You’ve worked with a designer, had the most perfect custom drapes made for your home and they were precisely installed. They complement the room just as you imagined and you love them.

Now what? How can you keep them looking their best?

Properly maintained, custom drapes can last for 15 or 20 years. Since most people want to update the look of their homes before that much time has elapsed, you could say they last as long as the homeowner wants them to, but only if they are kept clean.

Drapes are vulnerable to dust and water. Dust collects everywhere over time and water makes it difficult to remove. If you were to leave your windows open during a rainstorm, for example, water will land on the drapes and sink the dust into the fabric. This leaves water stains.

How can you keep them looking beautiful? You might think that you’ll need to go through an arduous process of taking them down and having them dry cleaned every year, but this is not true. In fact, dry cleaning often ruins drapes by shrinking the fabric and leaving the lining peeking out at the bottom.

Custom drapes can’t be put in the washer either. They are not made to be washed with water.

The best way to keep them clean is actually much simpler than any of these methods. You don’t have to take them down. Just vacuum them with a soft brush once or twice a year. Depending on your windows, this may require a ladder, but it’s much simpler than trying to take them down. The vacuum will remove the dust that dulls the color and leave them looking new again.

What about the valances and cornices? These can also be vacuumed or you may be able to find a carpet cleaner who can steam clean a cornice.

Custom drapes are complicated to make and hang, but simple to keep clean. Contact us today and we’ll design the perfect drapes for your home.