Drapery Cleaning Instructions

General Instructions

In general, it is advisable to clean your draperies as seldom as possible. When it becomes necessary to clean them, however, professional dry cleaning is the preferred method. But, even with dry cleaning, you will want to find a cleaner that has some specialization and experience in cleaning drapes. In other words, find out if your dry cleaner actually performs the work themselves or outsources it to a third party.

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Home Remedies

Regular maintenance cleaning of your drapes is probably a good idea. While using a brush attachment on your vacuum, run it “lightly”up and down the folds of the drape to remove dust and particles. You can also “spot clean”most drapes with a damp soft cloth that has been wrung out. Do not use soap or detergent as is may leave staining around the spot.

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Chief Source of Damage to Drapes

Heat is the primary source of destruction for drapes. This is why lined drapes last two to three times longer than unlined drapes. The liner protects the facecloth from the damaging effects caused by intense ultraviolet sunlight. Heat, even in the cleaning process, can cause significant damage or shrinkage to drapes. Exposing drapes to temperatures less than 130 degrees is preferred when cleaning them.

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Questions For Dry Cleaners

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Fabric Types and Cleaning

The tighter the weave of the fabric, the more stable the material should be in cleaning. All cotton fabrics are generally not as stable as a mix or blend in terms of shrinkage. For example, cotton/polyester or cotton/rayon are good choices for stable (prone to minimal shrinkage) drapes.

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