Get matched with top drapery cleaners in Bronte, TX

You’ve stored your coats away all summer long, but now that the temperatures drop, you notice they smell weird as you pull them from storage. What’s the deal? If your clothes smell weird after you stored them, they may have been in a moist, dark environment for several weeks or months. This environment is ideal for mildew growth, which can make clothes smell musty.

The best way to clean drapes or curtains depends on the fabric. Always check the care tag for instructions before attempting to wash them.

You can typically clean drapes yourself if they are made of durable materials like cotton, cotton blends, polyester, or burlap, which can often be machine-washed. However, some fabrics can be hand-washed.

For delicate materials such as linen, silk, velvet, lace, sateen, or wool, it is best to hire a professional drapery cleaner. These fabrics are often dry-clean only and can be damaged, shrink, or be destroyed by machine washing or using the wrong cleaning solutions.

If the care tag is missing, the drapes are old, thin, brittle, or have existing damage like pulls or tears, it's safest to have them professionally cleaned. A professional will use the correct methods and solutions for a safe, deep cleaning.

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.

There are several ways to store clothes properly and keep them smelling good. You can keep clothing in a climate-controlled closet for best results, but if this isn’t in your budget, there are many DIY solutions. From using air freshener sprays to keeping a box of baking soda in the closet, you can eliminate unwanted odors. Always store clean, dry clothes in the closet to minimize odors.