Mini Blinds – Decorate your windows with an affordable and durable window treatment

Mini blinds are a variety of non vertical window blinds. They are made of long narrow slats held together by a string and are installed inside the window. The slats are narrow and are less than half the width of regular Venetian blinds. They are often referred to as horizontal blinds. They are a popular choice because they are durable and have a clean lined design that blends well with most types of décor. When you are looking for practical and inexpensive window treatments mini blinds are a great option. Another advantage is that they are easy to clean and maintain.

Mini blinds are available in a number of different styles, colors, patterns and designs. Their slats are usually opened and closed by rotating a rod or by directly pulling a string. The blinds are lowered or raised by pulling a different set of strings. These blinds work great for homes, offices, commercial buildings, etc. You should select the type and color based on your privacy and light blocking requirements. You can find ready made mini blinds in several different stores – both brick and mortar as well as online. However, if you do not find the right size or variety you can get them custom made. There are several manufacturers offering this service.

Vinyl Mini Blinds – Versatile and attractive

A lot of people opt for vinyl mini blinds for their windows and rightfully so. They are fashionable, glossy and available in a variety of colors, styles and lengths. They are durable, unbreakable and come in various different heights and widths. The best part is that if you want to keep them simple and inexpensive you can easily do so, but if you want them to look rich you can easily do that as well. Just opt for a variety that has a rich texture or decorative prints. Vinyl mini blinds have an anti static property that keeps dust away and makes them stain resistant. They are a breeze to clean and maintain. All you need is a cloth and a cleaning spray. Just wipe them clean and they will keep looking beautiful.

The main function of any blinds is to provide you with privacy and block out the unwanted sunlight. You can choose dark colored slat when you want to block more sunlight. The mini blinds can be adjusted to allow only the amount of sunlight you want to enter the room. But always remember to tilt the slats horizontally before raising or lowering them to increase the longevity of your mini blinds. The slats are tied together with a string and operated with a cord. You can unlock the blinds by pulling the cord to the left and lock them by pulling the cord to the right. Once you lock them there is no danger of hurting anybody as the lock is crash proof. If you want to go one step further to ensure safety of children you can opt for break away tassels.

Aluminum Mini Blinds: Easy on the pocket

Aluminum mini blinds are a great option when you are on a budget. They are affordable and durable. And since they are available in wide range of colors and sizes you will find something that coordinates well with the décor of your room. They are easy to clean and maintain and do not get damaged even in humid climatic conditions. This makes them a good choice for rooms with moisture like the bathroom and kitchen. They serve all the functions that a good set of blinds should. You will get your privacy and will be able to control the amount of light that enters your room. Aluminum mini blinds are lightweight and easy to use. They are versatile enough to be used in homes as well as offices.

These days aluminum blinds are quite evolved and come in many different styles. Besides the basic colors and finishes, you can opt for metallic colors like brushed aluminum, bronze, steel blue, etc. You can even buy glossy colors and finishes. Most aluminum mini blinds are equipped with the standard cord and control wand which let you control the amount of light as well as raise and lower the blinds. You will find them convenient for places where the windows are undersized or smaller than normal. Being scratch and stain resistant makes them a good choice for kid’s rooms. However, you might want to install the cordless variety in such cases to avoid accidental strangulation.

The slat sizes of mini blinds are usually smaller than normal sized windows. The common sizes are 1 inch, 2 inches and 2.5 inches. The thickness of the slats varies but as a rule the thicker the slats the more expensive the mini blinds will be. The durability of your aluminum mini blinds also depends on the thickness of the slats. The thicker slats will last longer.

Micro Blinds: Great for total light control

The reason why these blinds are so good at controlling the light is that the slats are ½ inch in width making the slats very closely spaced. When you close the blinds the slats close more tightly than normal mini blinds and shut out the light completely. These blinds work great for doors and windows that have shallow depths and for small windows. This is because their overall dimension is small. They are mostly made from 6 gauge aluminum. This makes the slats bend proof and they will spring back into their original shape and size if you impart a certain force onto them.

Since micro blinds are made from aluminum you get a wide color choice. Another benefit is that you will not need a valance. Micro blinds come with a compact and stylish head rail mounted on them. These blinds are a popular choice for french doors as well. If the blind is open you will be able to see through the door because the slats are closely spaced together. You almost feel like the blinds are not there at all.

Cheap Mini Blinds – Shop the smart way

Buying cheap mini blinds does not mean buying low quality mini blinds. You can find a good deal on quality mini blinds just by making an effort. You will have to spend some time researching and shopping around. But you will find this time well spent when you get a good deal on some nice blinds which enhance the décor of your room and home. You should check home stores like Home Depot and Lowes and houseware stores like Linen n Things. Keep looking in the newspaper – especially Sundays- and you will find fliers of sales in different stores. The internet is another great place to look. Many of the online stores offer good deals on mini blinds due to some sale or because they have a wholesale set up. Americanblinds.com is a good example of this. Sometimes you find some good mini blinds at a garage sale.

One important thing that you should keep in mind is that you should not buy just any mini blinds because they are on sale. If they do not match your décor or are of a lower quality you will end up loosing more. So measure you window or door carefully, choose the style and color that you want and then start shopping around. Careful homework and patience are what will help you get the best deals.

Cleaning your mini blinds:

Mini blinds are quite easy to maintain and clean. The key is to clean them regularly. If you wait till they are full of dust and grime then the task will be harder. Mini blinds tend to attract dust, especially on their slats. Dirty mini blinds not only look bad but also cause allergies. You should dust them and vacuum them with the hose attachment on a regular basis. However, the cleaning process will differ a little depending on the material of the blinds.

1. Fabric Mini Blinds: You have to be careful with fabric mini blinds. The best thing to do is to vacuum them regularly with the hose attachment. You could also use a feather duster or dusting cloth. You can take a fabric softener sheet and rub the slats of your blinds. By doing this you will remove the static that attracts the dust. But test the fabric softener sheet on an inconspicuous area of the fabric blinds first.
2. Metal and Vinyl Mini Blinds: These blinds also require regular dusting with a dusting cloth, dusting gloves or a disposable duster. If there is more accumulation of dust take a bucket of warm water and add some liquid soap to it. Then take a rag and wipe each slat with this solution. Be sure to turn the blinds to clean both sides and then let them air dry. For really dirty and dusty blinds, your best option is to take them down and lay them on your driveway or in your bathtub and clean them with soapy water and then hose them down with clean water. Then you need to let them air dry by letting them lay out in their open position or you could hang them on a clothesline.
3. Wooden Mini Blinds: Never make the mistake of trying to clean wooden mini blinds with water. You can dust them with a dry cloth or with your vacuum cleaner. You could also spray some wood polish on the rag and then clean with it.

Installing your Mini Blinds:

Installing mini blinds is not a difficult task. All you need to do is follow the instructions carefully. You can get a good set of step by step instructions on the internet. Your first step would be to determine the size of the blinds you need. You will have to measure the width and length of the inner window frame. After that comes installing the brackets – the right bracket, left one and center one. You then slip the mini blinds into each of these three brackets. Slide face plates into the corner brackets to hold the blinds in place and you are good to go. These are just the basic steps.

Mini blinds have been around for a long time and are a popular and practical form of window treatment. They are affordable and durable. Maintaining them is not a very difficult task and this makes them a good choice for homes with children. You need to do a little thinking and research before you choose your mini blinds. This will ensure that you get a good deal and also that you find the right style and color for your room.

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