Spring Clean your Drapes and Curtains

Spring is almost here. Have you started your spring cleaning yet?
Many people overlook the cleaning of drapes and curtains during their spring cleaning because they may appear clean even if they have been hanging for years. Drapes and curtains may not show soil for years and a lot of people believe they should only be cleaned when they look dirty yet drapes collect an immense amount of dust, oil, pollution, smoke, pollen, exhaust gases and bacteria over time.

Cleaning your drapes is necessary to preserve its life and for a healthier home. Have them cleaned according to the care label. You can also send them to a cleaner with experience and specialization in cleaning drapes. This will not only safely and effectively clean your drapes without damage or shrinkage to the fabric but it will also restore its original beauty and appearance.

As a regular maintenance, you should clean your drapes at least once a month using the brush attachment of your vacuum. While using a brush attachment on your vacuum, run it “lightly”up and down the folds and pleats of the drape to remove dust and particles. You can also “spot clean” most drapes with a damp soft cloth that has been wrung out. Do not use soap or detergent as is may leave staining around the spot. Dab away moisture with a clean cloth, air-dry. If the fabric has water spots, fade them with the steam from the garment steamer or iron. Lightly spray Febreeze fabric refresher to make your drapes smell fresh and clean.

In some cases replacement may be less expensive than cleaning. Buying new drapes directly from the manufacturer like FactoryDirectDrapes.com at wholesale prices ends up saving you more money.

Happy Spring cleaning everyone!

Spruce up your drapes for the holidays

Need to spruce up your drapes for the holidays? Remove dust and particles from your drapes using a brush attachment on your vacuum. Simply place the brush attachment on the end of the accessory hose and run it “lightly” up and down the folds of the drape. You can also “spot clean” most drapes with a damp soft cloth that has been wrung out using distilled water. Do not use soap or detergent as is may leave staining around the spot. Dab away moisture with a clean cloth, air-dry. If the fabric has water spots, fade them with the steam from the garment steamer or iron. Use Febreeze to make it smell fresh.

Most drapes should only be cleaned professionally. NEVER wash your draperies if they labeled “dry-clean only” or they are pleated. If your draperies are labeled “dry clean only,” you should take them to a dry cleaner that has some specialization and experience in cleaning drapes. You can also have an on-site drape cleaning specialist come in to your house to clean and freshen your drapes. These professionals inject a specially formulated solvent into your drapery under pressure and extract the chemical, leaving your drapes clean. This special process results in no damage or shrinkage to the fabric.

Finally, gather the drapes at the top, form the pleats and smooth your hands down the fabric, keeping the pleats extending from the top to bottom. Continue until you have straighten each pleat in the drapes.

Your drapes should now be ready to impress your family and friends for the holidays.

(photo courtesy of bhg.com)