Grab a seat. This one is wordy!
Many of our awesome customers have called wondering if there is anything they can do to salvage water damaged draperies. After checking with local dry cleaners, here is what we've been told, and what we've experienced over the years...
Right out of the gate, most attempts at removing mold and water damage are usually unsuccessful. We certainly don't want to come off as schmarmy fabric sales-chicks, but the fact is that flood water is filthy, and killing mold requires extremely strong chemicals. The truth is that water damaged fabric is typically irreparable, BUT DON'T GIVE UP HOPE! Local cleaners have had some success! Here are a few nuggets from recent conversations with the professionals:
Draperies should be completely dry before delivering them to the dry cleaners.
Pricing usually depends on weight. They quote the job before doing anything.
Unlined drapes, depending on the fabric, can usually be laundered. They will likely be shorter (and a bit more narrow) after laundering.
Lined draperies can only be dry cleaned. This is typically unsuccessful as a water mark removal method, but they can also try to spot clean the area. There are also no guarantees on what it will do to the fabric.
You will have a little more luck if the panels are lined in cotton. If it's blackout, interlined or thermal-lined, the chance of damage to the lining is high. We have seen cases in the past where people have attempted to dry clean drapes and the lining was irreparably damaged.
Don't despair just yet though! Banded panels are beautiful and if you've been blessed with sewing skills, you can cut off the funky part and freshen up your draperies with a contrasting fabric and trim.
Obviously, if you can't repair your beloved panels, we have tons of fabrics and a workroom that is ready to crank out your new window treatments. We've added even more beautiful patterns to our $5/yd and 50% off section, so we can surely find something that fits the budget!
We would prefer to have no flooding, no business caused by flooding, no stinky draperies, no fabulous bedding that has to be thrown away and replaced. However, if you need to reduce the stress of replacing your lost items with the perfect color, pattern and style, we're here to help. If you were blessed with no damage to your window treatments, and just need to take them down during renovations, we have wide plastic drapery bags FREE OF CHARGE to anyone who needs to protect their window treatments.
See you soon!
