Everyone wants their window treatments to sit pretty, but sometimes we're afraid to approach our shades and drapes because of how complex they look to clean. Find a short guide here on how to clean and maintain shades and draperies.
How to Clean and Maintain Shades and Draperies
Cleaning and maintaining shades and draperies can range from being a trivial task to requiring meticulous attention to detail, depending on your window treatment type. While it's recommended to find specific supplier instructions or consult with professionals, there is a general approach to clean and maintain shades and draperies.
Find tips for each window treatment below.
Shades
Here's how to clean and maintain shades.
1. Wipe down each slat with a soft cloth or feather duster
Get a microfiber cloth or a feather duster, and wipe the downward-facing slats top-to-bottom and side-to-side. If the material is wood, apply light furniture polish to the fabric and address them again.
2. Turn the slats upward and dust/wipe them again
Once you've wiped down the downward-facing slats, turn them all upward and repeat the process.
3. Use a dryer sheet on the shades to help repel dust
Finalize the process using a dryer sheet over the shades to help keep dust away. Applying this sheet will make your job easier next time you want to clean and maintain these window treatments.
Draperies
Let's move on to the best approach for cleaning and maintaining draperies.
1. Determine the best cleaning approach through the drapery's composition
The core issue in cleaning and maintaining drapes is that they come in many different fabrics and compositions, which can dramatically change how you approach them. Specific materials will have varied washing instructions, and some will have intricate details for cleaning.
Determine the best way to clean and maintain your drapes by looking at the fabric composition, reviewing supplier recommendations, and proceeding in that direction.
2. Dust and vacuum both sides of the drapery
Despite the varied approach to cleaning draperies, you can maintain almost all by dusting and vacuuming. Ensure you run over the folds and creases to remove all dirt, grime, and debris from the window treatments.
3. Machine wash if possible, and spot clean the drapes
If the drapes are washable, detach them and follow supplier instructions for washing. You can apply some spot cleaner to remove the more stubborn blemishes, but ensure the fabric can handle the chemical before use!
Learn More About Cleaning and Maintaining Shades and Draperies
It's understandable if you're still unsure how to clean and maintain shades and draperies. If you'd like more specific information, contact Utah Valley Shutter & Shade Co. to speak to an expert about approaching your window treatments best.