How to Clean and Maintain Your Drapes
This article is based on an interview with drapery and blinds expert Vanessa Zawadsky. As the owner of Fresh Design in Vancouver, Vanessa has been helping people elevate their homes with beautiful custom drapery for over 25 years.
In this article, we will provide expert advice and practical tips on how to clean drapes effectively.
Table of Contents
How do you clean drapes?
When considering how to clean drapes, there are only two ways: spot cleaning and dry cleaning.
All drapery is dry-clean only. You can’t throw drapery in the washing machine because of the clips and hooks at the top of the drapery. Even if you took all those hooks out and tried to put them back, you’d never get them in the right spots.
People think they can do it, but it’s a bad idea. Washing drapery with water may change the height of the drapes. Essentially, you will no longer have perfect drapery if you try to wash them in a machine.
Treat your drapery the same way you would treat a $5000 designer dress.
We usually recommend that you avoid cleaning your drapery for five years because the cleaning process is disruptive, and there’s no need to do it frequently.
You can steam them and keep them looking good as long as possible without using chemicals.
Can drapes be washed in a machine?
There’s a lot of incorrect information online about cleaning drapes.
People often say that you can simply wash your drapes in cold water with a mild detergent. However, this is quite risky.
First, many of the fabrics used in drapery are dry clean only. If you were to wash a dry-clean only wool jacket in your washing machine, it would not look the same afterward. Even if you used mild detergent and put the machine on a gentle or delicate cycle, you’d still ruin your jacket.
It’s the same with drapery.
If the fabric is dry-clean only, then it cannot be washed in a machine.
Next, if you happen to have drapery made from fabric that could conceivably be machine-washed, you have to remember that part of having your drapes look perfect is that they are custom-tailored to be the perfect height for the space. You risk shrinking your drapery if you machine wash them like you would curtains. Remember, curtains and drapes are not the same.
If you’ve invested thousands of dollars in drapery, it doesn’t make sense to try and save money by washing them in a machine. To avoid common mistakes, follow expert advice on how to clean drapes properly.
Are chemicals used in dry cleaning drapery?
Dry cleaning uses chemicals, and you can't guarantee that drapery won't shrink slightly.
You just don't know what will happen at the dry cleaner. That's why we recommend cleaning your drapery infrequently and waiting five years before you clean it.
How do you clean drapes without taking them down? Is steaming the answer?
Steaming and spot cleaning are the best ways to clean drapes without taking them down.
The best way to care for your draperies is to pick a durable and washable fabric from the beginning. Spot clean and steam them, and never take them down.
What kind of steamer should you buy for drapes?
You can buy a handheld steamer for steaming your drapes. Any handheld steamer is fine for drapes.
Are there any tips to make steaming faster?
We use a towel underneath the steamer so it doesn't drip on the floor.
Run the steamer along the drapes from top to bottom. Steaming can stretch the fabric a bit, so be very careful. It's not quick; you have to be slow and careful. But you'll see your drapery transform as the wrinkles come out, and they freshen up with the steam. Steaming is the ultimate tool for drapery. You just have to be patient when steaming your drapes.
Should you steam drapes frequently?
At Fresh Design, when we install the drapes, we steam them on-site.
That's part of our white glove service. We steam them perfectly so they hang nicely. If you really want your drapes to be perfect all the time, you might steam them every couple of months.
We also dress the drapery when we install them.
What is dressing drapery?
Dressing drapery means stacking them back, tying them at the bottom, and steaming them to make everything perfect.
By dressing the drapes, you are essentially retraining them to hang perfectly. When drapes are made in the workroom, they are trained to hang straight, and the process of dressing them helps maintain this alignment.
Drapes, being an organic material, hold their shape, with the weave conforming over time.
If you ever take a tour of the Palace of Versailles, you'll hear the guide mention that a staff member was specifically employed to dress the drapes in all the rooms because they were constantly being opened and closed. This person's only task was to dress the drapes and ensure they were perfect at all times.
Dressing the drapes at home involves stacking them back, tying them at the bottom, and steaming them. This process helps them hang perfectly.
What does tying drapery at the bottom do?
When you tie drapes at the bottom, you're training the drapery to hang perfectly.
When drapes are made in the workroom, they’re trained to hang straight. That's what you're doing when you dress them.
Is dressing drapes easy to do at home?
When you have drapery custom-tailored for your home, the draper installers should teach you how to dress the drapes.
At Fresh Design, we'll give you the tiebacks and show you how to steam and train them when you first get them.
When we install them, we tie them and steam them, and you're not supposed to open and close them for a week. People get frustrated because they want to use them right away, but the longer you keep them tied at the bottom, the nicer they'll hang.
How do you spot clean drapes without ruining them?
You need to know the cleaning instructions for your fabric.
Check what your drapes are made of and go from there. You don’t want to spot clean silk or linen. If it’s a washable fabric, you’re fine. You should get the cleaning instructions for your drapes when you purchase them.
In addition, if the drapery fabric is washable and you decide to spot-clean it, don’t soak it. When learning how to clean drapes, don’t wet the fabric beyond “slightly damp.”
Common Questions about Cleaning Drapery
Can I wash my drapery in cold water?
Washing drapery in cold water is still risky. You could shrink or damage the fabric. Drapery should be treated as dry-clean only.
If I can wash curtains, why can't I wash drapes?
Washing can cause drapes to shrink or lose their shape, as the heavy fabric and linings may react unpredictably to water and agitation. Dry cleaning helps maintain their original size and shape. Moreover, drapes can include intricate linings, pleats, and embellishments that can be damaged in a washing machine.
The construction of drapes is more complex, with features like hooks and weights that can be easily damaged. Thus, washing them is not a great idea.
Curtains, on the other hand, are typically lighter and simpler in construction. They are often made from materials that can withstand machine washing, and they generally don't have the additional structural elements that drapes do.
In addition, curtains are made from fabrics that are less prone to shrinkage and easier to iron or reshape if they shrink slightly.
Is vacuuming drapes okay, or will this damage my drapes?
Vacuuming drapes is a way to remove dust from the fabric without damaging them or taking them down. Put on an upholstery attachment and gently vacuum the drapes. Make sure the attachment head is clean before you do this. Also, test a small portion of the drapes first. Remove as much dust as you can before steaming your drapes.
Vacuuming drapes can be a good way to remove pet hair from the bottom of the drapery.
Vacuuming most drapery will be fine. However, if you have drapery made from a delicate fabric or a highly textured fabric, you should be careful.
How can I clean curtains?
If you have purchased curtains that are not made with a delicate fabric, it may be okay to wash them by hand or in the machine. However, you should always have custom drapery dry-cleaned.
If you are going to clean curtains, first check the washing instructions that came with the curtains and follow them to the letter.
For example, silk curtains often need to be dry cleaned. Even if you buy ready-made curtains, you may ruin them if you wash them in a machine or by hand.
Delicate fabrics often need extra care. Hand washing may be an option, but check the instructions provided by the curtains manufacturer before you do anything else!
If you haven't purchased machine-washable curtains, don't try to save money by washing them in the machine. If they get damaged, you may have to replace them, which will cost you more.
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