Tips for the maintenance, cleaning and care of roller shutters and awnings
With their outside location on the home or condominium, roller shutters and awnings are exposed to the weather as well as environmental pollution. Rain, wind, snow or pollen and leaves will dirty them and could even cause damages. In order to extend their life-time, home owners should not shy away from costs associated with cleaning and care. The following tips are helpful:
Roller shutters should be checked annually. Are the guide rails, mounted on both sides of the building opening where the rolling curtain slides, clean? Dirt, such as pollen, often collects there and on the curtain itself and can be easily wiped off with a moist cloth. Do the roller shutters close completely and without squeaking? Is the surface damaged? If the roller shutters no longer function as desired, consult a professional service company from the roller shutters and blinds producers association. Tips for the maintenance, cleaning and care of roller shutters and awnings.
An awning stays beautiful longer when dirt on the cloth and frame is regularly removed using a soft brush and a mild detergent. To do so, the cloth is unrolled, a bit at a time, and cleaned. Annoying dirty spots should also not be allowed to remain on the cloth for a long time, but removed using a plastic eraser before the dirt eats through the fabric. Every one to two years and ideally in springtime, the awning mounts should be checked and the guide rails - for example on a conservatory awning - should be cleaned. This ensures that the awnings and their components will be able to reliably withstand wind and weather.
Of course, awning malfunctions can be best remedied by a professional service company from the roller shutters and blinds producers association. When properly cared for, the awning cloth can last from 10 to 15 years and the frame from 25 to 30 years. In that time, the frame will be recovered two or three times with a new awning cloth. The professional service company has a wide range of designs to choose from – solid colours, striped and patterns – in all imaginable colours and is most certainly the best service to employ for replacing the cloth.
It is also important to check whether the motor and control unit are working properly. Should problems arise in this regard, consult the specialists. They can often resolve large problems quickly and simply. While on-site, they will also check the system, give tips on operation or advise on possible motor/control unit installations for manually-operating roller shutters and awnings.
The Alulux professional service companies offer competent consulting for automatic roller shutters. To find a professional Alulux service company in your area, look under www.alulux.de. Or inquire using our telephone information service on roller shutters and sun protection: Tel.: (49) 5246/965190
