Cleaning Drapes

Drapes are a beautiful addition to any home. They can add a touch of class to any room, and can be left hanging for years without losing their appeal. They are usually made of long, heavy fabrics that can be a pain to clean. Unfortunately, it can be all too easy to ruin these fabrics if you don’t know what you’re doing.

Cleaning drapes is a very important aspect of keeping your home clean and beautiful. Often, they get overlooked because they simply don’t look dirty - or because you just don’t think about it - but they really do need to be cleaned every so often. Over time, drapes can collect dust, dirt, oil, smoke, pollen, and bacteria. In other words, they can collect a lot of germs and grime that you don’t want in your home. Having dirty drapes can make the rest of your house dirty, as well, when that grime falls onto the floor and gets spread around.

Even if they don’t look dirty, it is important to clean your drapes on a regular basis. Many people are intimidated by how delicate drapes can be, yet often the process is quite simple. First, you need to look carefully at the label. Some are machine washable! If yours fall into that category, you’ve got it easy. Just take them down every few months and give them a wash on the gentle cycle. Put the machine on the cold cycle, and use a very mild detergent. Even if your drapes are white, never use bleach on them. Let them air dry somewhere that is not directly under any sun.

If air drying is not an option, you can put your drapes in the dryer on a delicate setting - tumble dry is preferable. When using a dryer, you should remove the drapes while they are still a bit damp. Hang them up to finish drying, and gravity should eliminate the wrinkles. If you do need to iron them a bit, make sure to do it from the back side and not from the front.

Unfortunately, not all drapes are machine washable. You should never wash drapes that are pleated, too large for the machine, not labeled as washable, or will fade if you do. For these types of drapes, you will need to have them dry cleaned professionally.

In between washes, you can help keep them clean with a few easy tricks. When you open or close your drapes, give them a little shake. This will shake out any loose dust or dirt, and keep it from sinking into your drapes. Once a week or so, you should go over your drapes with a handheld vacuum. Start at the top, and work your way to the bottom. If you have fragile drapes, you may not want to try this, as it could damage or pull the fabric. Instead, you can just take them outside and shake them out.
These cleaning tips will help keep your drapes looking great for a long time! They’ll also help to keep your house free of germs and dust. Next time you’re spring cleaning (or even in the fall, winter, or summer), take a few moments to take care of your drapes. You’ll enjoy years more usage, and may even eliminate some household allergens!