FAQ

Liability or Guarantees: Will they fall apart or shrink?
Why use ultrasonic cleaning?
What types of dirt can be removed with ultrasonic cleaning?
Can you clean cloth blinds?
How long will my blinds be down?
Do I have to bring the blinds to you?
What if Louvers Lane's quote is (more or less) expensive?
Will my blinds be hung on the same window?
How do I make an appointment?
What are the advantages of On-Site drapery cleaning?

Liability or Guarantees: Will they fall apart or shrink?

Before finishing your quote or before cleaning anything we will carefully inspect the condition of the window treatment. While none of the cleaning processes we use will ruin a blind, shade or drapery pre-existing weakening of the materials due to age, sun (UV radiation) or degradation of the plastic parts or materials may be an issue. For draperies and valances the injection-extraction method and high quality solvents we use won't cause shrinkage or damage to the fabrics (unlike other more aggressive methods used by other types of "dry cleaners"). We clean thousands of window treatments annually. As a result of our knowledge of custom and specialty treatments, our inspections and our use of established cleaning protocols unexpected problems with the treatments we clean are extremely rare.

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Why use ultrasonic cleaning?

Ultrasonic cleaning provides a deep thorough cleaning other methods simply can't match. We aren't simply dusting or washing the items off. Every surface is cleaned in the process by the cavitation explosions produced in the tanks by the ultrasonic waves moving through the cleaning solution. No other method cleans the cords, ladders, and mechanical parts as effectively (or as gently). Dusting or wiping a blind would not clean the undersides, cords, back edges or headrails and could leave a residual film of dirt or soaps instead of a static free "hospital sterile" clean blind. Dusting or wiping blinds in a classroom or office simply spreads much of the debris back into the air - definitely not "green", sanitary or efficient.

What types of dirt can ultrasonic cleaning remove?

Dirt, grease, food, smoke, hairspray, pollen, mold, allergens, insects. Left unattended, these substances can compromise the health and appeal of your window treatments. Over time soiled spots become stains and finishes loose their appeal under the accumulated grime. Those who have allergies or asthma will find that removing the pollen, mold and allergens that accumulate on the window treatments (and fly off into the air every time they are moved) will improve the indoor air quality. Ultrasonic cleaning removes this stuff - it isn't just moved around the blind or contaminating the room.

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Can you clean cloth blinds?

Yes! We clean blinds and shades made of all sorts of materials - fabrics, metal, vinyl, composites and woods.

Cellular shades, pleated shades, roman shades and fabric shades are all cleaned professionally using either ultrasonics or other appropriate methods depending upon the material and type of shade.

We clean Luminettes^®, Silhouettes^® and other types of sheer fabric window treatments either ultrasonically or using our On-Site equipment as appropriate.

Specialty Roman shades and some types of room darkening shades are safely dry cleaned with our equipment using environmentally friendly solvents instead of water based methods which may damage them or void manufacturer warranties.

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How long will my blinds be down?

We offer same day service in most situations. Blinds taken for cleaning in the morning are back in their place nice fresh and clean by late that same afternoon.

As we work by appointment, blinds and draperies may also be held during painting, remodeling or other construction projects etc.

If your job is less than 150-200 blinds we can provide same day or within 24 hours turn around (on-site or off site).

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Do I have to bring the blinds to you?

No, we offer a convenient pick-up service or (our most popular) full service option. Dropping off blinds at the shop is great for those who have time and are comfortable taking the blinds down (without breaking brackets or risking damage etc.).

We DO NOT recommend you bring in Luminettes^® or other specialty products to us unless you have the tubes to put them on and are willing to accept all liability for damage caused to the fabric or treatment should it be mishandled outside our control. Saving a few dollars in some situations definitely isn't worth it!

We also carry many common brackets and parts to replace broken clips etc. Several of us are Hunter Douglas Certified Professional installers. Our service starts and ends with a thorough inspection that your Luminettes are hung and working properly (as many unfortunately are not).

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Louvers Lane's pricing: Why the variety of pricing between blind and drapery cleaners?

Quality service can be had for a reasonable price, however the to provide the value of service desired the cost of providing the service is typically not the cheapest. While we strive to offer the best value in price/service please don't ask our employees will play the "game" of matching or beating a lower quote - or promising to refer us to family and friends if we give you "our best price". Our employees develop quotes working off a standardized rate sheet and will take into account the many variables that exist in your given mix of blinds/draperies.

We don't inflate our quotes and then offer coupons, discounts if you schedule the same day or other such gimmicks. While in name we may offer similar cleaning services to other competitors our performance and execution of those services is different.

First, our specialized shop (for the type of drapery/blind cleaning and repairs we do) is a fully insured business operation in a legal commercial location (not a residential basement or garage). While we can go mobile with our operations, doing work in our shop instead of a truck or trailer allows us to do things that can not be done on location.

Second, we have invested in specialized training for our employees as well as complete insurance coverage (not just liability insurance) in order to insure every item is cleaned using the best methods. If a mishap occurs with a vehicle accident, fire or other disaster both our property and yours is insured. Lower prices made possible from lower overhead and training don't typically translate into a better quality of service. We include things as a part of our normal standard cleaning services that some companies promote as "secret treatments" or "special" when in our view they are just a natural part of doing the job right.

Finally, our local family run business maintains and supports a team of certified professional cleaners who enjoy servicing the needs thousands of area clients. Please feel free to ask us questions about our service. Professional blind cleaners from across the country have trained in our facilities and consult with our staff. As a result of our openness some of our competitors know our pricing structure and may offer "cheaper" rates - however they may not mimic the quality of our services. We are also aware of firms that charge far more than we believe is warranted for the actual service they provide. We are not a "dunk and run" ultrasonic blind cleaner, nor are we a drapery take down and rehang service subcontracting the cleaning to a local dry cleaner (or wholesale blind cleaning operation). Our team's mission is to give you the the best service possible.

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Will blinds be hung on the same window?

Yes. We mark everything when we take it down so that it goes back where it was. Even if the treatments are all the same size - some may be "custom faded" to a particular window.

How do I make an appointment?

Just give us a call at 815-577-9797 and if Jeanne, Bert, Tammy or Miriam aren't available to take your call personally - please leave a message on the answering machine. We check our messages frequently (and sometimes miss calls during the day while occupied with other calls or clients in the shop). We will return your call when someone is available. Appointments are scheduled Monday-Friday and on Saturdays (Saturdays before 9:30 a.m./after 1:15 p.m.). Servicing those with prior appointments takes precedence over "drop in" or "last minute" scheduling - though we do our best to provide prompt service.

What are the advantages of On-Site Drapery Cleaning?

With our On-Site drapery cleaning process, we bring a small portable dry cleaning machine right to your home or business. Dry cleaning of fabrics is done right where they are hanging on the window or attached to the wall. Due to the cleaning process and agents used, we can guarantee that there will be no shrinkage or damage, and you'll not have to live without them. Beside the equipment, we also bring the expertise of certified technicians who are experienced in the care and cleaning of various types of specialty fabrics, blinds and window treatments. Certifications of cleaners include: On-Site Certified Technician/Certified Fabricare Specialists/ IICRC Upholstery and Fabric Care Certification.

Caution: Some Chicago area blind or drapery cleaners advertise "On-Site" cleaning or services - however their technicians are NOT formally trained or certified by SquibCo, the IICRC or "endorsed" by Hunter Douglas as they or their websites may falsely claim. Being taught by another worker how to do something second (or even third hand) is not as effective as investing in the expertise to actually give one's team members the real training. Though it is cheaper for the employer, the client ultimately gets shortchanged as the technician isn't as well versed in proper cleaning techniques, fabrics, spotting and other issues required to safely provide top notch service. We respect the value and investment represented by our client's custom window treatments too much to gamble by cutting corners when it comes to giving our team members the proper equipment, chemistry and knowledge necessary to do the job right.