Are your fabric shades dirty and you don’t want to spend a lot of money getting them professionally cleaned? Luckily, you’ve come to the right place! At Royal Window Treatments, we understand the importance of consistent upkeep. You should never settle for dirt or grime getting the best of your charming shades. It’s important to keep your shades clean, not only for your mental health but for your physical health too since dust can be harmful, especially when it comes to allergy sufferers. Some fabrics may require minimal care, while others may need a deeper cleaning. How you clean your window treatments should depend on the style and type of fabric of your shades. You don’t have to pay a fortune to get your window treatments cleaned when you can clean them yourself! We’ve provided many tips for cleaning different types of fabric shades that we hope you’ll find useful. When purchasing new curtains, always consider the cleaning process. Choose Royal Window Treatments when looking for new curtains NYC. 

There are two types of shades; shades that are home washable and shades that need to be professionally cleaned. Some fabrics can be machine washed, while more delicate shades can be hand washed.  Very delicate fabrics may need to be dry cleaned. It’s important to determine how your shades should be cleaned to avoid ruining them. Cotton and linen can be washed in cool water in a delicate load if they are unlined, while polyester and nylon can either be washed in a machine or by hand. Steer clear of using strong detergents or spot cleaners because they can cause the color of your shades to fade and weaken fibers. Do not dry your shades in a dryer to prevent shrinkage. Instead, lay the drapery flat to preserve its appearance. Before washing, spot clean your shades by dusting or vacuuming them. Frequently dusting or vacuuming both sides of the shades or curtains is an efficient way to clean them from time to time. When vacuuming or dusting, spend extra time cleaning areas where dust tends to gather such as the top of the curtains, crevices, and pleats. After washing the shades, remember to check your drapes for torn stitching or any other damage that may have been caused and make repairs.  

In this blog post you will read methods for cleaning honeycomb shades and solar sun shades. To learn how to clean other types of fabric shades read Part 2: What Are Some Cleaning Tips for Fabric Shades? 

Honeycomb Shades

Honeycomb shades are multilayer designs that are shaped similarly to a hexagon. You should never get your honeycomb shades dry cleaned. 

What household items you’ll need to clean them:

• Duster or vacuum with an upholstery tool
• Sponge
• Soapy warm water
• Cloth 

When cleaning honeycomb shades, first dust or lightly vacuum them to remove all of the dirt, then use a sponge and soapy warm water to clean. When finished, blot dry using a cloth. If you have opaque or blackout shades take extra caution when cleaning, so you don’t permanently crease the shades.  

Solar Sun Shades

Solar shades regulate the amount of heat and light, while still remaining aesthetically pleasing. They are used both indoors and outdoors. Outdoor shades tend to get dirty more often and require frequent cleaning to stay spotless. 

What household items you’ll need to clean them:

• Duster or vacuum with an upholstery tool
• Sponge
• A mild detergent and warm water solution

To clean solar shades, first dust or vacuum them, gently apply a mild detergent and water solution, and then rinse them without immersing in water. Allow the shades to completely dry before rehanging them.