The Goldcrest Family’s top summer hits

Posted on August 8, 2012 by GC Family

Many of you have been updating your windows this summer with a huge array of blinds in many colours, fabrics and patterns. Our retail statistics show that roller blinds, vertical blinds and venetian blinds have been the most popular choices over the past few months.

So what makes these three types of blinds such a hit?

Roller blinds are a popular choice for all rooms of your house, including bathrooms and kitchens where moisture can be an issue with other types of blinds. Roller blinds are durable and easy to maintain. A variety of materials can be used to create roller blinds and as already mentioned, they are great in rooms with high amounts of moisture in the air. Roller blinds are also ideal for creating black-out blinds for bedrooms or creating a stylish focal point for your room.

Vertical blinds offer your home added privacy and light control, with the flexible rotation of the vertical slats. Similar to roller blinds, vertical blinds are available in a variety of colours to suit your room interiors, and come in a selection of plain, patterned or textured materials. Vertical blinds can be fitted to arched or curved rails, making them ideal for bay windows.

Maintaining verticals blinds is quite straightforward. Simply vacuuming the slats can keep them looking fresh, and if a more intensive clean is needed, the vertical slats can be unclipped and washed down with a damp cloth or soaked in a bath for those more stubborn stains – then simply re-hang them to allow them to dry.

Venetian blinds are extremely practical and are available in a vast range of coordinating slats and components. Similar to vertical blinds, the rotation of the horizontal slats allows you to control the light levels. This flexibility is great for creating privacy in your room. Venetians are available in PVC, plastic and a selection of woods, all of which are easy to maintain.

Wood venetians are an extremely popular choice amongst those buying venetian blinds. The Goldcrest Family’s wooden venetians are crafted from sustainable Bass wood and are available in natural wood tones, distressed shade and painted finishes. Wooden venetians are elegant and sleek looking, giving you a similar look to interior wooden shutters.

How to care for your wooden blinds

Posted on July 11, 2012 by GC Family

Wooden blinds differ from aluminum, PVC and cloth blinds in that, although they all require weekly cleaning to prevent the buildup of dust and debris, wooden blinds cannot be washed due to the risk of warping.

Your wooden blinds will be coated with a thin layer of sealant, which protect the wood by preventing them from absorbing water. Over time this protective layer can lose its strength, leaving your blind less protected.

Cleaning your wooden blind is very simple – but do check with your blind manufacturer first, they will be able to advise the best way for you to care for and clean your wooden blinds – you do not want to warp the wood!

Different ways to clean your wooden blinds

As with any piece of furniture in your home, regular dusting is recommended as the primary component to your cleaning and care routine. You can clean your wooden blinds with an ordinary soft, clean cloth, an antistatic cloth or dusting mitt that has been specially treated, by gently vacuuming with the brush attachment, or with a specially designed dusting brush for blinds.

Vacuum cleaner

Vacuuming your blinds can be a quick and efficient way to get rid of any unwanted dirt and dust. Use your vacuum cleaners brush attachment and gently move from side to side along your blinds slats to remove the dust. Don’t forget to rotate your blinds and clean down the reverse side!

Soft cloth

Similar to vacuuming you blinds, dusting them down with a dry soft cloth is very simple. Gently wipe the blind slats down slowly, and rotate to clean the reverse side. If your wooden blind has more serious stain, rub the area gently with a damp cloth and then dry off again – minimizing the amount of moisture that your blind can absorb.

Tumble dryer sheet

A tumble dryer sheet is a great cloth to use when cleaning your wooden blinds, because of their make-up, dust will stick to the tumble dryer sheet which will prevent the unwanted dust flying around your room or falling onto the floor, which will need cleaned up later on.

Oils and furniture polish

Some oils and furniture polishes are great to use on your wooden blinds, but should be used sparing to avoid damaging the blind. When using a wood oil to clean your blinds, limit the amount of cleaner to one or two drops to avoid a build-up.

Because your wooden blinds are made from natural products, it is advised that you avoid using strong cleaning products or water based products. If you are unsure of the best way to remove a stain from your wooden blinds, contact your blind manufacturer – they will be able to give you their expert advice.

Safety first – window blind safety

Posted on June 19, 2012 by GC Family

Child Safety Week 2012 kicked off yesterday; an awareness campaign run by the Child Accident Prevention Trust. The campaign aims to raise awareness of the accidents that seriously injure children and how we can prevent them.

Keeping your children safe

Taking small steps to ensure your blinds are child friendly can go a long way in preventing any accidents or injuries that can be caused by blind cords.

While having a stylish pair of blinds is important, you must consider how safe they are depending on your circumstances, and by taking some of the steps listed below, you can put your mind at rest by ensuring you have taken all necessary precautions to ensure your blinds are not a hazard.

Tips to keep young children and pets safe

Choose a short cord that is out of reach
Buy blinds that come with a safety window cord
Tie up your blinds cord and make sure there is no furniture near the cord that can be climbed onto to reach the cord
Purchase a safety device such as a cleat, a cord/chain tidy or a chain break connector to ensure your cords are safely stored away or with the break connector, will snap open when any unnecessary weight is pulling on the chain
Do not place your child’s bed/cot/highchair near a window blind
Do not put furniture that a child can climb on, such as sofas, bookshelves etc, near your blinds
There are a variety of blinds that do not come with a cord or chain, such as – wand operated blinds, spring operated roller blinds/senses rollers, and perfect fit blinds or Intu blinds which are fitted to your window beading.

How to fit cleats

The British Blind and Shutter Association is the only trade association representing companies that manufacture and supplies blinds, awning and shutters, and are leading the development of the child safety aspects of the only European Standard for Internal Blinds (EN 13120).

All of the Goldcrest Family blinds are BBSA Child Safe so we will always have you covered.

Moisture resistant blinds

Posted on June 8, 2012 by GC Family

Are you looking to buy binds for your bathroom or kitchen? Then you are probably already thinking that water resistant blinds are your best option.

For rooms that have high moisture levels such as bathrooms, wet rooms and kitchens, a water resistant material is the best choice when it comes to deciding which window blind to buy for these rooms.

Moisture resistant blinds are easy to wipe clean and deter mould from setting into the material, which spoils the look of your blind and can even be a health hazard. Aside from being moisture resistant, most waterproof blinds are naturally work as black out blinds – giving you that extra privacy in rooms such as a bathroom, shower room or wet room.

Most water proof or moisture resistant blinds are made from soft or rigid PVC – PVC is waterproof and a highly durable material, which makes it the perfect material choice when looking for kitchen or bathroom blinds.

Practicality doesn’t have to be boring – moisture resistant blinds come in a variety or colours, patterns and styles.

Spring clean your window blinds

Posted on May 4, 2012 by GC Family

No matter what style of blinds you have in your home, roller blinds, venetian blinds, vertical blinds and so on, they will all need cleaned from time to time to keep them looking great.

Blinds can be intricate with lots of cords and dowels so a good way to save you the hassle of having to fully clean your blinds is to vacuum them on a regular basis to help prevent a build-up of dust and dirt.

How to clean roller blinds

Roller blinds are popular in all rooms of the house, including bathrooms where moisture can be an issue with other types of blinds. Roller blinds are durable and easy to maintain.

A good way to clean your roller blind is to fully unroll the blind and wipe the material down with a damp cloth. Once you have wiped you blind down, leave it unrolled to allow it to dry.

How to clean Roman blinds

Similar to cleaning a roller blind, a good way to clean your Roman blind is to fully extend it and wipe it down with a damp cloth.

If your Roman blind has harder to remove stains that you need washed off, you can lightly rub the stained spot with a soft cloth and gentle detergent diluted in water.

Always check the manufactures instructions first before cleaning your blinds. If you are unsure as to whether your blinds are suitable for cleaning at home, ask a professional for advice.

Many Roman blinds are lined with a different fabric than that used in the main area of the blind. The best way to clean these blinds is to dry clean them, in case the different fabrics react differently to washing.

If your Roman blinds are machine washable, you can unpick the cords and remove the doweling, this can be a fiddly process. Always remember to seek advice from the blind manufactures first.

How to clean vertical blinds

As already mentioned, a great way to prevent the built up of dirt and debris on your blinds is to vacuum them regularly.

To wash your vertical blinds, unclip them from the track they hang from and lay them out on a clean flat surface and gently wipe down with a damp cloth. In some cases if you have stubborn stains, your vertical blinds can be soaked in a bath. Many vertical blinds are machine washable, but always check with the blind manufacturer first.

How to clean wooden venetian blinds

Cleaning your wooden venetian blinds is quite simple. Gently dust your blinds down with a dry cloth or vacuum them to keep them looking fresh. You may be able to clean your venetian blinds with a gentle wood polish or cleaner, as you would do on other furniture in your home, but do check with the manufacturer first – you do not want to warp the wood used to make you venetians!

How to clean venetian blinds

Gently dust your venetian blinds down with a damp cloth from the centre of each slat out to each edge.

If your venetian blinds are plastic or PVC and need a deeper spring clean, then the blinds can be immersed in a warm bath with a mild detergent. Hang the blinds up somewhere safe to dry off before re-hanging the blinds to their fixtures.

How to clean apex blinds

The most effective way to clean your apex blind is to gently vacuum them using the brush attachment from your vacuum cleaner. Most pleated blinds are made with anti-static fabric to stop dust from settling.

For a deeper clean, your apex blind can be wiped down with a damp cloth but always check with the blind manufacturer before hand.

How to clean pleated blinds

Similar to the apex blind – which is a pleated blind with larger pleat – the best way to clean your pleated blind it to gently vacuum.

For a deeper clean, again, wipe your blind down with a damp cloth but always check with the blind manufacturer beforehand.

How to clean senses roller blinds

Similar to cleaning a roller blind, cleaning a sense roller blind is simple. Fully unroll the blind and wipe the material down with a damp cloth. Once you have wiped you blind down, leave the blind unrolled to allow it to dry.

Don’t forget to check the manufactures instructions first before cleaning your blinds. If you are unsure as to whether your blinds are suitable for cleaning at home, ask for professional advice.

Keeping your home cool with conservatory blinds

Posted on April 25, 2012 by GC Family

Summer is just around the corner (we hope!) and whilst it seems wrong to complain about the British summer heat, temperatures can soar to very uncomfortable levels in your home – especially when you have a conservatory.

The best way to keep your home cool during the warmer weather is to keep the sun out. Blinds are a very cost effective way to keep your home cool, helping control the excess heat and preventing this from radiating around the rest of your home. By simply fitting blinds, you will not need to install an air conditioning system, which can be costly and expensive to run.

How does your conservatory get so warm?

When heat hits a material, the material expands, which gives the heat space to be stored. All materials expand, including woods, metals and plastics.

When sunlight hits your conservatory windows, the wood (or PVC) and glass expand, holding in the heat. As well as creating a lot of heat in your in your conservatory, the sunlight can cause your furniture, fabrics, colour of the wood, walls and carpets to fade.

How blinds will keep your conservatory cool

Blocking out the sun’s rays prevents the heat from building up in the room. There are many different blind options (Vertical blinds, Venetian blinds, Wood Venetian blinds, Roller blinds , Roman blinds and Pleated Blinds) available for your conservatory that come in a range of performance fabrics that will maximize the heat retention during winter and keep your conservatory cool in the summer time, anti-glare options, or even black out blinds.

Specially constructed conservatory blinds have small spaces in the material to let in light, but not the heat. Some blinds appear sheer, while others are woven. You can have the best of both worlds with a conservatory blind – plenty of light into your room without the heat from the summer sun.

Conservatory blinds are not just for your windows, but can be installed on the roof too. Electric roof blinds can be really handy in a conservatory, allowing you to control them from the comfort of your arm chair.

Your conservatory was built so you could enjoy your garden no matter what time of year, and by installing conservatory blinds you can really make the most of this special room.

The Goldcrest Family has a large selection of conservatory and electric blinds, and can advise which type of blinds would suit your needs and your conservatory best.

The Goldcrest family is online!

Posted on April 10, 2012 by GC Family

The Goldcrest family have taken a step into the world of social media by setting up Facebook and Twitter accounts where you can keep in touch with us and get ideas, tips and hints for blinds, shutters and much more for around your home. Along with our new social media channels we will be keeping a comprehensive blog filled with useful information to help answer your questions and keep you inspired about your home interiors.

The Goldcrest Family along with our associated partners have many years experience in supplying quality blinds to customers throughout the whole of the UK, so if you have any questions about blinds or shutters then don’t hesitate to ask.

The Goldcrest Family is made up of Goldcrest Blinds, Baileys Blinds, Aberdeen Blinds, Rainbow Blinds, and VBS Centurion.

If you are looking for information on blinds whether it is what type of blind to choose to what material is best suited for you or even just a great idea for home interiors then don’t hesitate to share it with us on Facebook or Twitter.

Join the Goldcrest family on Facebook.
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Read the Goldcrest family blog.

How to Decide on the Perfect Blinds

Posted on March 19, 2012 by GC Family

The addition of blinds can instantly change the look and feel of a room, bringing a modern, clean feel to it. Blinds are very easy to fit and take little to no aftercare. The best thing about blinds is that they can either be used on their own to block out light or with curtains to complement the look.

The following paragraphs detail all you need to know about the right blinds for your home. This blog will help you get the most out of your new blinds – whether it’s choosing the style, the material or making use of some handy pointers along the way.

Which blinds are right for your room?

The best thing about blinds is that they are very versatile and adapt to change really well. Blinds can either be used to decorate windows in places such a front rooms or living rooms but can have a more practical use in rooms such as bathrooms, home-based offices or kitchens. Total blackout blinds can also be practical in bedrooms.

The first thing to consider when choosing a blind is which room you are choosing it for. Having an idea will make it easier to find a match.

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