Curtain Care Guide

Buying curtains made with high quality fabrics gives any interior the elegant look you demand. So caring for these curtains must be done with their specific requirements in mind, or your curtains will be irreparably ruined, and thus no longer suitable for your living space.

The first question is, what material are the curtains made of? While the first rule of thumb is to follow the cleaning instructions provided, there may be additional issues. For instance, while cotton can be machine washed, it can still require frequent ironing. However, if you had your curtains treated with a wrinkle resistant finish, they will not only require less ironing, but will be much more resilient overall. If your curtains are made from linen, they might be machine washable, but if the company that made them recommends dry cleaning instead, you would be better advised to have them cleaned that way.Wool curtains can be washed, but should still be dry cleaned once a season. If soiled, they need to be washed immediately, but can still be hung dry at room temperature, which will also bring out the wrinkles. Your professional curtain cleaners will know this. They will also know that, when ironing wool curtains, not to iron them totally dry. Additionally, they will be aware that it is better to iron on the back of the material, or to use a “press cloth” if they must iron on the right side. Otherwise, the fabric will get a distasteful shine. While ironing, they will place brown paper or even tissue under the folds to prevent imprinting any inside detail.

It would seem obvious that such care should be taken of your curtains; however, you may want to speak with your professional curtain cleaners to see how they will actually do the cleaning, just to be sure. For instance, curtains are often not preshrunk. So if the company is reputable, they will ask you whether your curtains have been preshrunk, if they are to be washed, or if this is their first washing.

Using a professional curtain cleaning company will ensure that your curtains get the best treatment possible when they are cleaned. However, if you choose to clean them yourself, keep in mind that, in addition to usually not being preshrunk, they are often not color-guarded. They may also lose their shape, which means no more pleats. Additionally, water can damage some fabrics, like silk, or change their texture, thus ruining the way they hang.

Professional curtain cleaners can either take down the curtains and clean them at their facility, or clean them on-site. First they pre-vacuum dry dirt off. If cleaned on-site, they then either use drycleaning solvents, which are flammable and should not be inhaled, or steam clean the curtains, which is safer, but not an option for water-sensitive fabrics. Thus, it may be better to have them taken to the curtain cleaner’s facility. Taking them to your dry cleaners may be fine if you trust them, but solvents used on clothes are never guaranteed on curtains.

As with other home furnishings, curtains gather dust and dirt, even if not immediately visible. They also collect odors, and oil-based soils released into the air when cooking. Therefore, regular cleaning is advisable once a season, or at least once a year. Not only will this maintain their beauty, it will maintain a healthier interior environment, as well.

Thus, properly cleaning your fine curtains, with the specific needs of the fabric in mind, will ensure you can continue to proudly display them in your interior environment for years to come.

Fabric Care.