Drapery Cleaning: Keep the Dust Out

Drapery Cleaning: Keep the Dust Out

Drapery completes any room with that final layer of elegance. Good drapes can bring life to a room with the perfect amount of sunlight exposure and interior décor. Drapes can also be a magnet for household dust, a major problem coming into the summer season. Here are some tips for cleaning your drapes and removing unwanted dust.

First thing you need to do with drapery is to check the tags and labels. Most fine drapes are custom made and never have a care label; this is almost always an indicator that they need to be dry cleaned only. These, and drapes with labels that indicate to only dry clean, will shrink or damage if you attempt to personally clean them in any way outside of a light vacuuming. Never wash your drapes if:

• They are not labeled as washable – The drapery fabric and the lining both need to taken into account here
• The fabric is damaged in any way, including color fading
• If you suspect that anything on the drapes are not color-fast, as they may bleed their colors
• The drapery’s tag indicates it is dry clean only

For that fine drapery you want to preserve, call on Arthur Copeland Cleansers. We work onsite in your home or place of business, cleaning each drapery as it needs and guaranteeing its cleanliness and preservation. Our professionals are fast, knowledgeable, and courteous!

For drapes that do allow home cleaning, the following may be used:

• Hand-held Vacuum
• Washer and Dryer
• Lint roller
• Upholstery Cleaning Agent
• Clean sponge or cloth
• Steamer

First, vacuum every surface with your hand held vacuum to ensure you remove as much dust as possible. Dust loves to live in the folds of drapes, so spread the fabric out as much as possible to cover every area of the drapes.

If the drapery indicates it is machine washable, carefully remove from its hooks and rod, taking off any detachable piece from the drapes and cleaning those by hand (if at all). Wash the drapes as indicated on their tag, and dry on low heat (or as indicated). Some drapery needs to be air dried, so be sure to read the tags carefully!

If the drapery indicates it must be hand washed, use an appropriate upholstery cleaning agent and apply with your sponge or cloth. TEST A SMALL AREA FIRST to avoid any color fading or damage to your fabric. If the fabric needs to be washed with water and soap, use the same process as with the cleaning agent by testing an area with your cloth or sponge. Let the test area dry before washing the entire drape. Clean your drapery while it is still hanging up, using a sturdy step stool to reach high areas, if needed. Steamer your drapery and allow airflow to dry it before performing one final vacuum to remove any dust or debris left behind.