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)

Fall cleaning your Drapes

Fall cleaning your home is just as important as the traditional spring cleaning. Now is a good time to deep clean your house for a healthier and comfortable winter home. During fall cleaning, curtains and draperies are often overlooked. This happens because the window treatments still look clean even though they’ve been hanging for years.

Draperies and curtains may not show soil for years and a lot of people believe drapes should only be cleaned when they look dirty yet drapes collect an immense amount of dust, oil, pollution, smoke, pollen, heating fumes and bacteria over time. That’s why drapery cleaning is certainly a necessary part of your fall cleaning.

In general, it is advisable to clean your draperies as seldom as possible to prevent ruining the fabric. When it becomes necessary to clean them, however, professional dry cleaning is the preferred method. Only a small percentage of fabrics can be laundered. The tighter the weave of the fabric, the more stable the material should be in cleaning. All cotton fabrics are generally not as stable as a mix or blend in terms of shrinkage. For example, cotton/polyester or cotton/rayon are good choices for stable (prone to minimal shrinkage) drapes. You will want to find a cleaner that has some specialization and experience in cleaning drapes. They have equipment specifically designed for draperies. 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 material.

You should regularly clean your drapes to preserve their life. 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. Weekly vacuum is best but if that is not possible, vacuum your drapes at least once a month. 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. Use Febreeze to make it smell fresh and clean.

In some cases replacement may be less expensive than cleaning. Buying direct from the manufacturer like FactoryDirectDrapes.com at whole prices end up saving money in the long run.

Don’t forget to clean your windows, including the window sills!

Cleaning Custom Draperies

It is almost officially Spring and you know what that means, Spring Cleaning. Don’t neglect your drapery when it comes to this yearly ritual. Here’s some advice on how to clean your custom draperies.

In general, it is advisable to clean your draperies as seldom as possible. When it becomes necessary to clean them, however, professional dry cleaning is the preferred method. But, even with dry cleaning, you will want to find a cleaner that has some specialization and experience in cleaning drapes. In other words, find out if your dry cleaner actually performs the work themselves or outsources it to a third party.

Questions for Dry Cleaners

1. Begin by first finding a dry cleaner that has direct experience with drapes; i.e. does not outsource the work. Look through phone books or the internet to find a cleaner who advertises specializing in cleaning drapes. Ask for references, check with the Better Business Bureau, or call your local Chamber of Commerce.

2. Ask the cleaner the exact temperature (if cleaned using heat) your drapes will be subject to during cleaning. Remember, any heat treatment should be less than 130 degrees.

3. Show the cleaner your drape to determine whether they will have any problem treating your particular fabric.

Home Remedies

Regular maintenance cleaning of your drapes is a good idea. While using a brush attachment on your vacuum, run it “lightly” up and down the folds 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. Use distilled water.