Home · Cleaning · Curtain cleaning · Best practice
Curtain careThe short answer
Vacuum monthly with an upholstery head, blot spills rather than rubbing, keep the track clean, and air the room rather than spraying fabric fresheners.
Most of what keeps a curtain looking right is done by the household, not by a contractor. It takes minutes a month and it doubles the interval between professional visits.
How it is done
- Vacuum top to bottom with an upholstery head, both faces and the hem
- Blot spills immediately with a clean white cloth; never rub
- Wipe the track and the rings, which shed dark grease onto the heading
- Air the room instead of spraying fragrance onto fabric, which attracts soil
Why it matters
Fabric fresheners are the commonest self-inflicted problem we see. The scent leaves and the residue stays, and the residue is what the next month's dust sticks to.
questions
Asked about this
On robust, unlined cotton or polyester, carefully and with a moving head, yes. On silk, blackout or interlined curtains, please do not.
Blot with a dry white cloth, then a barely damp one, working inwards. Then stop, and tell us what it was. Half of stain removal is knowing what caused it.
references
Background reading
- Housekeeping — Wikipedia
- Stain removal — Wikipedia