How to Wash Window Coverings

Don't wait forever to wash your window coverings. Whether you use heavy draperies, light curtains or fabric mini blinds, dust and dust mites can be a problem. Standing dust or dirt gets blown around the room by heaters or general air movement, and dust from window coverings contributes greatly to a decrease in air quality. Avoid or relieve breathing-related health issues by washing your window coverings regularly.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Sort fabric curtains, drapes or blinds according to their cleaning methods. Group heavy or stiff fabrics together first, light or sheer fabrics second and specially textured or otherwise delicate items third.
2. Place sheer or knit drapes in wash bags before cleaning them to avoid pulled threads or tangles.
3. Wash lightweight cotton or synthetic curtains in cold water, in a washer that has plenty of room for them. Use regular or mild soap, such as Woolite.
4. Dry cloth window coverings on low or air-dry them. You will probably need to iron them as well.
5. Take your most delicate window coverings, or those with velvet, lace or embroidered fabric, to the dry cleaner.
6. Take heavy drapes, such as floor to ceiling or thick versions, to the dry cleaner. These window coverings are usually stiffened to hang smoothly, and the action of the washing machine will damage this type of cloth.
7. Wash fabric mini blinds with a damp cloth, unless a care label specifies, "dry clean only." Dust them in between washings with microfiber cloths or a vacuum.
8. Leave fabric mini blinds open until they are completely dry. You might place a fan on them to speed up the process.

Tips & Warnings

• If you don't want to do it yourself, take your cloth window coverings to the dry cleaner and your mini blinds to a service that cleans blinds ultrasonically. Some dry cleaners perform both jobs or can give you referrals.
• If curtains are heavily soiled, simply run the washer cycle twice instead of raising the temperature or using more soap.
• Some fabrics can only be washed by dry cleaning. Check your care labels.
• Dust wooden blinds or shutters instead of washing them.
• Do not attempt to stuff large or heavy draperies into a home washing machine. You may ruin both the draperies and the machine.
• Don't submerge very heavy fabrics, such as canvas.