Drapes are one of the prominent window fixtures of a building. They are multitaskers. Along with being perfect interior decoration pieces that give the room a stylish look, drapes act as a shield against the outside light, cold and heat and also protect the privacy of the room from unwanted prowlers. But with so many benefits, comes the problem of drape cleaning which is sometimes hard to tackle as the owners do not have much knowledge about it. It has been noted that the drapes start to look dull and worn out due to dust deposition and many drape sellers fool the owners to replace the drapes instead of advising drape cleaning, to gain more profit. So, here is a simple and DIY walkthrough of the complete drape cleaning process so that the next time you feel your drapes seem to be worn out, you can simply clean off the dust and find them to be as good as new.

Before you start the process of drape cleaning, take into consideration the fabric type of your drapes, the colour fastness of the yes and the type of the weave. Drapes can be made from natural fabrics like cotton, linen, silk, and wool or synthetic fibres like polyester, nylon and blends. Not all can be simply machine or hand washed. Some can be laundered, while some need to be dry-cleaned professionally. The drape lining also can have specific washing instructions. So, before you go ahead, check the manufacturer’s label for washing instructions and follow them. The weave of the drape fabric also plays an important part in determining the washing style. For example, pleated drapes should not be laundered. Also, some drapes are treated with sizing, water repellents, flame retardant to maintain crispness and avoid stains from spills. All these chemical coatings can get damaged easily during home laundering. Thus, in such cases, you have no option other than calling the professionals to do the drape cleaning.

Here are a few tips to help you through the process of drape cleaning

• Remove the hooks before transporting or laundering the drapes: When you take down the drapes for cleaning, it is essential that you remove the hooks from the drapery panels. The hooks are sharp and can get caught in the drape fabric while drape cleaning and thereby damage the fabric. So, to avoid any damage while drape cleaning, ensure the hooks are securely removed as the risk is just not worth it.
• Vacuum the drapes regularly: Regular cleaning is the key to keeping the drapes clean is regular vacuuming. To blow off the dust, run the vacuum blower on a no heat cycle and then dust them with a vacuum brush attachment. Make sure you run the vacuum brush through all the folds and borders. The inner lining would need even more attention as more dust accumulates there. If there is a net-like structure in the weave of the fabric, there is an accumulation of small particles, mold, insects and dust in the gaps. This has to be thoroughly cleaned as all these accumulations are more noticeable in drapes.
• Remove stains as soon as you spot them: Ideally, drape should be cleaned and washed thoroughly once in a year. But waiting for a whole year to remove stains may lead to permanent damage to the drapes. Use spot cleaners advised by the manufacturers to clean spots and stains immediately. Also, make sure you do not use a spot remover chemical that is too strong or that is not advised by the manufacturer. This may damage the drape material. The safest way is to use a foam upholstery cleaner or a mild laundry or dishwashing detergent mixed with some warm water work on the stains gently.
• Steam the drapes regularly: The drapes may get wrinkled or ruffled with time. The best way to make them look pristine is to regularly steam clean the drapes. This can be done even without taking down the drapes. Before steaming, check the heat withstanding capabilities of the fabric. For first timers, it is safe to try it out on a small inconspicuous area. Also, after steaming, spread out the drapes to get rid of the dampness. Use a fan to speed it up.

With these tips, you are all set to keep your drapes looking like new even between your professional drape cleaning services.