Many fabrics are machine washable, and smaller items can often be cleaned at home.
Washing
In addition to vacuuming, most fabrics should be washed on a regular schedule, whenever possible. Most vacuum cleaners come with upholstery attachments, making regular cleaning a breeze. While many printed or dyed design fabrics are made to resist fading, it is advisable to line curtains and blinds to prevent fading.
Fabric is an attractive, versatile, and inexpensive element of design commonly used in modern homes; but the variability of design fabrics makes it difficult to generalize advice for fabric care.
. Also, always make sure to follow manufacturer's instructions closely as not all fabrics are safe for machine washing. Nevertheless, caring for your design fabrics ensures they maintain their attractiveness and durability in the long term.
Another consideration when it comes to washing fabrics is that woven fabrics, particularly those made from natural fibers such as cotton or linen will shrink. You can prevent some shrinkage by ironing fabric in the direction of shrinkage when the fabric is still slightly damp. You may want to consider shutters or awnings to prevent sun exposure, and remember that some fabrics, such as sheer fabrics and voiles are especially likely to fade in sunlight.
Regular Care
Typically, the main causes of soiling on fabric are dust, smoke from cigarettes or open fires, and accidental spills. Usually, you do not want to wash full-length curtains or other large items in a domestic washing machine as they tend not to clean very thoroughly and colour loss may be an issue. It's best to wash fabrics on a regular schedule rather than waiting for more serious stains or soiling to occur. Otherwise, you should take care to allow for shrinkage when choosing fabrics for curtains and furniture covers. Even on the cloudiest days, UV rays in sunlight will cause fading, so you should take extra steps to protect window coverings or furniture in rooms with a lot of natural sunlight.
Light Fastness
All fabrics will eventually fade from exposure to lights. In addition, professional fabric cleaners recommend that you apply scotch guard or another stain resistance product to prevent premature spoiling; just be sure to choose a product that is safe for the particular type of fabric. While this information is offered only as a brief guide, you should find some useful tips for caring for fabrics. Some fabrics act differently in different climates, and most fabrics have different cleaning requirements. Indeed, it is common for upholstery fabrics to shrink by as much as 6-8%, and even dry cleaning can cause shrinkage. Ideally, you want to vacuum curtains and upholstery at least once a week to ensure their maximum lifespan. While most of these causes can be prevented (or at least minimized), most fabrics become soiled over time. As such, you should be careful to regularly vacuum fabrics, including upholstery, drapes, curtains, and carpets
