Angie's LIST Guide to
Drapery & blind cleaning

It's often overlooked. Drapes in any home can be the last thing you might identify as needed to be clean. Drapery can be aesthetically pleasing while still trapping an overwhelming amount of harmful pollutants in the home. The accumulation of dirt and dust can be quite significant in these window accessories. 

Eventually, the physical appearence will diminsh without proper cleaning. The color, texture and pattern of window treatments contribute to the decor of a room, as well as modulate light, heat and noise. Regularly cleaning drapes and curtains prolongs the life of fabrics and keeps colors from becoming dingy. The net-like structure of a fabric’s weave acts like a sieve that traps small particles, mold, insects and dust.
Spring and summer are notorious for bringing with them excessive amounts of dust and pollen, both of which readily cling to the blinds in your home. Clean your blinds well and avoid irritating allergic reactions throughout your house.

Cleaning reduces build-up of allergens like dust mites, animal hair and dander, which may offer some relief to those with allergies or asthma.

Drapery of all types tend to accumulate dust and other small particles of debris more noticeably than do other surfaces. This is largely due to the fact that drapes are located directly adjacent to windows and doors, where sunlight can reach it easily.

If drapes are touched often, natural oils in the skin can leave residue that builds up and attracts further dust. Without proper and regular cleaning, dusty and grimy blinds begin to look dull and discolored, detracting from the beauty of the window or door that they cover.

Vacuuming with a household unit is the best way to regularly clean drapery. Remove curtains, place them on a solid surface and vacuum thoroughly with an upholstery brush. A crevice tool can be used to reach into pleats and folds. Valances should also be vacuumed.

Professional cleaning services use equipment that surpasses the ability of home vacuums to clean drapes and upholstery. A trained professional will evaluate the fabric content and extent of soil in the drapes and recommend a cleaning program. Professional treatment may include using a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter machine to remove particles, steam-cleaning or using ultraviolet light to kill mold, fungus and other micro-organisms that may linger in the fabric of drapes.

To ensure safety of cleaning products in the home, consumers can use products listed by the DfE that are scientifically verified to be safer for the environment The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) of the Department of Health and Human Services provides information about chemicals in cleaning products and suggests safer alternatives, a partnership between the EPA, industry associations and environmental organizations, provides a directory of alternative cleaning product ingredients known to have less impact on health and the environment.