Photo by @witanddelight_ via @barnandwillow
Make no mistake about it: Knowing how to spot treat stains on different types of fabrics is key to the longevity of your window treatments. So, to help keep your Barn & Willow drapes and shades in tiptop shape, we broke down the ways to remove stains from each and every one of our materials. From spot treating Belgian Flax Linen to blackout fabric and beyond, here’s how to get stains out of even the most delicate drapes and shades.
1. Belgian Flax Linen
Made 100% European flax, Belgian Flax linen requires special cleaning care because of its unique composition. To spot treat a stain, mix a teaspoon of baking soda with a teaspoon of vinegar and carefully blot the stain with a white cloth. Let it sit for five minutes before removing the paste with distilled water and hang to dry. If the stain is still present after this application, dry cleaning is recommended.
2. Belgian Linen
Similar to Belgian Flax Linen, delicate Belgian linen drapes and shades call for careful spot treatment methods. To remove a stain from Belgian linen, start by lightly blotting (not rubbing) the stain with a white cloth to soak up any debris, and then spot clean with a mix of baking soda and vinegar. Then, dampen a white cloth with distilled water to wipe clean, and hang to dry.
3. Linen Cotton
Since linen fibers can be weakened by certain stain removal products, it’s important to treat linen cotton fabric just as gently as you would Belgian linen or Belgian Flax linen when removing stains. This means lightly blotting the stain with a half-and-half mixture of vinegar and baking soda, and removing the paste after a few minutes with distilled water and a white cloth before allowing it to air dry.
4. Organic Cotton
When spot treating stains on certified organic cotton window treatments, gently dab the stain with either vinegar diluted in water (for light stains) or a mild detergent (for stubborn stains) and let it sit for twenty minutes. Remove with distilled water and hang to dry. For more saturated stains, you can make a paste with equal parts vinegar and baking soda, and let it sit overnight before removing with clean white cloth and distilled water.
5. Belgian Sheer Linen
Delicate but durable, Belgian Sheer Linen is also made from flax plants, and therefore needs to be spot treated carefully so the fibers don’t weaken. To remove a stain from sheer linen, soak up the stain by lightly blotting with a white cloth, and then spot clean with a mix of baking soda and vinegar. Let it sit for five minutes before wiping clean with a damp cloth and hanging to dry.
