Alternative to Dry Cleaning

wazza

I have curtains which have been hanging around the house for 6 years. They are always kept in open position because we have vertical blinds and do not need to close the curtains at night. The curtains are clean but dusty in places.

I have been advised to have the curtains cleaned otherwise dust mites etc will eat the curtains etc.

The label says dry clean only. Been to dry ceaners and have been told the cost for a pair of curtains is £20 if it is up to 8ft wide and £30 if above. Trouble is i am on benefits and can't afford to have the curtains dry cleaned. Is there an alternative? Buy a spray or something to protect the curtains?

Thanks in advance to those who replied.

just_thrifty

If they are basically just dusty you could try using your vacuum cleaner with the brush/upholstery attachment to gently clean them. :-)

wazza

just_thrifty wrote: »

If they are basically just dusty you could try using your vacuum cleaner with the brush/upholstery attachment to gently clean them. :-)

i have done that. Was just wondering if there are sprays that i can use to kill any mites etc that may be lurking in the material. Sister had a similar setup. After so many years she decided to replace the curtains and found the old curtain ripped easily. She was told that mites etc live in the curtain and eat it away. Just going by what i have been told.

vivatifosi

Before I moved house and bought curtains that are washable, I used to use a small hand held steamer to go over my curtains. I'm told that this stops dust mites, though you should also test a small patch to make sure that it doesn't cause discolouration or shrinkage.

mzthomps

dust mites are killed by sunlight & freezing - so either try hanging them on the washing line on a bright sunny day or put them in a bag and into the freezer for 24 hrs or so. There are moth repellent products available but no scientific confirmation that any of them work.

penguine

I think there is some confusion here between dust mites and moths. So far as I know, dust mites do not eat fabric. They lurk in carpets, upholstery, etc mainly eating invisible bits of skin that we all shed during the day and can aggravate allergies.

Moths will eat holes in wool and I think silk as well; curtains are unlikely to be made of either of these fabrics so you don't need to worry about getting holes in your curtains if you don't get them dry cleaned.

I would agree that the best way to clean your curtains inexpensively is to use the vacuum cleaner. If allergies are a problem in your household then I would start with hoovering the carpet and mattresses and washing all bedding at 60 degrees because this is where dust mites are more likely to multiply.

penguine

wazza wrote: »

Sister had a similar setup. After so many years she decided to replace the curtains and found the old curtain ripped easily. She was told that mites etc live in the curtain and eat it away. Just going by what i have been told.

The fabric may well have been weakened by sun exposure and/or extremes of temperatures next to windows (especially if there's also a radiator under the window).

Taniab_2

I have always put my curtains in the washing machine (although only on 40 degrees) I have heard the freezer thing for killing unwanted creepy crawleys before. Maybe freeze them in a bag and them wash them. Beware of them shrinking though - good luck

stef240377

I think it was persil who bought out several years ago (not sure if they still do them as i never dry clean just bung on a sensitive wash) a dry cleaning sheet you put in tumble dryer with you laundry and this was equivelent to a dry clean i vaguely remember getting a free sample in post.

wazza

stef240377 wrote: »

I think it was persil who bought out several years ago (not sure if they still do them as i never dry clean just bung on a sensitive wash) a dry cleaning sheet you put in tumble dryer with you laundry and this was equivelent to a dry clean i vaguely remember getting a free sample in post.

Was inspired by your idea and had a search and came up with Dryel system

http://dwb4.unl.edu/Chem/CHEM869A/CHEM869ALinks/www.dryel.com/usa/print.html

just wonder what equivalent we have over here?

jasmin10

I have used the dry cleaning sheets in my tumble dryer for my suits. They cam out ok, obviously they do't get pen marks or spills out but the came out nice an refreshed.

I guess you could use this a few times inbetween drying cleaning so you only have to dry clean every so often.