to install new blinds depends on if you’re mounting blinds to the inside or outside of the window frame. Inside mounts emphasize your window’s size and molding. Horizontal blinds typically require a depth of 1 to 4 inches to accommodate the headrail of the blinds. Measure the width of the window frame at the top, middle, and bottom, and order blinds according to the narrowest measurement. Similarly, measure the height of the window from the window sill to the top at the left, center, and right, and select the tallest of these measurements for your custom blinds.

Outside mounts can be done on the window molding or above it. Outside mounts are preferred by homeowners who want increased privacy and light control, and they create an illusion of an elongated and broad window. If you’re mounting blinds to the window trim, measure the width of the trim at the top, and if you’re mounting them to the wall above the window, you can select a measurement for the width according to your preferences. Window treatment experts recommend adding 2 or 3 inches to the width of the window opening. If your window sill protrudes, start measuring the height of the window at the sill and continue up to 3.5 inches above the top of the window to allow for the mounting hardware. If the window sill doesn’t protrude, begin measuring the height of the window 2 or 3 inches beneath the window opening, and add 3.5 inches to the top. Overall, you’ll end up with an additional 6.5 inches to the height of the window opening. Regardless of your choice of an inside or outside mount, you should round to the nearest 1/8″ when measuring your windows.