Today on the blog we’re sharing tips for cleaning and caring for your window treatments. Whether you have custom window treatments made from one of our hand-printed fabrics, hard window treatments such as blinds, or a ready-made fabric option, a little upkeep will keep them looking their absolute best! In the following article we'll provide an overview for cleaning soft, hard, and layered window treatments. 

 

Pictured above, our HUTAN fabric as Roman shades. Interior Design by Barrow Building Group. 

 

The Window Itself

Before you clean your window treatments, we recommend cleaning the window itself. A good tip to follow when cleaning your windows is to spray your glass cleaner directly into a cleaning cloth rather than spraying it onto your windows, which will protect your window treatments from receiving any residual spray. 

 

Pictured above, our TITIK fabric as a Roman shade. 

 

Soft Treatments

Soft window treatments made from fabric can be cared for in a few seconds every day. A good practice is to shake out sheers or drapes when you draw them close at night. This prevents a build-up of dirt and dust that would later become a larger problem. In addition to this daily practice, sheers, drapes, and other soft window treatments should be delicately cleaned with a hand-held steamer or vacuum once a month. The best way to ensure your soft treatments do not get damaged by the vacuum is to use a soft brush attachment and vacuum the window treatment on the lowest setting. Make sure to never place the brush directly onto your soft window treatment! And always clean your vacuum prior to using it to prevent any buildup from staining the fabric.

 

Pictured above, our BRIDGE fabric as Roman shades. Interior Design by Living With Lolo. 

 

Hard Treatments 

Proper cleaning practices associated with hard window treatments are slightly different than those associated with soft window treatments. To clean shutters, blinds, and other hard window treatments homeowners should first wipe the surfaces with a dryer sheet to repel dust. After, a damp cloth can be used along with a mild soap to gently clean the window treatments. Chemical solvents should never be placed onto any window treatment as they could discolor or damage the treatment. 

 

Layered Treatments 

Layered window treatments often incorporate a soft window treatment which lays over or around a hard window treatment. Therefore, the cleaning process associated with layered window treatments combines all of the elements from the processes associated with soft and hard window treatment cleaning. First, clean the window, then wipe the hard treatments with a dryer sheet and clean with a damp cloth. Follow this up by cleaning the soft window treatments as outlined above.

Pictured above, our BRIDGE fabric as Roman shades. Interior Design by Living With Lolo. 

 

 

Proper Care & Maintenance

Caring for and cleaning your window treatments may seem time-consuming or intimidating, but we promise it’s not. Plus, this cleaning process can increase the lifespan of your soft, hard, and layered window treatments. And after doing it a few times, it will become second nature to shake out, steam, wipe down as part of your cleaning routine. Draperies made out of our fabrics by the yard are best cared for by following the soft window treatment procedure.

 

 

Pictured above, our TITIK fabric as a Roman shade. 

 

To see more images of our fabrics as draperies, please follow us on Instagram at @cctextiles. To shop our fabrics by-the-yard, pillows, or wallpapers, click here.

 

 

About the author: Matt Lee is the owner of the Innovative Building Materials blog and a content writer for the building materials industry. He is focused on helping fellow homeowners, contractors, and architects discover materials and methods of construction that save money, improve energy efficiency, and increase property value.