Draperies and curtains create a decorative shield against the sunlight and prying eyes. However, they can also collect a lot of dust. A stain on one spot can also render it unsightly. Even when your guests do not notice the effects of accumulated dust yet, you will feel it as a tickle in your nose and express it through a series of sneezes. Those with allergies will get the worst end of it.

So, You Probably Wonder: How Many Times Do You Need to Clean Them?

If you are cleaning your draperies and curtains yourself, you have to do so every 3 to 6 months. It does not sound so bad, right? However, the work can be arduous and time-consuming, considering how heavy draperies and curtains can be. Add the stains and the possible hidden allergens, and sometimes you don’t know what strategy to use.

How Does the Cleaning Get Professionally Done?

With professional cleaning, your draperies and curtains can get intensively cleaned. Not only do professional cleaners get rid of dust and surface stains, but they also get rid of possible health hazards without snagging the fabric. With professional cleaning, every 3 to 5 years should be fine.  This is a good thought if you want to decide between sending it to the cleaners or doing it yourself.

However, you should also think about other factors. If there are people with allergies, smokers, pets, and even those who have been recently sick, cleaning should be done more often.

Here Are Some Ways You Can Maintain Your Curtains and Draperies Like The Professionals

• Take them out and use a leaf blower to get rid of accumulated dust every few months
• For stains, use a spot treatment. If your fabric is not acetate, silk, or wool, then blot with a wet sponge and then dab with alcohol. Test first in an inconspicuous spot to make sure the colors are fast.
• For wrinkly fabrics, press using the tag’s instructions on the particular material. If you are not too sure, then you can use a cool iron or place a towel between the iron and the fabric. The latter is to be done to avoid direct contact with heat.
• Use a fabric freshener on a spot that people will not see to check if it will damage the fabric. If it turns out okay, then you can use the freshener to spray all over the material. This procedure is for emergency solutions, such as getting rid of the smell of smoke. There are some fresheners that also double as antivirus disinfectants.

Whatever you do, however, do not vacuum your draperies and curtains. Vacuuming can be very dangerous for your fabric. A thread can get snagged and unravel. You cannot do this even with the attachment.

Another thing that you should not do is to put in the washing machine or dryer. It may seem like a quick solution, but you would not want to see your fabric scattered everywhere. If all the do’s and don’ts above are impossible to consider at home, there is always the option of going for professional cleaning. There are options where they can come to your house and do the work there or take down the draperies and take them to their work place to do the job and then rehang them.