Outdoor Blinds Adelaide: Cleaning and Care

Outdoor blinds do a hard job. They sit in the sun and wind all year, keep the rain off the patio and catch a fair bit of dust and the odd spider. Then, a few years in, someone notices they look a bit tired and wonders when they were last cleaned.

The answer is usually never. Fortunately, looking after them is not complicated.

What your blinds put up with

Our blinds protect a space from rain, wind and intense sun, block UV rays and keep insects out. That means the fabric and hardware take a lot of exposure. Dust settles on them, leaves and cobwebs collect in corners, and the sun works away at everything. None of it is dramatic, but it builds up.

The basic clean

Mild soap and water is usually all you need. Use a soft brush or cloth, wash the fabric gently, rinse and let it dry before you roll it up so it is not stored damp. Skip strong chemicals and hard scrubbing, which can damage the fabric. If you would like a deeper clean or a service, our team can do that for you.

Look at the moving parts

Fabric is only half the story. Manual blinds have ropes and pulleys, track blinds run in tracks, and motorised or battery-operated blinds have a motor or battery. Wipe dust out of the tracks, check the rope is not fraying and make sure the blind runs evenly. If it catches or leans to one side, do not force it.

Seasonal checks

In summer, when the blinds are working hardest against the sun, check the fabric for marks and the fixings for looseness. Before winter, clean the blinds so dirt is not sitting on them through the wet months. After a storm, look for debris and check the blind still moves smoothly. Our guide to outdoor blinds for rain explains how they cope with wet weather.

Motorised and battery-operated blinds

These need a couple of extra checks. Keep the battery charged on battery-operated blinds, and listen to a motorised blind as it runs. A motor that strains, slows or hums without moving needs a look. Our post on motorised outdoor blinds covers how they work.

A quick care checklist

• Wash the fabric with mild soap and water, then rinse
• Let it dry before rolling up
• Clear dust and debris from tracks
• Check ropes, pulleys and fixings
• Charge batteries and listen to motors
• Book a service if anything sticks, slips or strains

If you are still choosing blinds, our weatherproof outdoor roller blinds and retractable outdoor blinds in Adelaide posts are good places to look, and our outdoor blinds page shows the full range.

When a service beats a scrub

Some problems are not a matter of cleaning. A blind that leans, a track that has bent or a motor that has gone quiet is best left to someone who knows the fittings. We offer maintenance and repair, and it is usually quicker and cheaper to fix a small fault early than to wait until the blind will not move at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I clean outdoor blinds?

Mild soap and water is usually enough. Use a soft brush or cloth, rinse and let the blind dry before rolling it up.

How often should outdoor blinds be cleaned?

A good habit is once before summer and once before winter, or after a storm if they are dirty.

Can you service outdoor blinds?

Yes. If you would like a deeper clean or a service, our team can help.

Do motorised blinds need extra care?

They have a few more parts to check, mainly the motor, controls and batteries, but day-to-day care is the same.

Related Reading

• Why you should invest in outdoor blinds
• A complete guide to choosing outdoor blinds in Adelaide
• How to choose outdoor blinds for your home