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12 Ways Of Window Treatments Damage Prevention In Your HomeThere are many things that you can do for window treatments damage prevention in your home. Many are very common to us about protecting your windows and your surroundings like window uv protection, window storm protection, and hurricane window prevention. But what about other protective or preventive things you can to to protect your window treatments. These 12 will definitely add years to their longevity, and yours, too! 1. Change your air conditioner filters . All that dust and dirt builds up on the fabric or wood. Over a long period this will do some serious damage to the window treatment, not to mention what it might do to your lungs and those of your family and friends. In our house, the way we remember, is "the morning of almost every holiday" is time to change the filters, ie. Valentine's Day, Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day, etc. It's not perfect, but if it gets the job done, that's the important thing. And anything that will make it a habit is good! Or if you live and breathe by a Blackberry or iPhone, then just set it as an appointment! Use them to your advantage to guard against deterioration and set up your own window treatments damage prevention tactics and practices. 2. If you are going to open your windows during windy days to let all that fresh air inside, secure the window coverings FIRST. Don't leave them unattended so the wind can suck them out the window for a good thrashing against the house and into the elements. I often go into homes of clients that "love fresh air" and the Wood Blinds are all broken and beaten to death. Some leave the blinds down (still wanting privacy) but leave the windows open. Very bad idea for wood, fauxwood, fabric window treatments, or even very cheap window blinds; for that matter. Another way to include window treatments damage prevention in your home is 3. Proper caulking around the leaky windows. This is essential, and usually prevents water damage from the rain and weather elements and makes your home more Energy Efficient at the same time repressing drafts and damage. We so readily grab that caulking gun when it comes to our kitchen and bathroom tile, but never think about how old the caulking is around our windows, do we? Now's a great time to do that before winter sets in. You will be amazed at the power of this step in window treatments damage prevention. This interception of water damage prevention before the fact is the best tip one could get.
4. Getting your air ducts cleaned when needed will add years to the life of your window treatments, as well as YOUR life. This not only reduces the wear and tear on your custom window treatments, but makes your air conditioner and heater run more efficiently, reduces mold, bacteria, and contaminates, and helps you breathe better overall. This is really one of the best ways of window treatments damage prevention. 5. Having your windows cleaned properly by professionals will add window treatments damage prevention in your home, too. Those who are careful with their squeegee and wipe dripping water with a clean cloth before it ever reaches your Custom Drapes , wood, or Sheer Shades ; or your floor. Make sure they handle the blinds and shades with care and the cords are secure and do not get soiled, too. They may be the best and cheapest window washers around the area, but if they are sloppy and ruin your custom made window treatments, how good are they really? It's a different mind set - think about what you can do to add to your window treatments damage prevention before you hire someone off the street to wash your windows. Do your homework to ward off window drapery disaster. 6. Have proper window treatments matched with the windows so you don't have Woven Woods in hot sunny west windows to fade. They won't last and will deteriorate prematurely. A professional designer will not let you make these mistakes, or at least she will advise you against it. Sun damage is the worst, especially if it's the cause of premature aging, both on you and your home interiors. There are no warranties for that unless specifically noted by the manufacturer. Some shutters are okay and some black out or fabric treated window coverings - but most are not, especially reeds and woven woods. I know they are one of the most popular window treatments out there right now, but think of the direction of Exposure before doing every window with these. They are not made for the hot, hot sun and will be a huge factor when you are trying to minimize your window treatments damage prevention steps. Make sure you have proper window uv protection, too.
7. Keep the smoke out of the house with proper venting on stoves and fans. More fabric window treatments are damaged from people smoking indoors, or smoke from fire places, pot bellied stoves, and residue from cooking than anything else. Those smells and carcinogens stay in the air and in your fabrics for a very long time. They discolor and eventually rot the fabrics. They cannot be cleaned. They must be replaced. Inhibit these actions by placing a "smoking section" somewhere outside where people can gather comfortably and use proper ventilation while cooking and cleaning adding to your steps to provide window treatments damage prevention.
8. Keep children and pets away from expensive window treatments and choose wisely with more durable window coverings if you can't keep them away from them. I once had a client with expensive Hunter Douglas Luminettes on all her large wide windows in her condo. She decided to leave her cats unattended for the weekend and when she returned they had sheered them with their claws! She was sick, to say the least! A very expensive lesson! 9. Make sure floor cleaners and carpet shampooers do not spray on hanging custom window shades, designer drapery, sheers, window blind shades and Indoor Shutters . Many of the chemicals used to either clean or "refresh" carpets and other flooring can cause irreversible damage. 10. Make sure you vacuum with care so the drapery is not sucked into the vacuum and cause tearing and fraying. One careless move of the hand can cause unbelievable damage to floor length custom drapery or bumping against your custom stained bypass shutters on large sliding glass doors. Very expensive damage can be done very quickly. 11. Have your custom made roman shades, drapery and all window treatments cleaned by professionals who know what they are doing, and are in the business to know what kind of fabrics, whether discount drapery fabric or designer fabrics, can take what kind of cleaning chemicals. I am working with a client right now who has had the misfortune of waiting patiently (for months) for the insurance company to pay for replacing after a cleaners literally ruined the fabric of her roman shades - a whole house of them! She and her husband have had to look at those ugly remnants of what used to be beautiful silk moire Custom Roman Shades for several months while they fought with the cleaners AND the insurance company. And she won't even get full replacement value on them! That's really sad and pathetic! Selecting your home service providers and home maintenance suppliers is a major step in window treatments damage prevention plan. 12. AND THE BEST WAY TO ADD WINDOW TREATMENTS DAMAGE PREVENTION IN YOUR HOME: Try to keep the bears away from your windows! They can do some severe damage to your window treatments (as well as other things). Read what happened to Ed and Patti Brant's home in Mt. Baldy (and $20,000 later) here: Mt. Baldy Bear.
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