Curtains are highly absorbent and they’re affected by all the smells and contaminants in the environment around them. For instance, dust and dirt can gather on the curtains while the smell from cigarette smoke and even food can get embedded in the fibers. Therefore, regular curtain cleaning is important for keeping your curtains looking good as new. In fact, if you have light-colored curtains, the impact of smells and stains will be more prominent. To help you out, here’s a marvelous curtain cleaning guide:
Your Cleaning Options
There are multiple cleaning options when it comes to washing or cleaning your curtains. For instance, you can:
• Wash curtains in your washing machine. Put the curtains in the washer and set it on a delicate cycle. If you don’t have that option, opt for a cool wash and keep the spin slow. You can use any laundry detergent. Of course, if your curtains come with a ‘hand wash only’ warning on the tag, don’t put them in the machine. That being said, if you have light curtains made from a material that won’t shrink with water, you can opt for this technique.
• Steam clean your curtains. Fix the upholstery attachment on your steam cleaner and get to work. Make sure you go from top to bottom. In case the steam cleaning is causing the curtains to dampen, maintain some distance between the curtain and the steam cleaner. Do check the cleaning instructions. Also, wear safety gear to protect yourself from the heat. Steam cleaning is a perfect option for cleaning curtains that are heavy and made from a material that absorbs water.
• Wash the curtains by hand. This is considered the safest option, because you have more control, but it can be tedious. This is particularly useful if the curtain is made from a delicate material, while at the same time reducing the risk of shrinkage. However, hand washing heavy curtains can be a bad idea, because it will take a long time to dry them. You simply have to use any light soap or detergent.
Important Steps
• Clean your curtains on a regular basis
• Wash lightweight curtains in the washing machine
• Hand wash curtains made from delicate materials
• Steam clean curtains made from heavy materials
Drying Your Curtains After Cleaning
You should NEVER put wet curtains in the dryer, as it can lead to creases. The ideal option is to air dry your curtains, but don’t hang them under direct sunlight. Hanging out your curtains to dry is the best approach, as it prevents creases, and you simply have to iron them afterwards to make them look as good as new.
As you can see, carpet cleaning can be quite simple. If you put in some effort, you will be able to reduce hassle and time required for cleaning your carpets. However, if you feel this is too much work for you, you can always call in curtain cleaning professionals to handle the job while you sit back and relax.