How To Clean Curtains, Blinds And Other Finishings

You’d be surprised how many people don’t regularly clean their curtains, window blinds or drapes. Sure, it’s not like you need to eat off of your curtains, but hygiene still needs to be a priority. Without regular cleaning, your window finishings can quickly collect dust and other nasties, whether you have venetian blinds, lace curtains or even drapes. You may not need to clean your curtains or blinds as much as your bed sheets, but window finishings still need attention. 

Given the variety of window finishings and fabrics, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to cleaning. In saying that, depending on the type of window finishings you have, you may be able to avoid paying for a trip to the dry cleaner. In this guide, we’ll run you through how best to clean common curtains, drapes and window blinds. Along the way, we’ll answer your common questions, like can you clean curtains without taking them down? And what is the easiest way to clean fabric blinds? Here’s what we’ll cover:

Why you should regularly clean window furnishings

How often you should clean window finishings

Recommended cleaning products

How to clean curtains

How to clean roller blinds

How to clean venetian blinds and shutters

How to know when to replace window finishings

The range of window finishing at Briscoes

Let’s get cleaning!

 

Why you should regularly clean window furnishings

It doesn’t matter whether you’ve got cheap curtains at home or top-of-the-line voile curtains, you should be regularly cleaning your window finishings. Just like if you never washed your bedding or carpet, ignoring the cleaning of your window finishing can contribute to curtains fading, staining or worse, attracting dust mites and mould. Here are common reasons to clean your window finishings regularly. 

To remove dust

We’ll start with the obvious. One of the first things that will happen to curtains, drapes or window blinds without cleaning is dust accumulation. Dust doesn’t discriminate between your bedroom curtains or living room curtains and can be bad news for those with allergies or asthma. When you open or close dusty curtains or window blinds, you may be shaking dead skin cells, dust mites, pollen or even pieces of dead insects in the air. Yuck! Regular cleaning and care can help to eliminate dust from your furnishings. 

So they look their best

Once dust and grime start to build up on your curtains and window blinds, the colours will appear to fade. Thankfully, your favourite pencil pleat curtains aren’t ruined; they’re probably just a bit dirty. Window finishings play a big part in the overall feel of a room, so you want them looking their best.

To prevent mould

Mould. This five-letter word tends to send shivers down the spine. Thankfully, mould can often be avoided easily. There are different types of mould, none of which you want in the living areas of your home. Some types can lead to a range of health issues. Mould can show on your curtains and window blinds in a range of ways, including:

• As a stain
• As a smudge 
• General discolouration
  

To add insult to injury, mould can also damage curtains over time. 

Top tip: If you’re a landlord wanting to rent out a property, the home must first be free of mould, including your window finishings. There are some helpful tips online for dealing with mould in a general sense. 

To avoid bad odours

You won’t be able to blame the dog on this one. If you put off cleaning your curtains and drapes, it can lead to unfortunate musty smells. This odour can make it uncomfortable for you to spend time at home as well as for your guests.