One of the most common questions customers ask when purchasing fabric shades and curtains, is what is the best and easiest way to take care of them so they stay fresh and new to stand the test of time? While fabric products may require a little more attention than vinyl or faux wood blinds might, with a few important tips and some guidance under your belt, we’ll make you an expert in no time.

Key Tips

For starters, there are some key tips you need to know that apply to fabric shades and curtains across the board. When dusting or vacuuming shades and curtains, always make sure you clean both sides so that all the dust is gathered at once. In the case of curtains, dirt seems to gather most in the upper area near any creases, pleats, valances, etc., so keep an extra eye on these sections to make sure they are cleaned thoroughly.

Whenever you conduct a thorough clean, check your fabric shades or curtains to ensure that everything is in working order, and that there are no loose threads, tears, or spots you need to attend to. If you do find a spot, always take care of it at once, no matter how small the area may seem. Avoid using harsh chemicals like detergents or spot removers that can damage the fabric and reduce the longevity of your window treatments.

Cellular/Honeycomb Shades

Taking care of any of our Cellular/Honeycomb Shades is simple and will require just a few moments out of your day. You can remove dust from the fabric with a lightweight feather duster or vacuum attachment on a low setting. If you want to dust inside the honeycomb cells, you can take a hair dryer, put it on the lowest setting, and blow the dust out from one end out the other.

You may use a sponge and warm water to gently remove spots in the fabric, but it is not advised to use dry cleaning or ultrasonic cleaning to get rid of imperfections. If you are cleaning or dusting blackout fabrics, take special care so that the fabric does not become creased.

Roman Shades

For our Cordless Roman Shades or Cordless Magnetic Roman Shades, you can gently dust and vacuum as you would for the Cellular/Honeycomb Shades described above. To wash them, you will need to disengage the dowels from the shades and wash according to product instructions. Let them hang dry so they retain their size and do not shrink. Finally, press out any wrinkles, restring the dowels in the shades, and hang them up again.

Solar and Roller Shades

Solar shades tend to gather dust and dirt faster, as they are used both indoors and outdoors. For our Cordless Roller Shades or Beaded Chain Roller Shades, start by cleaning them with a feather duster or a lightweight upholstery vacuum attachment on the low setting. Use a mildly damp cloth to clean any additional spots or dust, but do not wash the entire shade. Always let your fabric shades dry completely before you raise them again.

Curtains

The first steps to cleaning our Curtain products is simple, start by examining to see how delicate the curtain's fabric is. Determine whether any dust on the fabric can be removed with a simple use of a vacuum (handheld vacuums works the best) or decide whether the fabric requires a good soapy wash. A good rule of thumb to remember is that lighter fabrics should be hand washed while heavier fabrics can be machined washed or steam cleaned to remove smells and odors.

• Very light and delicate fabrics should be hand washed with a few drops of a mild color safe detergent (or you could even use liquid hand soap or baby shampoo) to wash the fabric to reduce the risk of shrinkage and damage.
• Standard curtains or curtains with medium thickness can be washed in a washing machine with normal laundry detergent and make sure to have it on the delicate cycle otherwise, just choose a cool wash with a slow spin.
• And for the easiest way to clean heavier curtains, I would recommend using a steam cleaner with an upholstery tip attachment connected to it. Start at the top of the curtain and work downward. If the fabric starts to become somewhat wet, hold the steam cleaner slightly further away from the curtain for better results. Please do remember to read the steam cleaner's instruction manual beforehand and remember to always be careful when using a steam cleaner because the hot steam can cause serious burns to your skin.

Lastly, the final step would be to let your curtains dry. The best way to dry your curtains is to hang them outside, out of direct sunlight and in a breezy location if possible. And added bonus for letting your curtains hang dry is that all the creases will naturally fall out, making your curtains like new again. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.