Solar shades are a key part of your living space and should be treated with as much care as your standout staples. That’s right - your shades deserve the same attention as your rug, your couch, your light fixtures and everything in between. Just like you routinely clean your staple items, you should be cleaning your solar shades. But just how do you clean these solar shades? We are giving you everything you need to know about cleaning and disinfecting your valuable solar shades.

As it would with almost anything else, the level of cleaning your shades will require depends upon just how severe the stains are. When it comes to vinyl coated fiberglass, here are some best practices:

• Routine, gentle stains: Use any of the following tools to remove dust or light stains: a soft duster, clean dry cloth, natural rubber sponge, compressed air or low-suction vacuum. Apply pressure, keeping the fabric flat to prevent fabric distortion

• Moderate, minor stains: Clean shade fabric with a few drops of mild dish detergent (e.g. Dawn) per 8 oz lukewarm water using a soft brush, cloth or sponge.

• Strong, harsh stains: If the shade fabric has mold, mildew or severe stains, spot clean using a mixture of 10% diluted bleach-based cleaner (e.g. Clorox) and 90% water or use disinfecting wipes. Use a soft brush, cloth or sponge.

Now that we’ve given you the instructions to clean your solar shades easily and effectively, here are a few things to keep in mind to make your experience even better. If you can, it’s best to remove the roller blind and clean the fabric on a clean, flat surface. This helps protect the fabric from warping its flat shape and maintain its sleek appearance. If the blind is still damp after cleaning, dry the shade fabric with a soft, clean cloth and hang until dry before rolling up. Rough or abrasive brushes can damage a fabric just as easily as harsh chemicals, so softer brushes or cloths are recommended. 

Cleaning your solar shade fabric regularly and correctly will increase the longevity of your shades and give you more bang for your buck. Disinfecting your shade fabric, on the other hand, will help prevent the spread of viruses and harmful bacteria due to exposure to your solar shades. To make things simple, we’ve selected several household brand disinfectants you can use on your Mermet shade fabrics: 

• Hydrogen Peroxide Based Disinfectant

• Contec® Sporicidin® Disinfectant

• Fantastic® All-Purpose Cleaner

• Method® Antibac

• Windex® Multisurface Disinfectant Cleaner

Please note, each disinfectant manufacturer has its own application instructions, and it’s important to adhere to those guidelines to ensure successful disinfecting. If you are uncertain about the effect of a chemical, test a small inconspicuous location on the fabric first. Do keep in mind that following the use of Mermet approved chemicals on the surface of the fabric you should rinse with clean water on the front and back of the fabric thoroughly. 

For more sensitive fabrics, you should treat cleaning and disinfecting with more care. Adhere to only the GENTLE level cleaning methods. Dirty spots may be removed with a natural rubber dry-cleaning sponge.

For a list of Mermet Vinyl Coated Fabrics and Sensitive Fabrics - click here to visit Mermet’s official Disinfecting and Cleaning Guide.