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| CARE AND CLEANING Check fabric manufacturers' instructions before cleaning. Unlined curtains and blinds may be washed, but shrinkage, fading and losing finish and body can all occur. Remove hooks and loosen tapes before washing. Man-made sheers fabrics need washing regularly to keep them. bright. Cotton muslins also need to be washed regularly, but they may shrink. Lined and interlined curtains and tops should not be washed. Vacuum, them regularly to remove dust and grime. Put gauze over the nozzle to stop excessive pulling to avoid threads being dislodged. DRY CLEANING Some cleaners will take the curtains and pelmets down and also re-hang them after cleaning. Any brown water marks or sun fade will be more pronounced after the cleaning process. STAIN PROTECTION Curtains exposed to excessive dust and dirt should be coated with stain protector. It can either be applied before they are made up or simply sprayed onto the finished curtains. Specialist companies will apply stain protection for you if you prefer. FIRE PROOFING Curtains in commercial properties may need fire proofing. Buy treated fabric, or have it done professionally. |
REPAIRING CURTAINS Dust, direct sunlight and handling weakens curtain fabric. The leading edges are the areas usually most in need of repair. These can either be cut off and have a contrast leading edge sewn on in a new fabric, or if there is plenty of fullness, they can simply be turned in. You maybe able to swap them round so that the faded leading edges become the outside edges. Faded and weak linings can also be replaced. See Remaking Curtains p206 in The Encyclopaedia of curtains. Rare or valuable antique fabrics should be restored by specialist professionals. Always handle delicate fabrics with extreme care when making, hanging and cleaning. DYEING CURTAINS If curtains are still in good condition but have faded, or they no longer match your colour scheme, have then professionally dyed to give them a new lease of life. STORAGE Curtains are very bulky items, the only way to keep them safe before they are fitted is to hang them on temporary tracks or poles in the workroom. You can also lay them out on a spare bed. Cover with a clean sheet to keep them dust-free. Or carefully fold them lengthways, and pack in polythene. |
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