Consider the Material
Before you can start cleaning any of your drapes, you need to identify
what type of material they are made of; while this seems insignificant,
you can ruin the fabric if you aren’t careful. For stitched drapes
featuring pleats or swags, you will need to dry clean them. Although they
are supposedly washable, either by hand or by machines, it’s much better
to avoid taking chances. After all, you don’t want them to shrink.
Likewise, for wool or cashmere, make sure you get them dry cleaned as
well. Cotton, synthetics, and sheer material can all be washed by hand or
by machine, but you will want to be gentle when washing the sheer material
so it doesn’t rip by accident.
Vacuum Every Week
Much as you would vacuum your
carpets
and rugs every week, take some time to vacuum your drapes as well. Your
vacuum cleaner should have an upholstery attachment that will make this
task much less of a headache. However, before you start, make sure to get
rid of excess
dust. Then, start from the top and work your way down. If you don’t have a
vacuum or the necessary attachments, then you can use a broom with
synthetic bristles to clean the dust off. One other benefit of vacuuming
your drapes every week is that you can reduce the number of allergies
caused by the presence of dust in your home.
Determine How to Wash Them
You will also need to determine how best to wash your
home’s
drapes. Testing a small patch of the fabric is a good way to start. This
way, you can verify that the colors won’t run and ruin the look or feel of
the fabric. Some warm water, a bowl, and some detergent is all you need to
run this test. If the color starts to change, you’ll be better off going
seeking help from professional upholstery cleaning services.
More Tips
Before you start cleaning your drapes, take the time to remove any pins,
hangers, or other pieces of hardware that attach them to the curtains or
windows. You’ll also need to get the dust off of curtain rods, finials,
and any other decorations you use to help your drapes look better –
anything that might attract too much dust.