Product Care

Caring for Window Treatments, Bedding, and Decorative Pillows

You have invested a lot of time and effort in selecting the perfect window treatments and bedding for your home, so you will want to protect that investment by properly cleaning and caring for those items. With proper care and cleaning our bedding and window treatments will provide many years of enjoyable service. Here are some tips to ensure that your purchase last for many years.

Window Treatments

The life of window treatments can be prolonged by regular cleaning. Exposure to sunlight is the prime culprit in the deterioration of window treatments. The sun can fade colors, and if left uncleaned for extended periods, can cause the fabric to become weak and tear easily during cleaning. While quality linings provide some protection from the sun, other factors such as dust, dirt, and grime can also wreck havoc. To extend the life of window treatments we recommend regular cleanings.

As you go about cleaning your home, give your window treatments a gentle shake. This will help release dirt and dust that may have collected in the pleats and folds of fabrics. Every month or so we recommend that you vacuum on a low setting or brush clean to prevent dust and dirt from becoming embedded in the pleats and fold of your treatments. Always make sure that trims, embellishments and buttons are secure before vacuuming.

• Dry Clean Recommended - Items that are labeled "dry clean recommended" should be taken to a professional dry cleaner. We recommend that you find a dry cleaner that is familiar with home textile furnishings. Before having your window treatments cleaned, be sure to discuss any concerns you may have with the dry cleaner. There are numerous methods that can be used to clean window treatments. Have him tell you which method he recommends based on the fabric content, composition, and trims used on your window treatment. A reputable dry cleaner will have no problems doing a test clean in an inconspicuous spot. If they will not stand behind there work, take your items to someone who will.
• Washable - Items labeled washable should be laundered on the gentle cycle using cold or warm water and a mild detergent. Do not bleach. Don't overload the washing machine. Rinse gently and thoroughly. Tumble dry on low or air setting. Remove promptly. Iron as necessary.
• When not to wash - If a item is labeled do not wash, please adhere strictly to this advice. It maybe that either the main fabric or lining will not tolerate being immersed in water, resulting in shrinkage. (One may shrink causing the other to pucker and hang poorly.)
  1. Never wash items that show signs of being damaged by the sun. Doing so could cause the item to shred.
  2. If an item is too large for your washing machine, do not wash.
  3. If trims and embellishments are not washable or colorfast, do not launder.

Bedding Care Guide

Comforters and bedding items should be dry cleaned regularly before becoming heavily soiled. This will preserve the fabric's beauty and prolong the fabric's life. Be sure to take your bedding to a reputable professional that has experience in cleaning bedding items. Please disclose any hidden spills or stains that may have occurred over time with your dry cleaner. These "invisible stains" if left untreated could become visible during the cleaning process. An experienced dry cleaner will know how to pre-treat or neutralize unseen stains such as perfumes, hair sprays, pet urine, alcohol, acidic drinks, etc, that may affect the outcome of the cleaning process. Invisible stains left untreated have been known to resurface as light spots in dry cleaned comforters. A good dry cleaner can avert this problem if he is made aware of an unseen stain. Don't set yourself up for disappointment by keeping quiet. We also recommend that you vacuum or brush clean between dry cleaning to remove surface dust. This will extend the time between dry cleaning. We are reluctant to recommend nonprofessional laundering of your comforter because:

1. Most home washers are often too small to properly wash a comforter.
2. Most household machines also have an agitator in the center that prevents large items such as a comforter from freely moving about.
3. Most home machines cannot adequately remove all detergent during the rinse cycle therefore leaving detergent residue on the surface of the comforter

Decorative Pillows

Decorative pillows are an easy, low cost way to add style and definition to a room. To properly maintain your decorative pillows it is necessary to occasionally clean them. If your pillows are relatively clean but could use a little fluffing, toss them in the clothes dryer along with a fabric sheet. Turn on the dryer and run for a complete cycle on the no-heat setting. Remove pillows and reshape using the palm of your hand.

For day to day soiling, use a damp cloth or sponge to blot out dirt or stains. For more stubborn stains spot clean using a laundry stain pre-treater spray and a sponge. Simply spray on and gently blot until the stain is lifted. Spray the now cleaned area with water, blot dry. Use a hair dryer to finish drying the spot to prevent water stains.

Pillows made from upholstery, jacquard, silk, or moire fabrics, as well as pillows that contain embellishments such as tassels or elaborate trims, should be dry cleaned only.