Balloon Shades, Care and Cleaning

Balloon shades, whether they are simply balloon style or the billowy cloud style, are going to get dusty and grimy. And for those of you not familiar with how they should be cleaned, you have come to the right place!

Most of these types of shades are found in a variety of fabrics, but mostly lightweight to sheer, lined or unlined. Lightweight fabrics work best because they more easily give that billowy effect that makes them so attractive and desirable. However, because of the type of fabric used, you will find they are much more delicate and difficult to care for, but not so difficult that you would not want to use them. And once you get the hang of it, maintenance is a breeze!

Most problems that arise with cleaning balloon shades, especially when washing, are in the use of lining in these shades. Different fabric types used together can sometimes shrink differently. One may shrink more than another or not at all. This can result in having to replace the shade altogether or use it as is.

Cleaning tips for balloon shades

In order to win the battle of maintaining fresh, clean window treatments, you will need to arm yourself with a vacuum and/or feather duster. If you vacuum your shades occasionally, dust will not develop into grime. Regular care will prevent the need for dry cleaning, which will often result in shrinkage. Dusting will only take a few minutes, but helps prevent buildup, which can lead to a very large cleaning task. You should do this at least every two weeks.

Also, a fabric that has been treated with some type of stain guard might prove to be a little less trouble since most of these treatments not only prevent stains and repel liquids, but dust simply sits on top of the fabric. However, there is no guarantee that this will prevent dust and grime from building up over time.

The best advice one can give is to carefully select the fabric your shades are made of. This is best done by purchasing custom shades, but can also be accomplished by reading the fabric content label on the package the shade is in. It’s always less expensive to buy shades pre-made, but if you can afford it, ordering custom made shades would be your best option.