How do you get mold or mildew out of a Silhouette blind ?

There are several factors to consider when approaching this problem.  What are the expectations of the client, how old is the shade, and which method are you going to use to clean it?

The following responses to this question were received a number of years ago when we asked blind cleaners what they would do.  Following some of these directions literally could result in your ruining a Silhouette and cost you big $$, so please consider our comments later in this article before deciding how you want to approach the problem.

"I would prespray the mold area (front and back).  Keeping the water temp as high as safely possible (consider the age of the silhouette) roughly 115 - 120 degrees fahrenheit.  Once cleaned, rinsed and hung, inspect the area for remnant mold/mildew.  At this point, some mechanical hand action with soft sponge or cloth may be necessary using your prespray.  Flush out solution and rehang, allow to dry in the lowered position.  

I also remind my customer that while my goal is to get the shade back to new status, it isn't always possible.  Keep my expectations low and results high.”
           Sal DiBenedetto

idu windows, inc

“Gordon Food Service’s Heavy Duty Grease Release works like nothing else to get mold out of Silhouettes. Pre-spray and let it dwell for a few minutes.”

Don Andreatta of Clean Windows & Blinds On-Site

“I have had some success with dish detergent, applied in small amounts directly to the stain, and then wet cleaning solution with a lot of hydrogen peroxide.  A lot of scrubbing with open hands is necessary with this detergent .  The customer was delighted, but there were still some small stains.  This shade was stained near the bottom and they rarely raised the shade.  The mold came from the metal windows as they sweated due to the heat and air conditioning.   Heavy mold in my experience can be impossible to remove.”

      Margaret Applegate  Express Blind and Drapery Cleaning

Molds and Mildews are living organisms the produce chemicals and feed off dead organic material in moist environments.  While a Silhouette is made of synthetic polyester, the dust and other debris that accumulate on it, and a humid environment around some shades or in some climates, may provide ideal conditions for the growth of these organisms.  Keep in mind that while the dark fuzzy stains caused by these guys may look the same, there are different types.  So they may respond differently to cleaning, results will vary case by case.

(Unless noted otherwise, these comments apply to regular Silhoeutte fabrics which are rated safe to wet clean by Hunter Douglas) 

1) Qualify your ability to clean the shade.  If it is a Bon Soir, then using water to flush it puts one at risk of the very real possiblity of delaminating the glues holding the layers of the vane together.  If the shade is old and sun rotted, or weakened, any aggressive action will shred the sheer.  Colored shades are susceptible to a loss of color as a result of the chemicals used, any rubbing or even the action of the mildew, etc.  What are the customer's expectations?  Are they even aware the problem exists?

2) Cleaning the stains first of all involves a thorough flushing of the grime to remove as much of the dirt and loose debris as possible.  Our prefered method if a shade is really bad is to ...

{Article and pictures still under construction - Bert 5/20}