Use and Care Manual

Protect your curtains from sunlight damage. If your windows receive a lot of direct sunlight, the drapes and curtains
you hang will fade over time. Prevent this by hanging light-colored curtains in these windows, which won't fade as
quickly as dark curtains will. Lined curtains are also a great option, as the lining will protect the outer fabric of
your curtains from damage.
Vacuum your curtains once a month. To prevent dust from accumulating in the folds of your curtains, you'll want to
use a hand-held vacuum and a brush attachment monthly to suck up dust and dirt. Make sure that you also clean the
edges of your curtains, especially living room curtains, because these are frequently touched and may also
accumulate dust from the window sills. Before vacuuming living room curtains or any heavy curtains, however,
make sure that there are no embellishments or loose trims that could be damaged.
Wash curtains when they're especially dirty. You may occasionally need to wash the curtains in your home,
especially kitchen curtains that absorb cooking odors and splattered grease over time. To do this, read the care
instructions carefully. Bedroom and kitchen curtains made of cotton and linen can usually be machine washed, but
silk curtains should almost always be washed by hand. Before washing any type of curtains, test a small patch with
water to see how the fabric reacts. Some silk curtains or other delicate draperies may bleed their color when first
washed. Whether you machine wash or hand wash your curtains, always use cool water and a mild detergent so that
they don't shrink or become misshapen.
Press your curtains when necessary. You'll need to press your curtains when you wash them, of course, but you may
also need to iron your living room or bedroom curtains occasionally to refresh the fabric and keep pleats looking
crisp. To iron your curtains without damaging the fabric, always turn them inside out, put your iron on a low setting
and gently glide the iron over the material. Check the care label on sheer curtains before ironing them; you may be
able to dip them in a starch mixture and hang them again without ironing so that you don't ruin the material. Living
room or bedroom curtains with embellishments must be pressed carefully so that the fabric doesn't pucker and the
embellishments aren't damaged.