Installing Venetian Blinds

Finding the most practical window covering for long narrow windows, especially if the they situated up high or in awkward places can be quite challenging! A mini-blind maybe the ideal solution. Referred to as Venetian blinds in the UK a mini blind is easy to operate. The blind consists of horizontal slats of aluminium, PVC or wood which are fastened together with ladder tapes.

Venetian blinds provide the optimum control over the amount of light entering a room with easy to operate pulley systems. For windows which are very hard to reach electrically operated Venetian blinds can be custom made. Remote controlled blinds are also ideal for large expanses of glass.

Raising and lowering the blind are carried out by cords or chains. The angle of the slats should always be the horizontal position before raising or lowering the blind with either cords or chains.

Operating a blind with cords: To raise the blind the cord is pulled towards the centre of the blind to release the cord lock. The blind can then be raised to the required height. Holding the cord near the edge of the blind will help to engage the cord lock to secure the blind at the required position. To lower the blind the cord is pulled towards the centre to release the cord lock. By allowing the cord to slide through the fingers at this angle the blind can be gently lowered. It is advisable not to let the blind run to fast or let it crash down as this may cause damage to the slats. A separate cord is used to tilt the angle of the slats.

Operating blinds with chains: Continuous chains make lowering and raising a blind very easy. The loop of the chain is pulled from either side to engage the operating mechanism. The chain also controls the tilt action of the slats.

Crank rod or wand operating: These work on the same principle as the chain control. The wand is used to adjust the angle of the slats as well as for raising and lowering the blind. Wand controls are ideal for blinds used in children’s and vulnerable people’s rooms as they reduce the risk of potential entanglement from cords or chains.

Keeping a Venetian blind clean is very easy. Dust can be wiped off with a cloth or removed with a vacuum nozzle on a low setting. For more in-depth cleaning non-abrasive household cleaner diluted with warm water can be used. Should it be necessary each individual slat can be removed on some Venetian blind styles for extensive cleaning. It is best to remove one slat at a time and ensuring it is fitted back into the correct position before moving onto the next.

Many modern Venetian blinds have special coatings applied which helps to reduce the amount of dust accumulating on the slats. Anti-static dust removers which have been designed specifically for cleaning both sides of the slats at the same time are widely available. These are typically made from soft natural cloth or synthetic fibres.