How to clean velvet curtains or clothes

BallandChain

I've got these really long and very heavy velvet curtains hanging up and they need cleaning. They attract a lot of cobwebs and I've tried to use the nozzle on the hoover but the cobwebs just stick to the curtains. I'd rather clean them in place rather than take them down as they are so heavy.

Would a damp cloth do the job? I've looked on the Indexed Collections and cannot find anything about cleaning curtains on there. Thanks for your help.

pigpen

a scrubbing brush, a pair of steps and some elbow grease!!

the scrubbing brush is used dry and sweeps off any dirt, dust, cobwebs and debris with not much effort..

I have to send hubby up the ladders though cos I is a biiig scaredy cat when it comes to anything above the second step!!

It brings off bits like dried on food etc as well.. if marks have soaked in .. babywipes!!! They don't make the fabric too wet and if they are a dark colour it is ok. lighter colours I'd probably just use plain warm water and a sponge and blot off marks.

BallandChain

Thanks Pigpen! The curtains are a dark green and I was worried if I put baby wipes on them (I use baby wipes for a lot of household jobs!) they might react with the material.

I'll try the dry scrubbing brush though the cobwebs are in between the folds and don't come off easily. If that fails I'll try the baby wipes. Thanks!

buxtonrabbitgreen

I had some velvet curtains that were really dirty. Not helped by my smoking. Anyway I paid £5 from the charity shop for them, and though they were perfect I decided it would cost more than that to have them cleaned so I put them in the washing machine and hoped for the best. They were fine.I am sure they are real velvet, but decided to chance it and buy another secondhand pair if it didn't work. I am not suggesting you do this if your curtains were expensive though.

BallandChain

Thanks Buxton. I'm too lazy to get them down and put them back up (they are heavy) and think washing them in the machine might be risky.

hardpressed

Have you got one of those long nozzle things on you hoover? You could use those to get between the pleats. If you going to use baby wipes try it out on the hems first to make sure they don't take the colour out.

recovering_spendaholic

Have you got, or could you borrow, one of those little portable steam cleaners? - they are really good for jobs like that IMO.

BallandChain

Thanks Hardpressed, I will try an inconspicuous bit of the curtain to make sure that there is no reaction to the baby wipes. Yes I tried the long nozzle on the hoover but it just drags the cobwebs across and doesn't lift them.

BallandChain

Hi Spendaholic, that was something I wish I did have as I know they are probably good for jobs like this.

recovering_spendaholic

Ballandchain - I got mine in one of those Cash Generator shops - it was new and only cost me £15. You could try on ebay too - they sometimes have them, but ebay is not so cheap anymore for stuff like that IMO. I always look in Cash Generator or the like when I want electrical stuff - they sell graded stock and I got my steam generator iron in there for £40 and the same one was £75 in Argos.

youngatheart_2

Can anyone advise me on how to remove ballpoint pen marks on velvet curtains. My friends husband accidentally caught his pen and there is a line of about 8inches on their beige curtain. Thanks.