Washing & Cleaning Tips for Homespun Fabrics:

Pre-Washing the RAW Homespun, Monkscloth or Hobnail Fabric - the first time: 

• FIRST: Cut the fabric to the sizes needed, adding 15% for shrinkage. You may combine your pieces into larger ones up to approximately a 5-10 yard section depending on the size of the Large Commercial washing machine. (yardage before shrinking). Do not use your home washer for washing the RAW fabric.

• Overcast: any cut edges. 

• Pre-washing Homespun fabrics: Options
  a. For the first washing of any Homespun, use a Laundromat that has a 50 pound Commercial washer. Wash at least 2 times, 3 is better. Use any detergent, hot water, and a LIQUID fabric softener in the wash. Between each washing, pull out of washer, untwist and reposition, put back in and continue with the next wash. Dry in dryer with high heat. NO softener sheets. Dry until ALMOST dry.
  b. Or you can check with a Commercial Laundry in your area, or a Dry Cleaners that does laundry to have them do it for you. 

• If you choose to iron (this may affect the texture), use a DRY iron. Do not STEAM, as it will change that area you are ironing.

• If wrinkles other than texture occur, fold fabric lengthwise and hang over a rod, or doorway, or wherever you can to let the wrinkles HANG out. Due to the weight of the fabric, this is the best way and works well. For draperies already made, just re-hang them and allow any wrinkles to hang out.

• Bleaching: try to use the same amount of fabric and the same amount of bleach for each piece, relative to the sizes washed. Use HOT water. Test a piece first to get the required amount correct.

Then for rewashing as needed once your project is completed:

• Wash in HOT water with a LIQUID fabric softener of your choice and any good detergent. (Two times is recommended, as necessary). Your home machine can generally hold 3-5 yards. Otherwise, use a Laundromat again.

• Dry hot, and remove right away, smoothing any wrinkling as it cools. The fabric will stretch out when using.  See our recommended guidelines for drapery heights HERE.

• Repeat as needed for lighter shades.  Add bleach to get it whiter yet.

Washing Draperies:

• Remove any pin hooks in pinch pleated draperies. 

• Fan pleated draperies can be washed as is, since there are no pin hooks to remove. Regardless of what dry cleaners fear, the tabs wash well with the draperies, losing few if any tabs (for pre-washed fabric). 

• The heavy duty home washer can handle up to 5 yards of wide fabric in a load. 

• If you have larger panels than that, find a laundromat that has a 50 lb washer. This will handle up to 10 yards of wide fabric. Make sure you have help, however, since wet fabric is very heavy. 

• Use fabric softener in the washer only. No dryer sheets of softener. Used in the washer you will be surprised at how soft the fabrics come out! 

• If your drapes are white, you may add dry bleach equal to a normal wash load. 

• Wash twice if trying to remove stains. 

• Tumble dry on medium heat until slightly damp & re-hang draperies immediately. Let them finish drying completely on the rod, and “dress” them right away. (see DRESSING DRAPERIES later) 

• Top pleats may require pressing at the side either with your hand or an iron. 

• New draperies and washed draperies extend to final height in 2 to 3 weeks.

Dry Cleaning Draperies or any project using RAW fabrics:

• Use a reputable cleaners that you are familiar with and do drapery cleaning. You may be able to ask them for references, and please check them out, especially if you do not have a regular cleaners.

• Use a DRY iron for any pressing.

Dressing Draperies:

• “Dressing” your draperies is as important as washing them to return to the custom drapery look and feel. This should be done each time you have your draperies cleaned whether washing or dry cleaning. 

• To dress and tie, follow fullness in each pleat from top heading to bottom of drapery, shaping folds to correspond to pleats at the top. 

• Loosely tie string or strip of cloth around each panel at hemline, and again about half way up. Installers generally use adding machine tape and staple the tape together once around the folded drapery. This leaves nice clean lines in the folds. 

• Keep draperies tied 3 to 5 days for draperies to retain their “memory”.

Re-pinning Pinch Draperies:

• Insert pins behind each pleat. 

• The top of pin is 1-3/4” from top of drapery for WALL traverse rods. 

• The top of pin is 1-1/4” from top of drapery for CEILING traverse rods. 

• The top of pin is at the top of drapery for Decorator Rod with rings.

Tips on Finding a Good Installer:

What is a drapery installer?

Basically they are the people who are supposed to make your curtains look custom! Truly good installers will come prepared with the necessary tools and the proper attitude. They should not only be on time, but they should also allow the right amount of time to get the job up and installed to your satisfaction.

How do you find a good installer? 

• Check out your local yellow pages under the category of Drapery Installers. Most of them work independently of retailers, so you don’t have to pay a premium. 

• They must be easy to get in touch with (beeper or cell phone are fine). 

• They must have proper and clean transportation for your draperies. 

• They must have a complete set of tools (shouldn’t use your tools). 

• They must have a steamer and know how to dress draperies. 

• The best way of course is to ask for references, and ALWAYS check them out.

Need Cleaning Help? 

The folks at DoItYourself.com offer help for cleaning and stain removal woes.   Also advice on cleaning household surfaces like chrome, marble and wrought iron as well.