Caring for Household Items

Open the windows and let the sun shine in! But be careful where those rays go because they could fade some parts of your home environment.

Sometimes we forget about household items that blend into our homes so much they become a part of the scenery. These items collect dust and dirt - think Harmattan season - and can become damaged, faded or discolored in their inactivity. Since we see them every day, gradual changes come about without our noticing. 

We often overlook guest room items, as many comforters on guest room beds sit in direct sunlight without our notice. Draperies, upholstery, rugs, and pillows all fade into the background. While these items brighten our homes, they are collecting dust, grime, food crumbs, and stains.

Trained fabric care professionals like us have the knowledge and equipment to care for your household items so you can enjoy them even longer. Here are some tips you can use to get the most out of your household items.

Comforters & Quilts
Comforters rarely become soiled as they rest on top of other sheets and bed coverings. Sooner or later they will acquire a stain or collect enough dust to warrant cleaning. Comforters left in direct sunlight can fade in some areas. It is best to keep comforters and quilts out of direct light to prevent damage.

We can process your comforters and quilts to get the dust and grime out of them safely. Many comforters will not fit into home washing machines but fit easily into our oversized professional cleaning machines. Quilts are especially susceptible to dye bleeding since the fabric components of the quilt vary. We test quilts to ensure no bleeding will ruin them.

Blankets
Blankets are available in many fibers and construction types, including wool, cotton, acrylic, polyester, and polyurethane. A blanket's construction plays a direct role in its thermal qualities and should be cleaned to protect its ability to contain heat. Our team is skilled in the methods of cleaning blankets to preserve their qualities and appearance.

Decorative Pillows
Upholstery fabrics used for furniture are usually used to cover decorative pillows. Occasionally, pillows are also made to match curtains or other home furnishings. Most of these items are not supposed to be cleaned unless the manufacturer recommends a procedure. Do not remove the stuffing from cushions for cleaning.

Curtains
Curtains can hang for years between cleanings. Often, exposure to sunlight and harsh weather such as the Harmattan lead to fabric damage in curtains. In time, soil and dust in the room, as well as outside dust and gasses from nearby untarred roads, construction sites, cars, and trucks may soil the drapes. Many of these soils can be removed through careful cleaning practices.

Water stains appear when moisture from condensation on the window, humidity or spilled liquids causes the soils to disperse, leaving a stained area. After the moisture evaporates, a ring or streak may be noticeable because soils can be removed. You may notice discoloration due to the light combining with oxygen, which tears down certain chemicals in fibers.

We often hear about white curtains that have yellowed noticeably in certain areas. Most fibers have a natural tendency to oxidize slowly and yellow from aging and atmospheric exposure. Any curtain material used to cover a window is exposed to both direct and indirect light. 

The best way to prevent excessive damage or fading is to rotate a few different sets of curtains, blankets or comforters periodically. Keep furniture out of direct light to minimize fading. This will not only brighten the look of your home, but it will ensure that you get the most mileage out of your household items.