Deep-Clean in 3 Easy Steps By Maria Shollenbarger
Get drapes, furnishings, floors, appliances, and the rest of your home sparkling.
Window Treatments
Drapes
Step 1: Gently tug drapes to open pleats. Using a low setting and the brush attachment, vacuum each panel. For delicate or loosely woven fabrics, hold the brush an inch away to avoid pulling.Step 2: “Pay special attention to the lower foot of the drape and the hem, where dust and dirt accumulate,” says Sergio Finetto of the Silk Trading Company, a Los Angeles drapery maker.
Step 3: To remove smudges (the kind passing pets leave), Finetto applies baby powder to a clean toothbrush and gently brushes the spot. “The powder protects the fabric and helps lift the dirt.”
Fabric Shades
Step 1: Check the tags―if the shade is cotton, canvas, or a treated fabric, you can usually use water. If it's linen, silk or wool it needs dry-cleaning. Vacuum the shade first, then submerge it (except for any wood or metal mounts) in a bathtub filled with several inches of cool water and two capfuls of Woolite or dishwashing liquid.Step 2: After 5 to 10 minutes of gently agitating the shade to lift dust and grime, drain the tub and refill it with clean water. Move the shade around to rinse it.
Step 3: Blot excess water with a colorfast towel, then use a clothespin to clip the fully extended shade to the shower rod to dry. (If you have a nonwashable shade, try rubbing it gently with a dry-cleaning sponge.)
Wooden Blinds
Step 1: Vacuum or dust them thoroughly. Adjust the blinds so the slats are angled down, toward the floor. In a bucket, prepare a solution of a few capfuls of dishwashing liquid and water.Step 2: Working one slat at a time, wash each with a damp rag. Use a dry towel to soak up excess water as you go. Flip the blind and repeat on the other side.
Step 3: To clean the cord, pull the shade all the way up so the cord is fully extended. Run the damp rag up and down it once, then follow with the dry towel.
Next: Fabrics & Furnishings
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Do you have a simple trick that cuts down the time it takes you to clean house?
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