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What Is The Best Way To Clean Curtains?
What Is The Best Way To Clean Curtains?
Curtains can be cleaned in a variety of ways depending on their material and their current state. Certain methods require you to dismantle the curtains and have them sent for washing or dry cleaning. On the other hand, other methods can be performed while the curtains remain hanging from your wall. This includes vacuuming, dusting and steaming.
The Importance of Cleaning Your Curtains
Curtains are an integral part of your home’s interior design. They offer an extra canvas for design while also giving a layered effect to your windows. As such, they can often be a focal point for interior design within a room. However, due to their volume and positioning, they are a prime target for accumulation of dirt and dust. When dirt sticks onto your curtains, they will start to look dingy.
Depending on your curtain’s fabric, you will likely find a sizable amount of dust or dirt on it upon inspection if you have not performed regular cleaning. In fact, even if you do dust off your curtain at irregular intervals, the dirt may have penetrated into the base strains. This means that though they are not visible, the dust and dirt will swirl around your room each time the curtain is open or closed.
Additionally, in darker and more moist environments, it is not uncommon to find mould or mildew growing on curtains that have been left hanging without care for a long time. The problem is amplified for people with allergies.
General Curtain Cleaning
While different curtain materials require different washing techniques, simple brushing and general maintenance can be applied to all curtains.
On a weekly basis, before you clean your room’s floor, take time to give the curtains a good shake to dislodge any dust or dirt. Once the dust has settled, you can began to vacuum the floor.
On a monthly basis, use your vacuum with a dust brush attachment to clean all areas of your curtains. Ideally, your vacuum should be mobile and lightweight as you may need to manoeuvre it in order to reach the top of the curtain.
What Material is your Curtain Made of?
Different curtain materials require different cleaning methods. Failure to adhere to recommended practices could result in significant damage to your curtain. If in doubt, you can refer to the maintenance cleaning instructions that were provided when you purchased your curtains.
Alternatively, if you have lost the instructions and are unable to locate any maintenance tag, then consider sending them to a professional curtain cleaning Singapore company. You may request for an identification of the material and attain cleaning instructions for the future.
Garment Fabric Curtains
Garment fabric curtains are a common material of home curtains. Follow these steps to clean them:
- Remove any hardware from the setup
- Take the curtains outdoor and shake any dust off them
- Dust the curtain to remove any outstanding dust or dirt
- Machine wash the curtain on a delicate cycle using a cold setting
- Dry the curtain on a low-heat setting
- Remove the curtain from the dryer as soon as the cycle is complete in order to prevent wrinkles from forming
- Rehang the curtain
Sheer Fabric or Lace Curtains
Sheer fabric and lace curtains are known for their lightweight material. While excellent for avoiding heat trapping in your room, the fabric is prone to wrinkling and snagging when it is wet. As such, a different set of cleaning steps needs to be taken:
- Dislodge curtain and have it dusted outside
- Wash the curtain one panel at a time in a sink filled with cold soapy water for 10 minutes
- Swirl the curtain to loosen any deep rooted debris
- Drain the sink and refill it with cold water
- Swirl the curtain again to remove soap residue
- Allow the curtain to drip dry while hung
Acrylic Bead or Shell Curtains
Acrylic bead and shell curtains pose a different cleaning challenge as opposed to the previous two categories. If you were to attempt to take them done, there is a high chance that they will become tangled. As such, it is recommended that they be cleaned while remaining hung on the rod.
- Start by hanging a bed sheet behind it. For security, you can fasten it to the curtain rod.
- Lay towels or rags on the floor beneath the curtain
- Use a spray bottle with warm water and liquid dish detergent to spray all areas of the curtain
- Wipe the curtain with a damp white cotton cloth
- Lightly rub against soiled areas as you find them
- Allow the curtain to dry while you remove the bed sheet
Velvet Curtains
Velvet curtains are luxurious and stylish but trap more dust than other materials. For cleaning, some can be machine washed while others can only be dry cleaned. As such, you must check the manufacture’s label or consult a professional curtain dry cleaning Singapore company.
A quick test that you can perform is to dab a hidden area of the curtain with a damp white washcloth. If the curtain’s dye gets transferred to the cloth, then the curtain must not be washed at all cost. Instead, you must take them to a dry cleaner.
If the curtains are colourfast (colour does not run when wet) then you can wash the curtains on a delicate cycle using cold water and half the routine amount of detergent. Once washing is complete, the curtains should be laid flat on a cotton sheet to dry. Do note that you should avoid using a dryer for velvet curtains.
Other Cleaning Methods for Your Curtain
Three other alternative steps can be taken by you depending on your curtain’s manufacturing label information. This includes steaming, deodorising and allowing the curtain to breathe.
Using the Power of Steam
Steaming allows you to wash a curtain effectively without having to remove it from its rod. It is especially effective against greasy fabrics or unsightly stains. Using a powerful handheld steam cleaner could spare you the time and effort needed to dislodge and rehang your curtains. Steamers work best when applied to curtains that are thick and made from natural fibres.
To steam your curtains, gentle vertical strokes with the steam cleaner on the most gentle setting should be made. This allows penetration of the fibres without drenching them. Avoid making your curtains overly damp as this could lead to the growth of mould later.
Deodorise Your Curtains
If your curtain has any remaining odours after steaming, you can consider applying an upholstery deodoriser. Commonly found in spray form, these deodorants allow you to make the curtains smell fresh and clean.
Give Your Curtains the Chance to Breathe
Other than using deodorants, you should allow your curtains to breathe on a regular basis during the week. This helps to prevent any build-up of odours or mould.
Trust Chemdry To Effectively Clean Your Curtains
ChemDry is a curtain cleaning specialist with over 40 years of experience offering quality curtain cleaning services in Singapore. We offer both onsite and offsite curtain cleaning solutions. All our services ensure that your curtain is returned to you in prime condition with no damages. Additionally, we perform any necessary removal and rehanging of the curtains, thus giving you a truly hassle-free experience.