best way to clean your drapes and curtains
dry clean your custom drapes
Cleaning drapes and curtains at home can get complicated. Part of the reason so many people struggle is the conflicting information on how it’s best done. Should you dry clean drapes? Put drapes in the washing machine? Hand wash? Don’t wash at all? It seems like everyone has opinions on the proper and best way to clean curtains and drapes.
If your drapes are lined with a privacy liner or blackout line, they need to be dry-cleaned. The same goes if they are pinch-pleated or have metal grommets. It is important to find a professional in your area that has experience in cleaning custom curtains. Some natural fabrics, like cotton, wool or linen might shrink in the process. Make sure you find someone you can trust.
HOW TO CLEAN CURTAINS WHILE HANGING
Vacuum drapes every 6 months and intermittently brush dust bunnies and dander off. Use a soft bristled brush. This produces very good results for ongoing maintenance.
You can put dusty drapes and curtains in the dryer. Around 15 to 20min, on a cold “fluff” cycle gets rid of the dust. You can then re-place them on their hanging rods, and fight any lingering odor with odor eliminating spray.
HOW TO CLEAN sheer curtains
If you’re able to do laundry at home, rest assured, it is possible to put drapes and curtains in the washing machine if the fabric allows. The best way to clean curtains and drapes is to wash them on a gentle cycle. Use cool water, with mild detergent.
Only drapes and curtains that are made out of polyester fabric and do not have a blackout or privacy liner can be washed in washing machine. Drapes with liner should be dry-cleaned. Curtains made out of natural fibers (cotton, wool, linen, silk, bamboo, etc.) should be dry-cleaned.
Sheers made out of polyester can be washed. Make sure not to overload your machine, washing one window treatment at a time. When cleaning sheers in your washing machine, use a mild detergent. For white sheers, you can add a tiny amount of bleach.
Once the sheers or unlined drapes have finished washing in the machine, find a place to hang them to air dry. If space is limited, you can hang them over a large table to air-dry. Do not put sheers in the dryer, or they might wrinkle.
When all of the curtains have sufficiently air-dried, re-place them on their hanging rods, and fight any lingering odor with odor eliminating spray.
About us: KOPA Drapes manufactures and installs custom drapes and shades in New Jersey and New York. Our products are handcrafted in Belleville, NJ since 1957. We offer complimentary at-home design consultation and measure for our curtains and custom shades in NJ and NYC.