There are two primary ways to clean curtains – dry cleaning and steam cleaning. On site drapery cleaning in Bethesda is generally done using steam cleaning since the needed equipment is portable. Steam cleaning can use the actual steam to clean the curtains or use a detergent which is activated by the hot water and a vacuum then sucks up loose dirt and particles. Dry cleaning does not actually use water, but a liquid cleaning agent is used in its place.
There are advantages and disadvantages to both steam and dry cleaning, though both are effective methods of cleaning your curtains. Dry cleaning dries much more quickly, which means that dirt and particles have less time to set in to the wet fabric. This method is also extremely effective. Steam cleaning primarily uses water, rather than chemicals that can be harmful to the environment. You can also add certain disinfectants to steam cleaners, which is not an option in dry cleaning. One big advantage of on site drapery cleaning is that your curtains will not need to be taken down and rehung, meaning that they will maintain their shape, and you will not have to worry about disturbing the integrity of the design. You should be aware, however, that steam cleaning can cause fabric to shrink, although this should only be a problem if your curtains are made of all-natural, untreated fibers.
If you choose to have your curtains dry cleaned, they will need to be removed and taken to an off-site cleaning service. There, they will be placed in a large dry cleaning machine where they will be treated with a liquid solvent, pounded against baffles, and put through dry spin. Steam cleaners used for on site drapery cleaning in Bethesda look like large vacuum cleaner. A professional can run a steam cleaner for over an hour off of less than one gallon of tap water. The unit heats the water to evaporation point, and the steam then travels through the tube leading to the cleaning head. By this time, the steam is usually between 230 and 260 degrees Farenheit. The steam itself is often what cleans the curtains, and it is applied by running the cleaning head over the fabric, much like a vacuum cleaner. Fabric usually dries within fifteen minutes, which prevents mold and fungi from growing on your curtains.
Of course, whether you choose to have your curtains dry cleaned or steam cleaned depends largely on the type of curtains you have and their maintenance requirements. Talk to a professional to decide whether to choose dry cleaning or on site drapery cleaning in Bethesda using steam cleaning.
ALG Drapery Cleaning and Installation offers on site drapery cleaning in Bethesda, as well as off site dry cleaning services.
