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Window treatments, including curtains and drapes, add that perfect final touch of elegance to your home. High-quality drapes and curtains breathe life into a room as they complement the interior décor and allow in the ideal amount of sunlight. Unfortunately, those same drapes can serve as a magnet for household dust, especially in the summer when everyone is traveling in and out, tracking in dirt, allergens, and pollen.
Safely cleaning drapes doesn’t always mean throwing them in the washing machine, as doing so can damage the high-quality fabrics used to make drapes. The best idea for cleaning draperies is to take them to a professional, but there are some ways to keep the dust down in between professional drapery cleaning.
Labels matter
Buying quality drapes means paying attention to brand labels, but for cleaning drapes, reading the washing instruction label is just as important, if not more important. Some fine drapes that are custom made don’t have a care label, and this usually means that they’re dry clean only and need to be taken to a professional drapery cleaner for safe dust removal. Custom made drapes and those with a “dry clean only” label can become damaged, lose their shape, or shrink if you try to wash them. Other reasons you shouldn’t wash drapes include:
- No label that indicates they’re washable
- They have damage including fading, snags or holes
- They’re not colorfast
For these types of drapes, the safest way to remove the dust between professional drapery cleaning is by vacuuming them periodically. Embassy Cleaners offers in-home or off-site cleaning of your high-quality drapes to remove dust and preserve their beauty safely. Professional cleaning can extend the life of your drapes and ensure that they retain their shape and color.
Safe at-home drapery cleaning
For drapes that have labels indicating they’re safe for home washing, you can remove dust with a hand-held vacuum, lint roller, steamer, clean sponge or cloth, and washer and dryer as necessary. Remember that the materials for both the drapery fabric and lining matter when washing so if you have any doubts, take your drapes to a professional.
Vacuuming
When vacuuming drapes, vacuum every surface and pay close attention to folds in drapes as that’s where dust tends to accumulate.
Machine washing
If the label on the drapes says they’re machine washable, make sure to remove any drapery hooks to avoid damage, then wash and dry them as indicated on the tag. Follow the label instructions carefully to thoroughly clean off dust and avoid ruining your drapes by using the wrong temperature for washing and drying.
Hand washing
For drapes with a “hand wash only” label, test a small area of the fabric first to check for color fading, discoloration, or damage. If you don’t see any issues with the cleaning agent on the material after it’s dry, continue with the cleaning process to remove dust.
Steam cleaning
When using a steam cleaner on your drapes, it’s easier to do so when they’re still hanging up. Use a step stool to reach the higher areas and let the material air dry before doing a final vacuum to remove residual dust and debris.
Although you can perform drapery cleaning yourself at home, the best option for removing dust from your high-quality drapes and window treatments is to enlist the drapery cleaning services of Embassy Cleaners. We can come to your home or clean your items in our facility, and we treat your drapes with the utmost care.
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