Changing Your Draperies for Winter? Here’s the Best Way to Clean Them

As winter approaches, it is becoming more and more important to change your curtains and drapes and clean them.

Drapery is essential to any room’s decor and should be kept clean and free of dust. Most people don’t think about how to clean their drapes until they are visibly soiled. But, if you want to prolong the life of your drapery, it’s essential to clean them regularly.

You can use several methods to clean drapes, like hand washing or steaming. However, the best way to clean them is with dry cleaning. This is because dry cleaning can deal with all types of stains, including those that are difficult to remove.

Advantages of Using Dry Cleaning Services for Drapery

Dry cleaning is a great way to refresh your curtains and eliminate dirt built up over the months. Plus, it’s a lot easier than washing them by hand.

Dry cleaning services can also help preserve the drapes’ fabric, which is vital for maintaining quality. Curtains and drapes with pleats, swags, or other elaborate stitched-in ornaments should be dry cleaned.

While it is possible to clean drapes on your own, it’s often best to leave this task to the professionals. That is because they have the necessary equipment and experience to do the job quickly and efficiently. They will also be able to provide you with advice on how to care for your drapes in the future.

Fabrics for Dry Cleaning

You can dry-clean most fabrics used in drapes, but a few are better off with a dry cleaner. These include:

• Silk: Watermarks on silk are easy to spot and can be distracting. Silk is a natural fiber that can be affected by the washing and drying processes in a typical home.
• Linen: While unadorned linen should be fine in a regular wash, it may suffer from color bleeding or wrinkles. A professional dry cleaner can only clean lace and other delicate embellishments.
• Wool: Wool is a natural fiber that can shrink with high temperatures. Vigorous agitation of a washing machine and dryer can also have a negative effect on wool.
• Velvet: Only crushed velvet is washable in a washing machine. Washing machines and irons will ruin the thread piles of regular velvet, so avoid doing either.

How to Dry Clean Drapery

Here are steps you can take when dry-cleaning drapery:

Step 1: Take the Drapes Down and Vacuum If Necessary

When cleaning drapery, the first thing you should do is take them down. This will allow you to access all areas of the fabric and clean each crease or fold. Once they are down, use a vacuum attachment to remove any surface dirt or dust. If your drapes are dirty, you may need to spot-clean them with a mild detergent before vacuuming.

Step 2: Remove Hooks and Accessories

Before you take your drapery to the dry cleaners, remove all hooks and accessories. These items can damage the fabric during the dry-cleaning process. It may also get lost during the cleaning process. Removing all the accessories will help ensure that your drapery returns looking its best.

Step 3: Drop Off the Drapes (or Have Them Picked Up)

The next step is to bring the drapes to the dry cleaners. If the dry cleaners offer pick-up services, you can also opt for that. Be sure to tell the dry cleaner the type of fabric so they can use the appropriate cleaning method.

Step 4: Wait for the Drapes to Clean

The process of dry-cleaning curtains and drapes will vary, depending on the fabric, how dirty they are, and your specifications. Generally, the dry cleaner will pre-treat any spots or stains on your drapes. Then, they will put your drapes in a special machine that uses gentle chemicals and steam to clean them. If you opt for eco-friendly dry cleaning, they will use organic dry cleaning solutions and methods. They will then dry and fold the drapes.

Step 5: Pick Up the Clean Drapes

Once the drapes are clean, you can pick them up at the scheduled date and time. Alternatively, the dry cleaner will bring the clean drapes straight to you. If you are not home during the delivery, leave a note with specific instructions for the delivery person.

How to Find a Reputable Dry Cleaning Service

When choosing a dry cleaning service for your drapery, you have to consider various factors. You’ll want to ensure that the company is reputable and has experience cleaning delicate fabrics. You can do a few things to research a dry cleaning service before entrusting them with your expensive drapery.

First, ask around for recommendations from friends or family who have used dry cleaning services in the past. Look for online reviews if you don’t know anyone who has used a dry cleaning service. Once you’ve found a few potential companies, call them and ask for their services.

Be sure to ask about the process they use for cleaning drapery and whether or not they guarantee their work. You’ll want to ask about the process and type of solvents they use to avoid damaging your drapery.

You should also find out what turnaround time they typically have and if they provide door-to-door pick-up and delivery.

Finally, you’ll want to compare prices between different dry cleaners to find the most affordable option.

If you keep these things in mind, you’d be able to find a dry cleaning service that meets your needs. Once you do, sign up for membership service and take advantage of promos and discounts. That way, you can maximize your dry cleaning budget and not break the bank.

Best Way to Clean Draperies

In conclusion, dry cleaning is a great way to clean your drapes and curtains. With proper care, your drapes and curtains will last for many years. So don’t hesitate to dry clean your drapes and curtains when needed. It’s the best way to keep them looking their best.

Sources:

Curtain Cleaning with Dismantle & Installation Services

https://www.onsitedraperycleaner.com/how-to

https://www.shorescleaners.com/home-textiles/drapery-dry-cleaning

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