Are Your Drapes Damaged By Light?
Drapes play a very important role in enhancing the comfort, beauty and luxury of a room. A variety of fabrics and materials are available for purchase to consumers for use as draperies. It’s true, draperies may receive exposure to the harmful rays of sunlight directly or indirectly on a regular day basis. Draperies also interact with the circulation system of each room. Dust and dirt accumulate as a result. As well as, residues from cooking, smoking, heating, and other combustion.
WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?
Tears show up after cleaning in draperies and curtains that have weakened yarns.
WHAT DOES DAMAGED DRAPES LOOK LIKE?
Yellowing or development of yellow streaks is the most common problem for drapes. This occurs due to sunlight exposure which can cause a yellowing of all fibers. And, breakdown of optical brighteners, sizing’s, coatings, or finishes. The damage appears as horizontal shredding that runs in straight, vertical lines along the more exposed edges or folds of a drapery.
Another factor to consider is shrinkage. Some draperies can raise or lower with changes in humidity and temperature but, in many cases, draperies can resize to their original length.
The overall damage may show up on the shell side of the drape, the lining side, or both. But, it’s always confined to the pattern of direct or indirect exposure from sunlight while hanging. Other areas of fabric protected from sunlight exposure aren’t degraded. In most cases, the thinner vertical yarns are gone. While, the thicker horizontal yarns remain.
WHAT CAUSES DAMAGE TO DRAPES?
Excessive exposure to sunlight on a continual basis will eventually weaken and cause damage to most textiles of drapes. Color changes can also occur on draperies. Exposure to sunlight, atmospheric fumes, heat vents and pet residues can affect or weaken most dyes.
Sometimes, a dye type, print design, or fabric finish, absorbs more damaging rays and accelerates such damage, so some curtains can be more susceptible to damage over time than others.
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGE TO DRAPES?
This is a normal circumstance of consumer use and is expected on curtains exposed to the sunlight over time. Certain types of fabrics are more sensitive to light compared to others. However, drapes that are more protected from sunlight will not show much damage. Light rays will slowly weaken and degrade the textile structure only in the more exposed areas, such as the folds or edges.
It is imperative to maintain your draperies properly and have them cleaned regularly by reputable drapery cleaners to insure that they enjoy a maximal life span. However, it’s important to keep in mind that, all professional care processes are total immersion, subjecting the entire curtain and all components on the same treatment, and cannot cause this type of selective damage.
IS THERE A REMEDY FOR DAMAGED DRAPES?
Unfortunately, there is no remedy for damaged drapes. Therefore, it’s extremely important to maintain your draperies properly and have them cleaned regularly in order to extend their lifespan.
