How to Clean Pleated Shades

Your window treatments like pleated shades are an important part of your home’s interior design. They can also play a role in protecting your furniture and flooring from sun damage. But over time, they can become stained or dusty.

Deep cleaning your window treatments like pleated shades is an important part of maintaining them and keeping them looking their best. By regularly removing dust, dirt, pollen, and pet hair, you can extend the life of your window treatments and prevent allergies from flares ups.

In this blog, we will be covering some tips for cleaning your pleated window treatments so they always look their best.

Pre-Cleaning Rituals for Pleated Shades

The accordion-style design of their fabric makes pleated shades as both efficient, stylish and effective in blocking out sunlight that carries harmful ultraviolet rays. However, they also invite dirt on its surface. These dirt particles accumulate both inside or inside the folds of pleated shades. As a result, this limits how long they will last before needing another cleaning.

There are pre-cleaning rituals you need to take into consideration before cleaning your pleated shades. Here are the things you need to make sure you have checked:

Read the Care Instruction for your Pleated Shades

Before you clean your pleated shades, make sure to read the instructions that come with them. This will tell how long they can be washed and what type of detergent is best to use.

This is important so that you will not be able to damage your pleated shades, as well as to save resources. This will enable you to avoid materials that won’t do as much.

Know How Dirty your Pleated Shades Are

The level and amount of dirt determine how much cleaning your pleated shades need. If the fabric of a pleated shade has built up dirt, dust, and pollen, it will be more difficult than other types.

To clean your shades, you’ll need to determine which type of fabric they are made out of. Pleated fabrics tend to have more difficult areas to reach and clean.

Common Issues of Pleated Shades and How to Clean Them

Different dirt issues of pleated shades require different cleaning strategies. Regardless of what dirt issues you have, you might need the following materials in cleaning pleated shades:

  • Feather duster

  • Vacuum with the soft brush attachment

  • Mild Soap or Detergent

  • Microfiber towel

  • Hairdryer

Detailed Steps in Cleaning your Pleated Shades

Follow these steps in cleaning your pleated shades:

1. Begin by vacuuming your shades with the soft brush attachment. This will remove any surface dirt and dust.

2. If your shades are particularly dirty, you may need to spot-clean them with a mild soap and water solution. Use a soft cloth or sponge to gently wipe away any dirt or stains.

3. Once you have finished cleaning your shades, be sure to dry them completely before lowering them back into place. Otherwise, they may develop water spots or streaks.

4. To prevent your shades from getting too dirty in the future, try dusting them on a weekly basis with a feather duster or microfiber cloth. This will help to remove any dust before it has a chance to accumulate.

5. Finally, if your pleated shades start to look dull or lackluster, you can revitalize them by giving them a quick vacuum with the upholstery attachment on your vacuum cleaner. This will help to restore their original luster and sheen.

Final Thoughts

Pleated shades are a popular window treatment because they add style and sophistication to any room in your home. However, over time, they can become dusty and stained if they are not properly maintained.

Luckily, pleated shades are relatively easy to clean, and with a little care and attention, you can keep them looking like new for years to come!


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