Draperies in Distress: A Guide to Professional Drapery Cleaning

Drapes are essential pieces of every house and business. They provide insulation and privacy while enhancing the appearance of your spaces. However, you usually don’t remember them until you casually pass them and smell the dust. That’s where you think: “Maybe it’s time for some drapery cleaning.”

Most people think of simply putting the drapes in the washing machine and leaving them there. However, due to their length and size, most drapes and curtains don’t fit into the washing machine, especially commercial ones that are sometimes made of plastic or enhanced with fire retardant features that increase their weight. Hence, you may think going to the laundromat will match a professional service, but this is not close to the actual professional cleaning.

Drapers and curtains are made from a dozen different fabrics, and not all are suitable for washing machines. Large amounts of water and abrasive detergents may damage them. Even if they ended intact, the washing machine will probably shrink them, and you may have difficulty drying them to remove the shrinks. Thus, getting a professional cleaning company to clean your draperies will ensure they’re always dandy while saving you the hassle.

How do cleaning and restoration companies take care of your drapers?

The first thing professionals will do is determine the fabric of your drapery to choose the best cleaning method and ensure it remains safe and sound. Professionals typically use three methods for drapery cleaning depending on the fabric: dry cleaning, hot water, and steam cleaning.

1. Steam cleaning

Deep cleaning services usually use steamers to clean curtains that are too heavy to take down, such as damask, velvet, or silk. These curtains are cleaned on-site. Professionals use a steamer and start from top to bottom, ensuring they maintain it at the appropriate distance to prevent excessive moisture from damaging the fabric. Likewise, these experts wear protective clothing to avoid burns.

A professional tile and grout cleaning company will also remove harmful bacteria that can cause wear and tear over time, extending the lifespan of your floor and other surface tiles and preventing costly replacements. This is especially important for business owners, as re-flooring may take days to complete, leading to operations closing or delays while the job is done.

2. Hot water extraction

This cleaning method is ideal for drapes that resist large amounts of water without issues, such as cotton, nylon, polyester, and other synthetic fibers, removing dust and dirt while caring for the fabric conditions. Experts will use professional cleaning solutions with hot water to remove stubborn stains and dirt build-up. However, it requires more time to allow the drape to dry thoroughly.

3. Dry cleaning

Most drapes only allow for dry cleaning to remove the odor, soil, pollen, smoke, and dust and prevent shrinks caused by washing machines or poorly done steamings. Dry-drapery cleaning involves injecting a special solvent into the fabric under pressure and then extracting it. If there are water bone stains, they will mix water and soap with the solvent.

Professionals usually use a synthetic hydrocarbon solvent, which is non-flammable, to prevent accidents. However, this solvent cannot be used on fabrics and dyes prone to fade or bleed. Cleaning and restoration companies use a gentler solvent when your drapes are prone to these issues.

Using these methods, a professional cleaning company will ensure your curtains are spotless and last for years without fading, unraveling, or shrinking.

What can you expect from a professional cleaning company for draperies?

As we mentioned above, the process of drapery professional cleaning is more complex than simply putting all your drapes and curtains in the washer. The process begins with a thorough inspection to ensure fabric safety during cleaning while removing all debris, dust, and pet dander in your drapes. It also involves several other steps to guarantee your satisfaction.

1. Initial Inspection

Cleaning and restoration companies will asses the fabric type, the dirt extent, particularly stubborn stains such as oils or blood, and if there are any, like water damage, wear, or fabric fading, to determine the best cleaning method, equipment, and products to use on them.

2. Pretreatment

Most professionals pre-treat drapes and curtains before cleaning them to break down dirt, allergens, and stains, making the subsequent cleaning more effective and less tiresome.

3. Cleaning

As seen above, drapery cleaning will vary depending on the fabric. Professional cleaners will use dry, hot water, or steam cleaning to clean the drapes and prevent color fading, shrinkage, or other damage.

4. Pressing

Once your drapes are clean, professional cleaning services will press and steam them to remove any shrinkage that may have occurred during the cleaning, restoring them to their original shape. This process ensures your drapes are polished and drape well once you rehang them.

5. Final Inspection

After pressing, a professional cleaning company will inspect your drapes to ensure they are free of shrinkage, stains, or damage. If everything is good, they’re ready for pick-up!

Why should you include your drapes in your professional deep-cleaning house routine?

Drapery cleaning may seem like a simple way to keep your home tidy, but it has several long-term benefits for your health and wallet. Hence, consider adding drapes to your cleaning routine.

Enhance the air quality in your property

Draperies and curtains act as filters for your home. They trap dust, pollen, and other allergens in the air and prevent you from inhaling them. As time passes, your drapes will accumulate dust and pollutants that can contaminate your indoor air and lead to respiratory affection. Hiring deep cleaning services to care for your drapes will ensure they’re free from these pollutants and contribute to a healthier environment.

Remove and prevent foul odors

Your drapes may absorb unpleasant odors from cooking, pets, and other sources, trapping them and eventually releasing them into your environment. You may try to mask these odors with air fresheners or scented candles, but this can worsen the smells as the particles mix and release other odors. Professional drape cleaning services will ensure your property always smells fresh and clean.

Prolong your drapes’ lifespan

Draperies, like any other belonging, are a significant investment; hence, you want them to last as long as possible. Regular drapery cleaning is necessary to prevent fabric deterioration due to sunlight, debris build-up, and constant handling. Professionals will ensure your drapes are cleaned thoughtfully while using methods that won’t damage the fabrics, guaranteeing they last their entire lifespan.

Saves you time

Cleaning draperies and curtains can be time-consuming, especially if the fabrics are unsuitable for washing machines. Even if your fabrics can go in the washing machine, drapes usually double their weight when wet. Thus, drying them will become tiring and consume time you could spend with your friends and family.

Delegating this part of your deep-cleaning house routine to professionals will free you up to enjoy and relax and guarantee that your drapes are well cared for.

Save your drapes and time with AquaSeekers’ Drapery Cleaning

Serving all of the Treasure Coast, FL, from Port Saint Lucie, Tradition, PSL; Saint Lucie West; Vero Beach, Saint Lucie County, Martin County, to the Indian River County, and Palm Beach County, the Aquaseekers crew has more than 9 years of experience in professional deep cleaning services for your home and business.

Our years of experience cleaning water and fire damage have provided us with unmatched professionalism and attention to detail to care for your drapery and curtains. We’ll ensure your drapes are like new again and continue providing you with privacy and insulation for years.

Call us (772) 800 7323