It’s spring cleaning time, and that means tackling those tricky window treatments for people who want clean homes in Austin. Unfortunately, there’s not a one-size-fits-all solution or set of instructions – curtains and drapes can be made of a zillion different materials, and some are accompanied by difficult accessories such as valances and swags. Fortunately, though, we have the low-down on figuring out what steps you need to take to keep your window treatments looking as good as new!
Curtains or Drapes
To start with, check the tags for care instructions, and follow what they say. Curtains and drapes made from certain materials, such as wool, linen, or silk, should only be cleaned by a professional dry cleaner. Of course, you can count on a dry cleaner to care for just about any type of fabric, but if your window treatments are made from a more durable fabric, such as cotton or polyester, you’ll definitely save money by cleaning them yourself. Before you take your curtains or drapes down (for dry cleaning or at-home cleaning), get the dust off of them. Using a brush attachment and the lightest suction setting, thoroughly vacuum all the fabric, paying special attention to sections near the floor, as these areas tend to collect the most dust and dirt. If the fabric is delicate or loosely woven, hold the attachment about an inch away, rather than letting it come in contact with the fibers. For curtains or drapes that you plan to wash at home, you can remove or at least loosen spots or stains by rubbing baby powder into the fabric with a clean toothbrush. If you can put your window treatments in the washing machine, do so (be sure to use the gentle cycle and mild detergent if they’re unlined); otherwise, they can be hand-washed and -rinsed in the bathtub with cool water and mild detergent. If your curtains or drapes can go in the dryer, follow any instructions on the tags about heat settings, and remove them while still slightly damp and hang dry to finish. If the dryer isn’t an option, simply let them hang to dry.
Sheers
As always, check for care instructions on the tags and follow them. Gently remove dust as you did with your curtains or drapes. Most sheer curtains today are made of cotton, nylon, or polyester and thus can go in your washer and dryer. If there are no instructions from the manufacturer to follow, wash them in warm water on a short, gentle cycle and tumble-dry on low. They should only need about fifteen or twenty minutes to feel dry to the touch. If you re-hang them as soon as they’re dry, you shouldn’t need to worry about wrinkles forming.
Valances and Swags
Some window treatments include valances or swags mounted on boards, and these usually aren’t easy to take down, but they sure get dusty and drab-looking! Using a step-stool, vacuum the flat top, back, and bottom of the boards with a brush attachment. Then pull the draped fabric taut and vacuum it in small sections. If you want, you can use a hand-held garment steamer or steam from an iron to liven up the fabric once the dust is all gone.
When your Austin home is clean, you’ll be happier and healthier, so don’t wait any longer to clean up your window treatments – get started today, or better yet, call It’s Cleaning Time and learn about how we can solve your cleaning dilemmas for you!
