As the outdoor temperatures start to cool, if you are one who enjoys opening the windows to let the cool air into your home, you may also notice all the dust lingering on your surfaces. It doesn’t take long to grab a cloth and quickly dust some of the surfaces or run the vacuum real quick but did you know all that dust, dirt and debris is also clinging to your drapery, bedding, and table linens?
If you’re like most individuals, if it’s out of sight, it’s out of mind. Let us remind you that to keep your household items in like new condition to enjoy for years to come, it’s important to have them cleaned regularly.
Curtains – If your curtains are heavier weight, you can use the upholstery brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner each week when you vacuum your home. If your window treatments are more delicate, then simply shake them out on occasion – probably right before you vacuum. When washing your curtains, be sure to check the care label first. Most washable curtains will need to be washed in cold water with a small amount of laundry detergent. If you’re in doubt about your curtains, take them to a professional for dry cleaning.
Sheets – You should wash your sheets every two weeks at a minimum and once a week is ideal. You shed dead skin, oil, and sweat when you sleep and dust mites have a field day living, eating, and reproducing on your sheets. For those who suffer from allergies, you could prevent them or lower them by simply washing your sheets more often. Wash in hot soapy water and let them dry completely in the dryer. Wash your bedding more often if there is reason to do so.
Duvet Covers – Depending on how you treat the duvet cover dictates how often you should wash it. For example, if you have pets that lounge on your bed, you should wash the duvet cover weekly at a minimum. In all other cases, your duvet cover should be treated similarly to your sheets in terms of laundering. If you sleep with a sheet between you and the duvet cover, you should wash the duvet cover monthly. If you do not use a flat sheet and just sleep with the comforter covered with the duvet cover, you should wash the duvet cover weekly. If you use a flat sheet, a blanket and then the duvet cover, you would be fine washing your duvet cover quarterly (four times a year) bearing there are no spills or stains incurred between washings.
Pillows – Every six months you could throw your down or polyester pillows in the wash. Washing them monthly could substantially cut down the dust mites and allergens. Wash them two at a time with detergent on the gentle cycle then select the extra spin cycle to remove excess water. Tumble dry low, fluffing the pillows every so often.
Towels – Wash bathroom laundry towels every 3-5 uses. Be sure the towel has time to dry off between uses to ward off mold and mildew. If you use your towel more than 3-5 times before washing it, remember, each time you dry off (even though you’re clean) you are scraping off dead skin cells that collect in the fibers of your towel. So you end up with 5 days worth of dead skin cells in your towel on that 6th use. Yuck! Have your towels started to get scruffy? Here’s how to soften them.
Carpet – How often you clean is based on how you treat the carpet, how many people live in the home and if you have pets. If you take your shoes off, have no kids or pets, and vacuum frequently, then you can go two years easily without needing a professional. But, if you are a family of 4 and neglect to always take off your shoes in the home, we advise you clean the carpets every season. Dirt is an abrasive and if left alone, it will slowly grind away at your carpet and vacuuming is not enough to get all the dirt out. Carpet also collects pollen, pollutants and fungus which can accumulate. If you have pets and/or are prone to allergies, you may even want to have your carpets cleaned more frequently.
Area Rugs –
• If the area rug is in the bathroom, it needs to be washed weekly if it’s a non rubber backing. (Unfortunately, rubber backing rugs don’t do as well in warm/hot water so they should be washed every 3-4 weeks). The rug gets damp many times (especially in kids bathrooms) and may not dry out all the way each day between uses. Mold and mildew can grow easily if it’s not washed often. Wash in warm water – maybe even hot water to ensure it gets really clean. Let the rug hang dry over the shower or outside on a line. Only dry the rug in the dryer if it has a non-rubber backing.
• Other area rugs should be vacuumed regularly and rotated every 6 months. If the rug is small enough to take outside and “beat”, we recommend doing that when you rotate the rug. If not, you may want to call a professional to come pick it up and clean it for you. Do not use the harsh chemicals that are sold for wall to wall carpeted rooms. Area rug fibers are more delicate, colors can bleed and the excess moisture can ruin the floors underneath the rug.
At Classic Cleaners, we are experts in cleaning all your household items. We specialize in bed linens, down pillow rejuvenation, window treatments and table linen cleaning. Count on us to help you clean large items like your comforters and duvet covers too!
