Can drapes be cleaned without taking them down?
Yes. We clean drapery on site while it hangs. Nothing comes off the rod, no hooks get pulled, and no pleats have to be reset. We work panel by panel, cleaning the fabric in place and protecting the floor and sill below as we go.
When we leave, your drapes are still hanging where they were, just cleaner. You don’t lose your privacy or your light control for a single night.
For the full walk-through, from which fabrics stay up to dry time, see our guide: How to clean drapes without taking them down.
How long does drapery cleaning take?
Most drapery jobs take under an hour. A larger home with a lot of drapery, tall windows, layered treatments or several rooms, takes about 1 to 3 hours.
If you’re booking carpet cleaning or upholstery cleaning too, the drapes can usually be done in the same visit.
How much does drapery cleaning cost in Knoxville?
Drapery is quoted on site. The price depends on how many panels you have, how long and full they are, whether they’re lined, and whether there are valances, swags or shades to go with them. We look at the windows, check the fabric, and give you a price before we start. Our other starting prices are on the pricing page.
What window treatments can you clean?
- Lined drapes, including heavy blackout and thermal-lined panels
- Unlined drapes and lightweight curtains
- Sheers, which show dust and yellowing quickly
- Valances and swags across the top of the window
- Fabric-covered cornices
- Fabric shades, such as Roman shades
Lined drapes are a good example of why in-place cleaning helps. The face fabric and the lining can be different materials that shrink at different rates, and that’s one of the ways lined drapes end up hanging crooked after a wash.
Why not take drapes down and send them out?
Sending drapes out for cleaning works for some people, and it’s a fair option. It also comes with real hassles:
- Bare windows. Drapes can be gone for days or even weeks, which means no privacy and no blocked light in the meantime.
- Taking them down and rehanging. Tall windows mean ladders, heavy panels and a lot of hooks. Getting pleats and folds to hang right again takes time.
- Shrinkage risk. Some drapery fabrics and linings shrink or pull when they go through a full cleaning process, and a panel that’s even an inch shorter can look wrong at the floor.
Cleaning in place skips all three. It isn’t the right fit for every fabric, which is why we check first.
Do you check the drapery fabric before cleaning?
Every time. We look at the fabric content and any care label, check whether the drapes are lined, and test a hidden area for color fastness. Some fabrics, like certain silks or very old, sun-weakened panels, can’t take any moisture, and sun-rotted fabric can tear just from being handled.
If a panel is too fragile to clean safely, we’ll tell you before we touch it. We’d rather skip a panel than damage it.
Do drapes hold dust, smoke and allergens?
They do. Heavy fabric hanging by a window works like a big, slow filter. It catches household dust, pet dander and pollen that blows in when the windows are open. Kitchen drapes pick up cooking grease, and in homes with smokers or a fireplace, drapes hold onto smoke odor long after the room is aired out.
Cleaning removes a lot of that buildup, which you can often see in the water and smell in the room afterward. If a house fire or heavy smoke is behind the smell, that’s a bigger job than drapery cleaning; see smoke odor removal.
Are the cleaning solutions safe for a home with kids and pets?
Yes. We use green, eco-friendly cleaning solutions that are safe for pets and kids once dry. Because the drapes stay up, they dry in place with the room’s normal airflow, and you can open and close them as usual once they’re dry.