How to Clean Custom Curtains

Finally, you bought a custom curtain made of the most luxurious fabric on the market. It was a major investment and you plan to keep it for a long time. So how exactly do you maintain your new curtain so that it can last? And what should you do when stains happen? Here are some tips that may be helpful to you.

One of the reasons why you bought a custom window treatment is probably the fabric. Custom window treatments are simply made with better quality fabrics. Naturally, they are not something you can toss in the washing machine every now and then. In fact, you shouldn’t!

It may have been just fine to toss a storebought window treatment into the washing machine, but a custom window treatment should be treated differently. Just like you wouldn’t toss a tuxedo or silk ballgown into your washer and dryer, you shouldn’t do that with custom window treatments, either. Those window garments belong to a whole new pile of laundry. Custom window treatments should be dry-cleaned only, preferably at least once every year. In between dry cleaning, you can do plenty to maintain a window treatment. Let’s face it, window treatments hang on your window 24/7. They absorb moisture, dust and fumes that constantly circulate in your home.

Custom window treatments are quite easy to keep clean. All you need is a soft brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner. Using low suction, you should try to vacuum your window treatments at least once every two months. Remember, the more you wait, the more dirt the fabric absorbs and the harder it becomes to get it out. Instead of waiting for dirt to settle, think about adding cleaning your window treatments to your house cleaning routine.

When cleaning draperies, clean in between pleats and folds with vertical up and down strokes. Pay special attention to the bottom hem of draperies and the top of cornices as that is where most of the dirt tends to settle. Don’t forget to also clean the backside of your custom window treatment. Some clients have asked us whether vacuuming prevents sun-rotting of custom window treatments. Sun-rotting is usually not of great concern with custom curtains because they are lined for the most part. You will more than likely have replaced them long before they start to be affected by sun damage. Vacuuming, for the most part, is a preventive measure against dust or dirt that may settle in custom window coverings.

If you encounter a stain, try to stay away from those fancy products that claim to get stains out. They may work on some other fabrics, but we’ve found them to be too strong for window treatments. Some darken the fabric and others leave an oily residue. Instead, try some mild soap and water. Be gentle and rub the fabric minimally in a circular motion. It is better to have a small stain and fix it a little bit with some soap and water than use harsh cleaning materials and excessive rubbing to destroy the fabric (and in some cases, make the stain even bigger).
If you make a mistake in cleaning or the stain is too visible, you can always try to buy fabric paint and use it to fill in little spots to hide the stain.

Use your judgment and see what works best for your particular fabric and window treatment. If in doubt, there are always local dry cleaning professionals who clean fabrics on a daily basis to give you great advice.