How do I care for curtains?

Curtains should be cleaned often, as they tend to accumulate a great deal of dust and dirt. While there are some risks involved in cleaning—like potential distortion, or discoloration—there is no excuse for neglecting your curtains or draperies. Improper care can lead to deterioration of the fabric itself. Here are some tips for curtain care and cleaning:

 

·        Take down your curtains and inspect the backside of the fabric. If the curtains are sun-rotted, it is better to shop for new curtains than try to clean them.

·        Simple, unlined, ready-made curtains should be washed or dry-cleaned following the manufacturer's instructions.

·        Custom-made curtains that have several layers of fabric and decorate trim should be thoroughly vacuumed at least once or twice a month. Carefully vacuum both the outside and the inside using a brush attachment, working from the top down.

·        Avoid dry cleaning curtains with many layers, because you cannot predict how each layer will react to the dry cleaning.

·        Dust falls right off shiny fabrics like silk or polished cotton with a simple shake.

·        Boil rusty curtain rings in vinegar to recover their shine.