How To Best Maintain Drapery?
Martina said:An important factor to any fabulous window is consistent upkeep, making sure dust and grime never get the upper hand and keeping your fabric shades, curtains and drapes looking vibrant and fresh. As a start, here are some general guidelines for any type of fabric window treatment:
Dust or vacuum both sides of the shade or drape.
Pay close attention to the top of curtains and drapes as creases and pleats collect more dust; this includes valances, cornices, swags, cascades, etc.
After cleaning, check for any damage, such as loose or broken string loops, torn stitching or drooping hems, and make any repairs.
Immediately spot clean any soiled areas on shades and drapes.
Do not use strong detergents or spot removers as they can fade the color and weaken fibers.
Now, going style-by-style, here are specific tips for safely maintaining your fabric window coverings.
One of the most common questions customers ask when purchasing fabric shades and curtains, is what is the best and easiest way to take care of them so they stay fresh and new to stand the test of time?
While fabric products may require a little more attention than vinyl or faux wood blinds might, with a few important tips and some guidance under your belt, we’ll make you an expert in no time.
Key Tips for fabric shades and curtains
For starters, there are some key tips you need to know that apply to fabric shades and curtains across the board.
When dusting or vacuuming shades and curtains, always make sure you clean both sides so that all the dust is gathered at once. In the case of curtains, dirt seems to gather most in the upper area near any creases, pleats, valances, etc., so keep an extra eye on these sections to make sure they are cleaned thoroughly.
Whenever you conduct a thorough clean, check your fabric shades or curtains to ensure that everything is in working order, and that there are no loose threads, tears, or spots you need to attend to.
If you do find a spot, always take care of it at once, no matter how small the area may seem. Avoid using harsh chemicals like detergents or spot removers that can damage the fabric and reduce the longevity of your window treatments.
1.Cellular/Honeycomb Shades
Taking care of any of our Cellular/Honeycomb Shades is simple and will require just a few moments out of your day. You can remove dust from the fabric with a lightweight feather duster or vacuum attachment on a low setting.
If you want to dust inside the honeycomb cells, you can take a hair dryer, put it on the lowest setting, and blow the dust out from one end out the other.
You may use a sponge and warm water to gently remove spots in the fabric, but it is not advised to use dry cleaning or ultrasonic cleaning to get rid of imperfections. If you are cleaning or dusting blackout fabrics, take special care so that the fabric does not become creased.
2.Roman Shades
For our Cordless Roman Shades or Cordless Magnetic Roman Shades, you can gently dust and vacuum as you would for the Cellular/Honeycomb Shades described above. To wash them, you will need to disengage the dowels from the shades and wash according to product instructions. Let them hang dry so they retain their size and do not shrink. Finally, press out any wrinkles, restring the dowels in the shades, and hang them up again.
3.Solar and Roller Shades
Solar shades tend to gather dust and dirt faster, as they are used both indoors and outdoors. For our Cordless Roller Shades or Beaded Chain Roller Shades, start by cleaning them with a feather duster or a lightweight upholstery vacuum attachment on the low setting.
Use a mildly damp cloth to clean any additional spots or dust, but do not wash the entire shade. Always let your fabric shades dry completely before you raise them again.
4.Window Curtains
The first steps to cleaning our Curtain products is simple, start by examining to see how delicate the curtain’s fabric is.
Determine whether any dust on the fabric can be removed with a simple use of a vacuum (handheld vacuums works the best) or decide whether the fabric requires a good soapy wash.
A good rule of thumb to remember is that lighter fabrics should be hand washed while heavier fabrics can be machined washed or steam cleaned to remove smells and odors.
Very light and delicate fabrics should be hand washed with a few drops of a mild color safe detergent (or you could even use liquid hand soap or baby shampoo) to wash the fabric to reduce the risk of shrinkage and damage.
Standard curtains or curtains with medium thickness can be washed in a washing machine with normal laundry detergent and make sure to have it on the delicate cycle otherwise, just choose a cool wash with a slow spin.
And for the easiest way to clean heavier curtains, I would recommend using a steam cleaner with an upholstery tip attachment connected to it.
Start at the top of the curtain and work downward. If the fabric starts to become somewhat wet, hold the steam cleaner slightly further away from the curtain for better results.
Please do remember to read the steam cleaner’s instruction manual beforehand and remember to always be careful when using a steam cleaner because the hot steam can cause serious burns to your skin.
5.Pleated Window Shades
Remove the shade from its window; open it and lay out on a clean, flat surface.
Gently vacuum first on one side and then the other, following the pleat.
To clean fingerprints or soiled spots, use an aerosol spray foam upholstery or fabric cleaners .
Spray the foam cleaner and immediately rub the area with a clean, damp sponge (back and forth gently, parallel to the pleats) until stains are removed. Do not crush or wrinkle the fabric.
Remove excess water by blotting with a dry cloth; rehang the shade when completely dry.
Too frequent cleaning may remove the fullness and body of the pleated fabric.
Dry cleaning and ultrasonic cleaning are not recommended.
6.Soft Horizontal Blinds
Occasional light vacuuming with a brush attachment.
Spot clean with a soft cloth or sponge, using a mild detergent and warm water.
Dry cleaning is not recommended.
7.Fabric Vertical Blinds
Regularly dust or vacuum with an upholstery attachment, top to bottom, both sides of the vane.
For soil removal, take down the vane and lay it on a flat surface. Use a dry fabric cleaner or a sponge with a mild detergent and warm water solution and blot dry. Test any commercial upholstery cleaner on an inconspicuous spot before using.
Do not immerse in water or dry clean.
Exception: Sheer fabric vertical blinds can be washed by unsnapping the fabric from the vanes. Wash on gentle cycle with Woolite, line dry, press or steam on low, snap fabric back on vanes. Do not steam or iron fabric while it is on the vanes as they will be damaged. Do not put fabric in the dryer.
8.Woven Wood, Bamboo, and Natural Material Shades
As with wood blinds and shutters, never use water or liquid cleaners on woven wood and natural material shades.
Lightly dust with a feather duster or lint-free, soft cloth.
Vacuum with an upholstery or brush attachment, side-to-side, working top to bottom.
If soiled, gently wipe with a lightly dampened white cloth, but don’t get “wet.
9.Drapery 、Valances, etc.
Experts agree to disagree on how to best maintain drapery. Some recommend dry cleaning; others, like Budget Blinds, do not.
The exotic and luscious fabrics that make up many custom drapery treatments can shrink if dry cleaned.
Regular and careful vacuuming is usually sufficient to keep draperies in beautiful condition.
Pay close attention to the top of the drapery, front and back, since dust and dirt tend to settle in the pleats and gathers.
If curtain fabric is washable, follow manufacturer’s care instructions or use cool water ; iron while still damp. If drapery is lined, be sure both face fabric and lining are washable.
If the curtains aren’t difficult to detach, you can take them outside and shake them for a good dusting.
When dusting and spot cleaning isn’t enough and deeper cleaning is desired, ultrasonic or injection/extraction cleaning with a reputable, professional blind and drapery cleaner is an option.
Professional cleaners use a variety of methods to clean window coverings and can vary in their capabilities.
Before you trust your window coverings to any cleaner, know the fabric content you’re dealing with and how it will react to cleaning.
Lastly, the final step would be to let your curtains dry.
The best way to dry your curtains is to hang them outside, out of direct sunlight and in a breezy location if possible.
And added bonus for letting your curtains hang dry is that all the creases will naturally fall out, making your curtains like new again. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.
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