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You should hire a professional to clean your drapes every four or five years or every two to three years if you have pets or it experiences heavy soiling. Light-colored drapes may require washing more often—every one to two years—to keep them looking fresh and clean. In between professional cleanings, it’s a good idea to vacuum your drapes lightly with a special drape attachment to remove surface dirt, pet hair, and other debris. Avoid using abrasive vacuum brushes on more delicate materials, though, like silk and linen.

Insulating windows without plastic is usually the better method. Outside of simply replacing your windows, you could buy cellular shades, which trap air between the window and the home, add a window film that blocks UV rays and traps heat, or cover your windows with a low-emissivity coating called “low-E.”

You can clean curtains without washing them by vacuuming them and then steam cleaning or having them dry cleaned. When vacuuming, use a soft brush attachment if you’re working with a heartier material, like cotton or polyester. You can spot-treat stains with a stain remover after vacuuming, and then use a steam cleaner to clean the curtains from top to bottom. You can also bring them to a dry cleaner to have odors, dirt, stains, and allergens removed without washing them.

The best way to clean drapes depends on the material, as certain washing methods are necessary for more delicate materials. You can follow the general guidelines below in most cases:

• Cotton: Machine wash

• Lace: Hand wash

• Linen: Dry clean

• Polyester: Machine wash

• Silk: Dry clean or steam clean

• Velvet: Dry clean

• Wool: Dry clean

You should also consider if there’s any existing damage to the drapes, like pulls or small tears, that could get worse with aggressive washing. Additionally, older drapes may require special care from a professional to preserve them but still leave them clean.