Curtains and drapes hang in your home, primarily to help block sunlight and offer you privacy. But as they hang, curtains and drapes can get dirty. Dirt, dust, and dander can settle on them, and small stains may appear, especially if you have children who touch them often. It is important to maintain and clean your curtains and drapes to help them last and to ensure they are clean. Here are a few tips to follow for curtain and drape cleaning.
Routine Cleaning
In most cases, the only type of cleaning your curtains or drapes need is to have the dust and dirt removed from them. The easiest way to do this is to use the upholstery attachment on your vacuum cleaner. However, it is important to note that the upholstery cleaner can still suck the fabric into the attachment, which can snag light fabrics. Take an old stocking or piece of nylon and attach it over the upholstery attachment and use a rubber band to hold it in place. This allows dirt and dust to get sucked away while ensuring the fabric does not get sucked into the machine.
Spot Cleaning
Occasionally, you may notice a spot on your curtains or drapes. A child may have touched the drapes with dirty hands, or something wet may have splashed up from the ground and landed on the fabric. Regardless, it doesn’t make much sense to pull the curtains down and fully clean them if there is only one or two spots present. In this case, spot cleaning is the easiest way to clean the drapes. Mix a couple of drops of liquid laundry detergent with warm water in a bowl. Dip a clean, soft cloth into the bowl and then dab on the spot. Continue dabbing until the spot lifts. Do not scrub or rub, as you can damage your curtains. Once the stain has lifted, dab at the area with a water-dampened cloth to remove soap residue.
Deep Cleaning
Every one to two years, your curtains or drape should be deep cleaned. This helps to remove dirt and dust that is embedded deep within the fibers of the curtains. This involves removing the curtains or drapes, laundering them, allowing them to dry, pressing them and then rehanging them. The process for this varies based on the type of material the curtains are made from and the condition the curtains are in. Always follow the manufacturer’s care instructions when deep cleaning curtains and drapes.
Cleaning your curtains or drapes can be a big task. Curtains and drapes can be large in size and heavy. If yours are too large to clean on your own, or you would prefer help doing so, Chet’s Cleaning Inc. can provide you with the assistance you need. We can help with all of your in-home cleaning needs, including curtain and drape maintenance and cleaning. Call us today to obtain an estimate or to book your appointment.