4 Maintenance Tips To Keep Your Curtains Clean And Fresh

Curtains are always there for you when you need them most, protecting you from a face-full of light as you wake up in the morning, or saving you from the blinding glare of the Sun against your computer screen. They are also great decorative pieces and can complement the furniture, flooring, and wallpaper. While there are many beautiful and high-quality curtains, no matter how brilliant the curtains are, they still need adequate maintenance to look their best. The last thing you want is to release a cloud of dust every time you draw the curtain.

But don’t fret, because maintaining your curtains doesn’t have to be hard! Here are some simple, but effective tips to keep your curtains looking the best that they can be.

Vacuum your curtains

If you can tolerate the noise, vacuuming is absolutely necessary to keep your curtains dust-free. Depending on the fabric, curtains can collect dust rather quickly, so you should vacuum them often. At a minimum, you should aim to vacuum your curtains once a month, but if you are big on cleanliness, feel free to go for more.

You can use a brush attachment to the vacuum head for the best results, as that will make it easier to get the dust off the curtains. For the most fashionable curtains, be wary of any delicate embroidery or decorations, as those should be handled with care and vacuumed around.

Wash your curtains

Using a washing machine or washing by hand are good ways to keep your curtains looking brand new, but be sure to check that they are washable. In general, cotton and linen curtains are machine washable. Sheer, silk, laced, or otherwise embellished curtains should be washed by hand due to their delicate nature. Wash these curtains very gently.

Before placing the curtains into the washing machine, ensure that all accessories are removed. To be extra careful, put the curtains in a mesh bag to prevent fraying and damage from the washing machine spin. Cold water and mild detergent would be best for most curtain types but do your research beforehand.

Another convenient alternative is to send your curtains in for dry-cleaning. Be sure to engage with a reliable dry-cleaning service, as they will be qualified to clean up your curtains without damaging them.

Sunlight limit

As any good curtain company in Singapore will tell you, you should always consider the amount of sunlight your curtains will be exposed to before making your purchase. Light-coloured curtains are your best bet for windows that see a lot of sunlight as they reflect the most light, making them resistant to discolouration. Dark colours absorb the most light, so they discolour easily and need some protection.

To protect your more expensive curtains from sunlight damage, you can add another layer of sheer curtains behind them. This provides a shield from the brunt of the sunlight. You can also consider using lined window treatments, which could even confer additional benefits like water resistance.

Ironing

While entirely optional, ironing is a great way to make your curtain to look crisp and pristine. Not all curtains can be ironed though, so check with your provider first. Iron on the reverse side to be safe. For puckered seams, spray some water and pull very gently to stretch the seam back to size. Do not pull too hard, or you may break the stitching.

If you are uncertain on which of these techniques to employ, don’t worry, talk it out with your trusted curtain company in Singapore. It may take some effort, but the results are well worth it. Clean curtains can brighten up the room, even as they keep the sunlight out.

Factors To Consider When Choosing Between Curtains Or Blinds

How often do we stop to consider how we should dress our bare windows? Rather than focusing on decorations in the house, window coverings are essential in controlling how much sunlight gets in our home on top of ensuring privacy. Progressively, curtains and blinds have gone beyond their essential functions through their distinct characteristics that add a certain flair to a home’s aesthetics.

Before we start, here’s a brief introduction as to what these window coverings are!

Curtains: Curtains are fabric panels that are often sold in pairs. They can be found in a variety of widths, lengths, colours, designs and patterns which makes them a versatile and popular choice. They hang from a rod with a few hanging options, from metal grommets to fabric rings.

Blinds: Depending on the type of blinds you pick; it can range from customised mural blinds to rainbow blinds. It lifts up and down through a cord or lifting mechanism. Blinds come in a range of colours and designs which also includes wooden tones, and are sized to fit within the window frame.

Now that you’re more familiar with these two coverings, what factors should we consider when deciding between curtains and blinds?

The overall design of the home

Aside from contemplating between having wallpapers or paint to decorate your walls, think of the window coverings that will also impact the interior mood or style of your home.

By default, curtains can easily fit a wider range of styles due to its versatility. So, if you’re going for a minimalist or Scandinavian interior, curtains that are light and sheer are recommended. Meanwhile, curtains with more luxurious fabrics like velvet exude a cosy and contemporary interior, which goes great with vinyl flooring for a lavish look.

On the other hand, blinds can be incorporated to fit industrial and Scandinavian themes due to its clean-cut aspect that gives a sense of structure to your space. If you’re going for a hotel-inspired look, then go for wooden Venetian blinds. For a classic colonial style, pure white blinds would be a great fit.

Maintenance matters

No matter what your choice is, curtains and blinds have to be cleaned regularly as dust accumulates quickly, especially if it’s being used to shield a drafty window.

Curtains have to be removed from their hanging rods, washed using a washing machine or through dry cleaning, dried, and hung up again whereas blinds can be cleaned by wiping down with a cloth or vacuuming.

Light control

The main point of a window covering is to block out sunlight, so which fulfils this requirement better?

If you want precise control, then Venetian blinds would do the trick as you can adjust the amount of light that enters by adjusting the slats. Curtains’ light control is dependent on the transparency of the fabric used, which can be fixed by installing layered curtains with both opaque and sheer day curtains! So, you can alternate between them freely.

Soundproofing

In terms of sound control, regular blinds may not be able to perform this function as well as curtains. Heavyweight and dense curtains prevent noise from penetrating through the room. In contrast, blinds can create noise by hitting on the windowsills on windy days.

Setting the mood

Curtains play a definitive role in the setting of a room, depending on the fabric, colour or design used. From billowing sheer fabrics to velvety robes, make sure to select the perfect curtains that complement the room’s settings. The different type of blinds also influences the mood of the space, such as Roman blinds which give a room a touch of elegance with its layered pleats.

Conclusion

The key factor in making this decision comes down to what you prefer having in your house. Sometimes, we see a combination of both fits the home perfectly! For a more informed decision, contact a Wallpapers specialist such as us at Wallhub, for professionals to guide you based on your preferences. However, we don’t just provide wallpapers, but various curtain designs as well. So, if you’re looking to choose curtains over blinds – we’re here to help.