Hint : It ’s more often than you might believe ! mantle and drapes can be major detritus gob ; here ’s how to clean them .

Nicholas Johnson

It ’s easy tohang up curtainsand never give them a second thought , but unless you ’re routinely clean them , they could really be harming the air timber of your home . Curtains call for to be cleanedjust like every other open in your space . Otherwise , they just collect dust , stains , best-loved whisker , pollen , dirt , and other airborne dirt , make your habitation dust-covered , and smelly , and in some cases , lour theindoor line lineament .

blue and white walls with blue curtains

Credit:Nicholas Johnson

But how often do you actually need to wash them ? The expert at theAmerican Cleaning Instituteshare their top bakshish .

Do You Actually Need to Wash Curtains?

Curtains are not just for aesthetics and privacy — they also filter dust particles and smells out of the air . That mean if you do n’t clean them , your plate can chop-chop become a hideout of debris . rubble mites — which are microscopic , wingless bug that can last in carpets , mattresses , and curtain — are the most vulgar triggers of allergies and asthma . Even though you’re able to not see these tiny creatures , there ’s a fair chance they ’re on your drapery — which emphatically warrants a thoroughgoing cleaning every few months .

How Often to Wash Curtains

Cleaning curtains can be a bother , because taking down all that fabric and hardware is a pain — and it turns out most people share this opinion . In fact , the American Cleaning Institute notice that 72 % of Americans clean their curtains just once a year , usually in the spring as part of the annual cleanup routine . The ACI in reality advises you to strip your curtains more often than that — four prison term as often , to be exact . They recommend a quick vacuum and position cleaning on a weekly and monthly ground , with a full cleansing every three month — or more often if needed .

Smokers or vape users who light up indoors should wash off their curtains monthly , too . Chemicals in cigarettes , cigars and vapes will cohere to curtain and in some cases , turn the fabric yellow and make them reek like smoke . If you live by an sea where the air is piquant , you will need to wash curtain more often to get the salt out of them , which can damage the framework over time .

The ACI recommends following this general cleaning schedule to keep your curtains free of rubble and other allergens .

blue-grey walls and velvet sofa

Credit: Brie Williams

Every Week

Every Month

Tip : If your curtains or pall are made of velvet , arras , wool , or silk , you may not be able to spot - houseclean them . You may want to take them down and ironic clean them to remove spots .

Every 3 Months

bakshis : Always read the material care tag on your pall before doing any cleaning ( even smudge cleaning ) .