Daily care of lined draperies or drapery panels is simple. Give them a gentle shaking as they are drawn closed at night. This will prevent dust and dirt from lodging in the fibers. Every month or so, vacuum with a handheld vacuum and soft brush attachment using the lowest setting if your vacuum has one. Always make sure that trims, buttons, and other embellishments are secure before vacuuming.
Washing Draperies: Wash plain panel or simply constructed draperies only when they are labeled washable. Hand or machine wash window treatments may be laundered on the gentle cycle, using cool water and mild detergent. Be careful not to overload the washing machine. Tumble dry window treatments on the low or air setting, or line dry. Complete the cleaning process by ironing curtains on their reverse side. There are many reasons not to wash draperies however. For Example, if the drapery, lining or any trims and embellishments aren’t washable. . Or, if the drapery and lining are made of different fibers. In this case, one may shrink, causing the other to pucker and hang poorly. Also avoid laundering if sunlight has weakened the fabric, if the draperies are constructed with pleats, or if the draperies are too large for your washing machine.
Ironing Curtains
If necessary, iron on the reverse side. If seams have puckered, spritz lightly with plain water. Pull the seams to stretch back to size, taking care not to break the stitching. Re attach metal hardware only after the curtains are dry.
Caring for Lace
Remove dust from lace curtains by tumbling in the dryer on the air cycle. Many new lace curtains are hand or machine washable. Follow the label directions or gently wash in cool water. Use detergent made for fine washables. For extra body, dip freshly washed lace curtains in a light starch solution. For a soft look, re-hang the curtains without starching while they are slightly damp. If you use metal hooks, temporarily place a piece of tissue paper under each hook where it comes in to contact with the damp lace.
Caring for Sheers
Most sheers are washable synthetics; unless the label states otherwise, wash in the same manner as lace curtains. Dry-clean organdy sheers, which are fragile and prone to sun damage.