Cleaning Dry Clean Only Drapes

Cleaning drapes and curtains is often a bit of a hassle, but when you are faced with dry clean only drapes it seems so much more. Luckily, cleaning dry clean only drapes isn't that difficult a task. Sure, you have to follow a few specific steps, but it is a task that you can do in the comfort of your own home. Here is how you can go about getting your dry clean only drapes nice and clean, without having to go the extra expense of sending them to the cleaners.

1. Remove the curtains from the rod. Before you can begin cleaning your dry clean only drapes, you need to remove them from the curtain rods that they are on. This will allow you to inspect the curtains closer, and see if the problem is really a stain, or if it is some simple dust that can be brushed or vacuumed off.
2. Read the care for instructions. After removing the drapes, locate the care instruction tabs. These tabs will say what the material is and whether it can only be cleaned by dry cleaning or not. Often, if you use the delicate cycles you can wash many "dry clean only" items.
3. Spot clean if possible. If it is possible, limit yourself to doing spot cleaning, as it is less time consuming and less labor intensive. Simply use a home "dry cleaning" kit, but on a smaller scale. Apply the pretreatment solution according to the directions listed in the kit. Rinse as directed, and then allow the drapes to dry. If necessary, you can place the drapes into the dryer on the lowest possible setting, and allow them to dry that way.
4. Carefully clean. In the event that you need to clean the entire drape or curtain, be sure that you have enough home dry cleaning kits to do so. Carefully follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer and get your drapes clean. Before you begin using the cleaning materials though, make sure that you read the instructions through at least two or three times to avoid any mistakes.
5. Iron the curtains. Once you have your drapes cleaned, they may be a little wrinkled. Pull them out of the dryer, and then set your iron onto the lowest heat setting possible. Iron all of the wrinkles out of the drapes, and then hang them back up. This will help prevent any damage to the drapes, and get your living area looking good again.