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You’d be surprised how many people don’t regularly clean their curtains, window blinds or drapes. Sure, it’s not like you need to eat off of your curtains, but hygiene still needs to be a priority. Without regular cleaning, your window finishings can quickly collect dust and other nasties, whether you have venetian blinds, lace curtains or even drapes. You may not need to clean your curtains or blinds as much as your bed sheets, but window finishings still need attention.
Given the variety of window finishings and fabrics, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to cleaning. In saying that, depending on the type of window finishings you have, you may be able to avoid paying for a trip to the dry cleaner. In this guide, we’ll run you through how best to clean common curtains, drapes and window blinds. Along the way, we’ll answer your common questions, like can you clean curtains without taking them down? And what is the easiest way to clean fabric blinds? Here’s what we’ll cover:
Why you should regularly clean window furnishings
How often you should clean window finishings
How to clean venetian blinds and shutters
How to know when to replace window finishings
The range of window finishing at Briscoes
Let’s get cleaning!
It doesn’t matter whether you’ve got cheap curtains at home or top-of-the-line voile curtains, you should be regularly cleaning your window finishings. Just like if you never washed your bedding or carpet, ignoring the cleaning of your window finishing can contribute to curtains fading, staining or worse, attracting dust mites and mould. Here are common reasons to clean your window finishings regularly.
We’ll start with the obvious. One of the first things that will happen to curtains, drapes or window blinds without cleaning is dust accumulation. Dust doesn’t discriminate between your bedroom curtains or living room curtains and can be bad news for those with allergies or asthma. When you open or close dusty curtains or window blinds, you may be shaking dead skin cells, dust mites, pollen or even pieces of dead insects in the air. Yuck! Regular cleaning and care can help to eliminate dust from your furnishings.
Once dust and grime start to build up on your curtains and window blinds, the colours will appear to fade. Thankfully, your favourite pencil pleat curtains aren’t ruined; they’re probably just a bit dirty. Window finishings play a big part in the overall feel of a room, so you want them looking their best.
Mould. This five-letter word tends to send shivers down the spine. Thankfully, mould can often be avoided easily. There are different types of mould, none of which you want in the living areas of your home. Some types can lead to a range of health issues. Mould can show on your curtains and window blinds in a range of ways, including:
To add insult to injury, mould can also damage curtains over time.
Top tip: If you’re a landlord wanting to rent out a property, the home must first be free of mould, including your window finishings. There are some helpful tips online for dealing with mould in a general sense.
You won’t be able to blame the dog on this one. If you put off cleaning your curtains and drapes, it can lead to unfortunate musty smells. This odour can make it uncomfortable for you to spend time at home as well as for your guests.
This is one of the first questions when considering curtain or window blind maintenance. The answer will vary depending on the type of curtain or window blinds, whether thermal curtains, lace curtains or even Roman blinds. Generally, it’s recommended that you deep clean curtains every 3 to 6 months. Blinds should have a deep clean about once a month. It’s also best practice to vacuum or dust your curtains and blinds whenever you vacuum your floors.
Top tip: Blinds in a kitchen may need more regular cleaning given the extra grease and food splatter.
Although this will depend on the fabric or material of your window finishings, here are some handy cleaning products to have on hand. A lot of home cleaning products are conveniently available online or in-store at your nearest Briscoes.
Venetian blinds can sometimes be tricky to clean without bending the blades. A purpose-built Venetian blind duster makes it quick and easy to dust your Venetian blinds.
We’ve all had clothing that builds up annoying lint after going through the wash. Some window finishing, like velvet curtains, similarly attract lint. A Koopman wonder brush is helpful to remove it.
It’s a bit of a pain if you need to remove your curtains, drapes or blinds every time you dust them. Thankfully, a Raven duster perfect telescopic makes it easy to dust hard-to-reach areas.
Accidents happen. Sometimes, no matter how hard you try to prevent it, a nasty spot or stain can appear on your curtains or drapes. Depending on the fabric, De-solv-it sticky spot & stain remover can be a real help here.
Every time you vacuum the floor, it can be handy to vacuum your curtains and roller blinds simultaneously. A vacuum cleaner with a long hose or a dust buster can be useful to prevent you from needing to take your window finishings down.
Sometimes known as a clothes horse, you probably already use a clothes airer for drying clothes at home. These handy products can also help dry out window finishings, especially if you don’t have a washing line at home.
Top tip: In most cases, putting your curtains or drapes in the dryer is not recommended, as this can cause fabric to shrink, pleats to fall out or damage the fibres.
Now let’s get to the nitty-gritty. Before we start, it’s worth noting that the cleaning process may differ depending on your curtains' fabric. It’s also good to check if your curtains have specific cleaning instructions by looking at the care instructions on the label. If there are particular instructions, follow them in the first instance. Incorrectly cleaning your curtains can lead to unfortunate shrinkage and other damage. The label may even say that your curtains are only to be dry-cleaned.
The majority of curtains at Briscoes are polyester, so we’ll go over a step-by-step to deep clean these curtains.
First up, you’ll want to take down your curtains. Step 1 can be a delicate step depending on what you’re working with, whether eyelet curtains or pencil pleat curtains. Be careful when removing any hooks or rings. Remove any trim and store in a safe place while you’re cleaning.
Always work at height safely, ensuring to use a ladder or stable step stool to reach the top of your curtains to avoid falls.
It’s a good idea to make the most of your curtains being down. Now’s a handy chance to give your curtains a good dust, vacuum or lint roll.
Although some curtains and drapes are ok to be put in the washing machine on a gentle cycle, we think the best approach is hand washing. A more delicate process is the best way to avoid damaging embellishments or fabric. When washing curtains by hand, the easiest place is often in your bathtub or a large basin.
Use cold water and mild laundry soap without bleach or other brightening ingredients, and gently wash the curtain fabric. Then, you’ll want to rinse out the cleaning product or detergent. Ensure to rinse until the water runs clear and all suds have been removed.
If there are any noticeable stains leftover after you’ve given your curtains or drapes a wash, it can be good to apply a gentle stain remover. If you’re looking for a home remedy, a good option can be using equal parts vinegar and water.
Now you’ll want to hang your curtains out (or in) to dry. If the weather is good, hang your curtains on the washing line or clothes airer outside. If you can, dry your curtains out of direct sunlight to avoid discolouration.
Top tip: Wet curtains can be weighty. Try to wring out as much water as possible before hanging them out to dry. You don’t want to break your washing line!
If you’re curtains or drapes look a bit wrinkled after drying, it may be a good idea to go over them with a handheld steamer or steam iron. Be careful to avoid hot-water burns.
Now that you’re all finished, it’s time to hang your curtains back up. And there you have it, deep cleaned curtains.
As we’ve mentioned, always check if your curtains have specific cleaning instructions before attempting to clean them yourself. If for whatever reason, you can’t take down your curtains to deep clean, your best bet is to regularly vacuum and spot clean them.
When it comes to deep cleaning fabric roller blinds or Roman blinds, you want to approach the process with the same level of care as with curtains. Firstly, always check if there are specific cleaning instructions for your particular roller blinds. Always follow these recommendations in the first instance. Otherwise, follow these simple steps:
Depending on the fabric, your roller blinds may just need a good wipe-down with a damp cloth. Before putting your roller blinds back up, it’s vital to ensure they’re completely dry. Trapped moisture can lead to problems like mould.
There are several different techniques for cleaning venetian blinds or shutters. Similar to your curtains, you’ll want to dust your blinds and shutters in the first instance regularly. Always follow manufacturer instructions for your particular venetian blinds, Roman blinds or shutters first. Otherwise, follow these easy steps to clean:
If you can’t remove your venetian blinds or shutters, or they’re made of wood, simply wipe them down with a damp cloth and mild detergent.
Despite your best efforts, eventually, you will need to replace your window finishings. But how do you know when it’s time to replace your curtains, drapes or window blinds? Signs to look for include:
As well as that, if you’re renovating a room, you may want to replace your window finishings to fit your new decor.
Thankfully, Briscoes has a wide selection of leading window blind and curtain brands on offer. Our extensive range includes many different styles to suit your home, including:
To change your curtain rod or track, you can also browse our range of curtain accessories. If you’re looking for a more custom approach to your curtains, contact our custom curtain service.
In short, there’s no miracle cleaning method for all curtains and window blinds. However, if your particular window finishings don’t have manufacturer cleaning instructions, there are general steps to follow. If you’re looking to replace your current window finishings, whether living room curtains, bedroom curtains or roller blinds, we can help at Briscoes. Shop our selection online or at your nearest Briscoes branch. For more curtain advice, read our guide on how to measure curtains.
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