Care And Cleaning Tips For Pleated Shades
One of the biggest questions customers have about pleated shades is how to care for them and keep them clean. Pleated shades consist of a single layer of fabric that is folded accordion style. Like any fabric, they can collect dust, dirt, and allergens, but unlike curtains or blankets, you can’t just toss them in the washing machine. Use the tips below to keep your pleated shades clean and looking great.
Pleated Shades Care Tips
Cleaning pleated shades isn’t difficult once you learn how to do it. Here’s what you need to do to clean pleated shades:
- What does the manufacturer recommend? Always check the manufacturer’s recommended cleaning instructions before trying to do any cleaning on your own. Deviating from the instructions can damage fabrics or cause stains. You can find manufacturer cleaning instructions on the original packaging or on the manufacturer website.
- Gather your supplies. You won’t need any fancy cleaning equipment to clean pleated shades. In most cases you can use a feather duster, a vacuum with a soft brush attachment, a bucket of warm water and mild detergent/soap, and a hairdryer if you have areas of heavy staining. A hairdryer allows you to quickly spot dry those areas, which will help prevent fading, warping, and staining.
- Start cleaning. Starting at the top and working your way down, use the feather duster and vacuum to dislodge dust and debris and clean stains with a damp sponge or rag. Don’t apply too much liquid or pressure to the shade or you may damage the fabric.
Alternative method: If your shades are heavily soiled or if you have allergies and want to conduct a more thorough cleaning of both sides of the shade (and the manufacturer okays water cleaning), take them down and soak them in the tub:
- Use lukewarm water and a mild cleaning solution.
- Set shades in the water, but keep the headrail dry and out of the water.
- Let them soak for a 5-10-minutes, then start wiping away dirt and debris.
- Once the shades have been wiped down, remove them from the water and towel dry or use a hairdryer.
Regular cleaning will keep your shades cleaner and it will be easier to clean them if you’re wiping them down every week or so as opposed to every year.
Learn More About Pleated Shades at Orlando Motorized Shades
Browse pleated shade styles, colors, and motorization options at Orlando Motorized Shades. Call (407) 977-0886 with questions or to arrange a free in-home consultation.
