topic Re: Cleaning gadgets? in Home

Cleaning gadgets?

GingerPeach — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 19:29:10 GMT

As frustration builds every time I begin cleaning baseboards, plantation shutters, venetian blinds, window tracks, and so much more, I'm starting to look into specific gadgets made for these purposes.

I know the "baseboard buddy" in particular had some good reviews on this board.

I was wondering if anyone had used the "Easy Clean Duster" for shutters or blinds. Are there any other gadgets that you like a lot for some specific purposes?

This is the "Easy Clean Duster" that I'm considering:

Re: Cleaning gadgets?

Imaoldhippie — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 19:49:48 GMT

I havent used them I use the cheapo's from Walmart and just replace them when they get really dusty/dirty.

I had a friend that put hers in the back of her pickup truck and ran it thru the car wash! It worked.

Re: Cleaning gadgets?

GingerPeach — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 20:09:57 GMT

@Imaoldhippie wrote:
I havent used them I use the cheapo's from Walmart and just replace them when they get really dusty/dirty.

I had a friend that put hers in the back of her pickup truck and ran it thru the car wash! It worked.

That's funny, @Imaoldhippie.

For me, gone are the days when I could manhandle blinds into the bathtub for cleaning. I now need to have something I can use without a lot of physical effort and that's easier and less annoyinng than doing one venetian blind blade or plantation shutter slat at a time. Probably wishful thinking for the most part.

A cleaning person isn't in the cards at this time, darn it.

Re: Cleaning gadgets?

Lilysmom — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 20:30:15 GMT

@GingerPeach, I remember someone saying they just used a brush vacuum attachment to do the plantation shutters. I have a lot of them. I don’t mind doing them one slat at a time with a microfibre cloth. I just remember dusty curtains and that makes me happy!

I never thought the blind cleaning device shown would work on shutters. LM

Re: Cleaning gadgets?

Lila4Now — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 21:01:01 GMT

I've wrapped microfiber clothes around my kitchen tongs, and attached with a rubber band. That's worked for me.

Re: Cleaning gadgets?

novamc1 — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 21:05:51 GMT

@GingerPeach

I've not found anything easier or better than disposable Swiffer dusters (both regular and Swiffer 360) for quickly dusting plantation shutters, ceiling fans, baseboards and furniture.

Swiffer has an extra-long wand available to reach high places such as tops of door frames, ceiling fans, etc. The electrostatic nature of the fibers in the disposable cloth will catch the dust and apparently doesn't distribute it elsewhere.

I'd go nuts trying to wipe down every slat in our many plantation shutters if I couldn't quickly run a Swiffer over the slats.

Love throwing those cloths away when I'm finished.

More thorough cleaning can easily be accomplished with a damp microfiber cloth.

Re: Cleaning gadgets?

GingerPeach — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 21:18:29 GMT

Thanks, @novamc1

I use my Swiffer duster all the time but there is always dust that remains. I also find that swiping it over the closed slats leaves a portion of the slat untouched, so I have to go back and do them one by one anyway. The microfiber cloth works better for removing all the dust, especially if it's damp. It's just so darn tedious.

Thank you.

Re: Cleaning gadgets?

151949 — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 22:54:49 GMT

@GingerPeach Back when we had window blinds I would dust weekly but once a year I'd take them down and hang them in the shower, spray with hot soapy water ( spic & span) let it sit a short while then use the shower to rinse them. I'd do one window a day - every day for a week and would leave them hanging in the shower til dry.It was actually very easy.

Re: Cleaning gadgets?

151949 — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 22:57:46 GMT

@Lilysmom wrote:
@GingerPeach, I remember someone saying they just used a brush vacuum attachment to do the plantation shutters. I have a lot of them. I don’t mind doing them one slat at a time with a microfibre cloth. I just remember dusty curtains and that makes me happy!

I never thought the blind cleaning device shown would work on shutters. LM

Not me - but my housekeeper who dusts the shutters with the dusting attachment on my dyson. Keeps them nice and clean. She opens them - closes the slats up & vacuums then slats down and vacuums the window sill and it's done.

Re: Cleaning gadgets?

GingerPeach — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 23:30:29 GMT

@151949 wrote:
@Lilysmom wrote:
@GingerPeach, I remember someone saying they just used a brush vacuum attachment to do the plantation shutters. I have a lot of them. I don’t mind doing them one slat at a time with a microfibre cloth. I just remember dusty curtains and that makes me happy!

I never thought the blind cleaning device shown would work on shutters. LM
Not me - but my housekeeper who dusts the shutters with the dusting attachment on my dyson. Keeps them nice and clean. She opens them - closes the slats up & vacuums then slats down and vacuums the window sill and it's done.

I've done that as well but there is a part of the slats that is covered by the slat in front. That part doesn't get clean unless you clean them individually. At least that's how mine are constructed. I am pretty sure all venetian blinds and all plantation shutters have some overlap between each slat.

Re: Cleaning gadgets?

GingerPeach — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 23:32:54 GMT

@151949 wrote:
@GingerPeach Back when we had window blinds I would dust weekly but once a year I'd take them down and hang them in the shower, spray with hot soapy water ( spic & span) let it sit a short while then use the shower to rinse them. I'd do one window a day - every day for a week and would leave them hanging in the shower til dry.It was actually very easy.

A few posts down I explained I am past the days when I can manhandle venetian blinds into the shower or tub. No longer an option.

Thanks. It USED to be manageable, but is no longer.

Re: Cleaning gadgets?

151949 — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 23:36:56 GMT

@GingerPeach wrote:
@151949 wrote:
@GingerPeach Back when we had window blinds I would dust weekly but once a year I'd take them down and hang them in the shower, spray with hot soapy water ( spic & span) let it sit a short while then use the shower to rinse them. I'd do one window a day - every day for a week and would leave them hanging in the shower til dry.It was actually very easy.
A few posts down I explained I am past the days when I can manhandle venetian blinds into the shower or tub. No longer an option.
Thanks. It USED to be manageable, but is no longer.

Ok I don't understand that because it's not like they are heavy - unless you have some huge window. Just pull them all the way up then slide them out of the holder.

But if you don't want to wash them - you could probably get away with just dusting them.

Re: Cleaning gadgets?

Mominohio — Thu, 12 Jul 2018 14:57:57 GMT

My comments are not at all directed at the OP, but in other threads in the past about cleaning blinds and plantation shutters, people are so adamant about the fact they would never have dusty dirty curtains again and the shutters are the way to go (or the blinds like shown here).

Honestly after having all three at one time or another, simple curtains are much easier to care for. They slide right off the rods, into the washer and dryer and many just put right back up without needing an iron. Washed Once a year, with a quick vacuuming once or twice in between is much easier than the work it took me to keep plantation shutters truly clean. I needed to take a wet cloth to each slat every couple of months at least, to keep them truly looking clean in the nooks and crannies.

And if one is going to take blinds down and hang them in the shower, let the dry all day or multiple dayd, and remount them, I see no work saved over curtains either.

I realize one may prefer blinds or shutters for the look of the room, and that is not the point of my post, of course one should choose what they like the look or functionality of, I'm simply addressing those that always seem to think curtains are a bigger hassle. Having dealt with all three, I find them to be the least work (not talking formal draperies that would need to be professionally cleaned etc.).

Re: Cleaning gadgets?

151949 — Thu, 12 Jul 2018 15:09:46 GMT

@Mominohio In some places curtains are just not practical. Here in Fl., as well as most of the south and SW desert the sun rots the fabric in very short time. People need to either have shutters or blinds. Plus curtains do not control the sun coming in sufficiently when it is a hot sunny day, so the sun fights the AC, which just costs money. I know Ohio doesn't get this kind of sun, and you truely welcome that sunshine you do get, but everywhere is not the same climate as you have.

I don't know what the issue was with the shutters you once had in one room I believe, but that was uniquely your problem. All the rest of us do not have the issues with our shutters you had. I had shutters on 2 small windows in Pa that I only ever dusted and they looked fine - I have shutters throughout my home here and all that is done to clean them is dust with the dusting attachment on my sweeper. I may have to wipe them off when DH touches them with dirty hands and leaves a fingerprint, but that's not all the time.

Re: Cleaning gadgets?

Mominohio — Thu, 12 Jul 2018 16:16:16 GMT

@151949 wrote:
@Mominohio In some places curtains are just not practical. Here in Fl., as well as most of the south and SW desert the sun rots the fabric in very short time. People need to either have shutters or blinds. Plus curtains do not control the sun coming in sufficiently when it is a hot sunny day, so the sun fights the AC, which just costs money. I know Ohio doesn't get this kind of sun, and you truely welcome that sunshine you do get, but everywhere is not the same climate as you have.
I don't know what the issue was with the shutters you once had in one room I believe, but that was uniquely your problem. All the rest of us do not have the issues with our shutters you had. I had shutters on 2 small windows in Pa that I only ever dusted and they looked fine - I have shutters throughout my home here and all that is done to clean them is dust with the dusting attachment on my sweeper. I may have to wipe them off when DH touches them with dirty hands and leaves a fingerprint, but that's not all the time.

@151949

You are right about the hot sun in certain parts of the country, the Southwest even more so than Florida, and needed alternate window treatments.

But I know for a fact the cleaning issues with plantation shutters are not uniquely my problem. I've been in homes of friends that have the same issues.

Dusting or vacuuming of blinds or shutters is not efficient over time as the only source of cleaning. They absolutely have to be cleaned with something damp or wet, slat by slat at least once or twice a year, or they are not truly clean.

They are just like windows. Even in rarely used rooms, the inside of windows get a film of dirt/grease/residue from cooking,candles, heating systems etc. that have to be washed off.

Re: Cleaning gadgets?

Spurt — Sat, 14 Jul 2018 02:29:34 GMT

@GingerPeach

My sister was looking for a tools to clean blinds, baseboards, and her ceiling fans....we went to a cleaning store, and they had exactly the tools she wanted (the tool for the blind looked much like the one you pictured) but the prices were so outrageous she passed on them all............Good luck on your search...

Re: Cleaning gadgets?

GingerPeach — Sat, 14 Jul 2018 02:54:38 GMT

@Mominohio

You are so right about the dampness needed to thoroughly clean. Just dry dusting is not enough. And it is certainly not enough to simply swipe or even vacuum closed blinds or shutters. There is always that overlap portion that never gets touched.

That's why, as simple looking (and for shutters, to my eye, as beautiful) as they appear in construction, cleaning them isn't the slam dunk they may appear to be.

Re: Cleaning gadgets?

GingerPeach — Sat, 14 Jul 2018 02:57:34 GMT

@151949 wrote:
@GingerPeach wrote:
@151949 wrote:
@GingerPeach Back when we had window blinds I would dust weekly but once a year I'd take them down and hang them in the shower, spray with hot soapy water ( spic & span) let it sit a short while then use the shower to rinse them. I'd do one window a day - every day for a week and would leave them hanging in the shower til dry.It was actually very easy.
A few posts down I explained I am past the days when I can manhandle venetian blinds into the shower or tub. No longer an option.
Thanks. It USED to be manageable, but is no longer.

Ok I don't understand that because it's not like they are heavy - unless you have some huge window. Just pull them all the way up then slide them out of the holder.
But if you don't want to wash them - you could probably get away with just dusting them.

I suppose you didn't read other posts of mine saying I have RA. But that's OK. Go ahead and argue because you do like to do that. I suppose it's not enough to actually just believe me when I say the days when I can manhandle blinds are long gone. Sheesh. And you still don't believe you are lucky. I feel sorry for you.