How To Clean Curtains, Blinds And Other Finishings

How often you should clean window finishings

This is one of the first questions when considering curtain or window blind maintenance. The answer will vary depending on the type of curtain or window blinds, whether thermal curtains, lace curtains or even Roman blinds. Generally, it’s recommended that you deep clean curtains every 3 to 6 months. Blinds should have a deep clean about once a month. It’s also best practice to vacuum or dust your curtains and blinds whenever you vacuum your floors. 

Top tip: Blinds in a kitchen may need more regular cleaning given the extra grease and food splatter. 

Recommended cleaning products

Although this will depend on the fabric or material of your window finishings, here are some handy cleaning products to have on hand. A lot of home cleaning products are conveniently available online or in-store at your nearest Briscoes. 

Venetian blind duster

Venetian blinds can sometimes be tricky to clean without bending the blades. A purpose-built Venetian blind duster makes it quick and easy to dust your Venetian blinds. 

Koopman wonder brush

We’ve all had clothing that builds up annoying lint after going through the wash. Some window finishing, like velvet curtains, similarly attract lint. A Koopman wonder brush is helpful to remove it. 

Raven duster perfect telescopic

It’s a bit of a pain if you need to remove your curtains, drapes or blinds every time you dust them. Thankfully, a Raven duster perfect telescopic makes it easy to dust hard-to-reach areas. 

De-solv-it sticky spot & stain remover

Accidents happen. Sometimes, no matter how hard you try to prevent it, a nasty spot or stain can appear on your curtains or drapes. Depending on the fabric, De-solv-it sticky spot & stain remover can be a real help here. 

Vacuum cleaner or dust buster

Every time you vacuum the floor, it can be handy to vacuum your curtains and roller blinds simultaneously. A vacuum cleaner with a long hose or a dust buster can be useful to prevent you from needing to take your window finishings down. 

Clothes airer

Sometimes known as a clothes horse, you probably already use a clothes airer for drying clothes at home. These handy products can also help dry out window finishings, especially if you don’t have a washing line at home. 

Top tip: In most cases, putting your curtains or drapes in the dryer is not recommended, as this can cause fabric to shrink, pleats to fall out or damage the fibres.

How to clean curtains or drapes

Now let’s get to the nitty-gritty. Before we start, it’s worth noting that the cleaning process may differ depending on your curtains' fabric. It’s also good to check if your curtains have specific cleaning instructions by looking at the care instructions on the label. If there are particular instructions, follow them in the first instance. Incorrectly cleaning your curtains can lead to unfortunate shrinkage and other damage. The label may even say that your curtains are only to be dry-cleaned. 

The majority of curtains at Briscoes are polyester, so we’ll go over a step-by-step to deep clean these curtains. 

Step 1: Take down your curtains

First up, you’ll want to take down your curtains. Step 1 can be a delicate step depending on what you’re working with, whether eyelet curtains or pencil pleat curtains. Be careful when removing any hooks or rings. Remove any trim and store in a safe place while you’re cleaning. 

Always work at height safely, ensuring to use a ladder or stable step stool to reach the top of your curtains to avoid falls. 

Step 2: Remove dust

It’s a good idea to make the most of your curtains being down. Now’s a handy chance to give your curtains a good dust, vacuum or lint roll. 

Step 3: Wash your curtains 

Although some curtains and drapes are ok to be put in the washing machine on a gentle cycle, we think the best approach is hand washing. A more delicate process is the best way to avoid damaging embellishments or fabric. When washing curtains by hand, the easiest place is often in your bathtub or a large basin. 

Use cold water and mild laundry soap without bleach or other brightening ingredients, and gently wash the curtain fabric. Then, you’ll want to rinse out the cleaning product or detergent. Ensure to rinse until the water runs clear and all suds have been removed. 

Step 4: Spot clean

If there are any noticeable stains leftover after you’ve given your curtains or drapes a wash, it can be good to apply a gentle stain remover. If you’re looking for a home remedy, a good option can be using equal parts vinegar and water.

Step 5: Hang out to dry

Now you’ll want to hang your curtains out (or in) to dry. If the weather is good, hang your curtains on the washing line or clothes airer outside. If you can, dry your curtains out of direct sunlight to avoid discolouration. 

Top tip: Wet curtains can be weighty. Try to wring out as much water as possible before hanging them out to dry. You don’t want to break your washing line!

Step 6: Remove wrinkles

If you’re curtains or drapes look a bit wrinkled after drying, it may be a good idea to go over them with a handheld steamer or steam iron. Be careful to avoid hot-water burns. 

Step 7: Hang your curtains

Now that you’re all finished, it’s time to hang your curtains back up. And there you have it, deep cleaned curtains. 

As we’ve mentioned, always check if your curtains have specific cleaning instructions before attempting to clean them yourself. If for whatever reason, you can’t take down your curtains to deep clean, your best bet is to regularly vacuum and spot clean them. 

How to clean roller blinds

When it comes to deep cleaning fabric roller blinds or Roman blinds, you want to approach the process with the same level of care as with curtains. Firstly, always check if there are specific cleaning instructions for your particular roller blinds. Always follow these recommendations in the first instance. Otherwise, follow these simple steps: 

1. Carefully take your fabric roller blinds down
2. Hand wash with gentle washing detergent
3. Hang your roller blinds out to dry
4. Put your roller blinds back up

Depending on the fabric, your roller blinds may just need a good wipe-down with a damp cloth. Before putting your roller blinds back up, it’s vital to ensure they’re completely dry. Trapped moisture can lead to problems like mould.

How to clean venetian blinds and shutters 

There are several different techniques for cleaning venetian blinds or shutters. Similar to your curtains, you’ll want to dust your blinds and shutters in the first instance regularly. Always follow manufacturer instructions for your particular venetian blinds, Roman blinds or shutters first. Otherwise, follow these easy steps to clean:

1. If you can, carefully remove the blades from your blinds or shutters
2. Leave the blades to soak in warm water with mild detergent for a few hours (unless you have wooden blinds)
3. Wipe the blades with a damp cloth
4. Leave the blades out to dry
5. Reassemble your blinds or shutters

If you can’t remove your venetian blinds or shutters, or they’re made of wood, simply wipe them down with a damp cloth and mild detergent. 

How to know when to replace window finishings

Despite your best efforts, eventually, you will need to replace your window finishings. But how do you know when it’s time to replace your curtains, drapes or window blinds? Signs to look for include:

• Obvious rips or tears
• Stubborn stains after a deep clean
• Broken blades

As well as that, if you’re renovating a room, you may want to replace your window finishings to fit your new decor. 

The range of window finishing at Briscoes

Thankfully, Briscoes has a wide selection of leading window blind and curtain brands on offer. Our extensive range includes many different styles to suit your home, including:

• Thermal curtains
• Tab top curtains
• Sheer curtains
• Pencil pleat curtains
• Eyelet curtains
• Blinds

To change your curtain rod or track, you can also browse our range of curtain accessories. If you’re looking for a more custom approach to your curtains, contact our custom curtain service. 

On the market for new curtains or blinds?

In short, there’s no miracle cleaning method for all curtains and window blinds. However, if your particular window finishings don’t have manufacturer cleaning instructions, there are general steps to follow. If you’re looking to replace your current window finishings, whether living room curtains, bedroom curtains or roller blinds, we can help at Briscoes. Shop our selection online or at your nearest Briscoes branch. For more curtain advice, read our guide on how to measure curtains.