You know to clean the towels, bedsheets and clothes regularly. What about your drapery and curtains? They can build us dirt and dust over time, which can create a bit of a health hazard.

To clean your drapery and curtains for the best indoor air quality, here are some tips.

Drapery Spot Test

Before you machine wash, hand wash or take your drapery to the cleaners, do a quick spot test. Take a small out-of-sight portion of the curtain and dip it into a bowl of water with a bit of liquid detergent. See if the drapery’s color bleeds or if it is compatible with the detergent.

Machine Wash

First, remove the drapery and shake them outside to get rid of as much of the dust as possible. As with clothes, machine wash the curtains based on the cleaning tag. Keep in mind that wool, cotton and sheer fabrics are not machine washable; they should be hand washed or taken to the cleaners.

If there is no tag, visit your local cleaners at London Cleaners, where we clean drapery and curtains. You should also take your curtains to the cleaners if there are stitched-in pleats or other decorations that can’t withstand machine washing.

For machine washing, only clean two panels at a time. Once the cycle is done, remove the curtains and hand them to air dry to prevent wrinkles or shrinking. Lay towels underneath the drapery to catch any dripping water.

Hand Washing

Like machine washing, remove the drapery and shake them outside. Fill a sink or tub with cold water. Add a little bit of liquid dish detergent. Place one panel at a time in the water.

Let it soak for about 10 minutes. Swirl the drapes in the water to remove any leftover debris. Drain the water and refill for the next panel. Don’t wring out the curtains, as this can damage it; instead, hang the drapery to air dry. Lay towels underneath to catch any dripping water.

Vacuum Touch Ups

Every week or two, you should do a quick vacuum touch up to help get rid of the dust. Lay the curtains flat on the floor. Make sure they are fully laid out so you can get any dust that is in hidden spots.

If possible, use the detachable upholstery brush from your vacuum. If not, lightly run the vacuum over the drapery.

Sun-damaged Drapery

Over time, drapery may become damaged due to constant sunlight. This can make the fabric more delicate and fragile. When machine washing, wash with the delicate cycle. For hand washing, be gentle and smooth with the curtains; lightly swirl them.