Your curtains and drapes are dirtier than they appear! Yes, you read that right.
Often draperies and curtains are made from fabrics that get deceptively dirty. Hence, homeowners usually do not add cleaning curtains and drapes to their routine cleaning checklist. Well, the truth is, drapes and curtains must be cleaned and washed on a regular basis, too.
Clean curtains and drapes make your home more inviting and make it look as good as new. Moreover, they also keep your home interior fresh and hygienic.
While cleaning curtains and drapes may seem like one of the trickier household chores, it’s easier than you think. All you need to do is put some time aside and clean your drapes and curtains to make them last longer. But if you don’t pay attention to them, the fibers can rot and you’ll be forced to buy new ones now and then.
So, what can you do to keep your curtains and drapes look their best? Here are a few tips to simplify this household task.
Tips to Clean Curtains and Drapes at Home
1) Consider Special Care Instructions on the Label
Before washing your curtains and draperies, always check the label on the material. Understanding the manufacturer’s guidelines will help you clean your drapes and curtains rightly while maintaining their quality, feel, and look.
These are the general guidelines based on common fabric types:
- Cotton: You can machine-wash your cotton-based curtains and draperies.
- Linen: Never wash linen-based drapes and curtains. Instead, these must be dry-cleaned. Always seek professional assistance when it comes to dry-cleaning your curtains and draperies.
- Silk: Since curtains and drapes made with silk are fine and finicky, you can easily hand-wash them. Do not twist much or the fabric will crinkle. Hand-wash silk curtains and drapes using mild soap and cold or lukewarm water.
- Synthetic Fiber: Drapes and curtains made with polyester, acrylic, and other synthetic materials are not suitable for dry-cleaning. Instead, machine-wash or hand-wash such curtains at home.
- Sheer Fabric: This is a fragile type of fabric that tends to fade if left uncleaned for long. Hence, you must soak it in cold water, hand-wash and machine-dry.
- Cashmere and Wool: Always dry-clean these types of curtains and drapes.
- Velvet: These should be brushed and not washed.
2) Prevent Dust Build-Up with Regular Cleaning
Dust and dirt can easily accumulate on your delicate curtains and drapes if you don’t clean them often. Vacuuming them weekly or biweekly is the easiest way to avoid dust build-up. For this, you can use a handheld vacuum with a soft brush attachment. Also, make sure to vacuum them on both sides. Moreover, make sure to secure the embellishments on the drapes, if any.
Besides vacuuming, you can also try several DIY techniques to regularly clean curtains and drapes at home:
- Leaf Blower: To remove dust from the drapes and curtains, use a leaf blower once every few months. Use the blower on the top 10-12 centimeters where most of the dust accumulates.
- Iron: Nobody likes to hang wrinkled curtains and drapes in their homes. However, some curtain fabrics are more prone to wrinkles than others. To smoothen the drapes and curtains, ironing is an ideal option. However, you should always check the label for the appropriate temperature setting to prevent damage. And if you aren’t sure, press with a cool iron on the reverse side of the curtain or draperies.
- Blot: You can’t always prevent your curtains and drapes from staining, especially when you have kids or pets around. Unfortunately, stubborn stains demand a spot treatment. If your curtains or drapes are made from fabrics other than wool, silk, or acetate, blot with a moist, clean sponge. Then rub a dab of alcohol over the stain. Do not forget to test everything on a hidden area of your curtain.
- Spray: Would you like your curtains to smell unpleasant? Surely, not! But you cannot prevent cigarette smoke or alcohol or cooking odor to accumulate on your drapes and curtains. So, if you haven’t got the time for washing, treat them instantly by spraying a fabric freshener.
3) Wash in Cold Water
In the majority of cases, you must wash your curtains and draperies in cold water. However, you must check the instructions on the label as discussed in the first point. Use the lowest heat setting possible and set your washing machines to the “delicate” setting. Also, use a mild detergent to wash them. Avoid washing curtains and drapes in the machine along with other clothing items for better results.
4) Do not Overlook Professional Assistance
While cleaning your curtains and drapes yourself isn’t a big deal, it often gets trickier when you are required to dry-clean them. Drapes and curtains that are heavy and large must be dry-cleaned professionally by experts. It is a far better option than doing it yourself. Also, if your curtains and drapes are made from fabrics like tapestry, velvet, chenille, velour, wool, brocade, or silk (refer to point 1), they should also be dry-cleaned.
Besides, you must get your curtains and drapes professionally cleaned every 3 to 4 years to preserve their quality.
5) Drying your Curtains and Drapes
When it comes to drying your curtains, experts recommend leaving them to dry in an open area with a breeze. However, make sure to keep them away from sunlight to prevent discoloration. Further, look for a place where there’s little or no dust or dirt, or you will have to repeat the entire cleaning process. Drying the draperies outside smooth out the wrinkles leaving them looking as new.
Conclusion
Cleaning draperies and curtаіnѕ regularly is critical to enhancing your home décor and protecting you from allergens, dust, and grime. We hope these tips will simplify your job and help you clean curtains and drapes with minimal effort.
We hope you found this blog post 5 Best Ways to Maintain and Clean Draperies and Curtains useful. Be sure to check out our post How To Do A Thorough Cleaning In The House for more great tips!
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