DIY Network

Cleaning Window Treatments The Queen of Clean® shares some royal tips for cleaning your window treatments. From "Home Made Easy" episode DHME-145

Guest Linda Cobb, the Queen of Clean®, joins host Stephanie Lydecker to demonstrate how to clean window treatments. She shares advice on making sure you always clean curtains, valances and mini-blinds.

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Guest Linda Cobb, right, shares advice on the proper way to clean your window treatments.

Window treatments can get extremely dusty, but just because you may run a duster over them doesn't mean they're clean. Linda Cobb reveals the lowdown on cleaning window treatments properly.

Cleaning Window Treatments

Materials:

vacuum with duster brush
nylon stockings or knee highs
washer/ dryer
fabric softener sheet
spray bottle
lambswool duster
liquid fabric softener
water
white cotton gardening gloves

• Cleaning Curtains, Valances and Drapes—Take them down and put them in the dryer. Set the dryer to "air fluff" or "air only" to freshen them and remove dust. Don't over crowd the dryer to avoid wrinkling and remove and hang immediately when done. Generally, a good 20 minutes in the dryer is all you need.

• Washing Curtains, Valances and Drapes—First of all, if they say dry clean only, then dry clean them. But if you are able to wash them, do so on the gentle or hand-wash cycle with mild soap. Don't overcrowd the washer. The curtains will be extra wrinkly. Dry or hang according to directions. Don't use fabric softener if you want curtains to have a crisp look. To remove static from the curtains or drapes, run a dryer fabric softener sheet over them once they are dry and hanging at the window. If you don't want to remove them from the window, then don't. Use the duster brush to vacuum curtains and valances to avoid taking them down. For valances, and soft, flimsy curtains, slip a piece of nylon stocking or knee high over the brush to avoid sucking in fabric as you clean, then vacuum.

• Cleaning Mini-Blinds—Dusting with a lambswool duster is the best way to keep them dust free and is great preventive cleaning. Don't use a feather duster because it will just flip the dust around. But to remove heavier soiling from the blinds while they are still hanging at the window, mix up a solution of 2/3 water and 1/3 liquid fabric softener. Wearing white cotton gardening gloves, spray the solution onto the blinds and wipe with gloved hands. Tilt the blinds first one way and then the other. Regular dusting with the lambswool duster will eliminate most heavy duty cleaning. The fabric softener combo will prevent static electricity which will help eliminate dust build up.

Next: Restoring Dull Furniture-Finishes

GUESTS :

Linda Cobb
The Queen of Clean®
Website: www.queenofclean.com