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Curtains - why this could be a problem
Curtains, like a decent car, are things which you should have by the time you are 40. Curtains not only provide the home owners with privacy, but also can be used to let in or block out light.
But curtains are exposed to both indoor and outdoor dust and debris. For this reason the list of living organisms that may use your curtains as their breeding ground is almost endless. It includes dust mites, moulds, fungi, spores, pollen, bacteria, viruses, amoebas, fragments of plant materials and human and pet dander (skin which has been shed).
Some, like viruses and bacteria, may cause infections (like colds or pneumonia), while others may cause allergies. Rashes, hay fever, asthma and runny noses are common allergic reactions that may be serious and even fatal.
How to keep curtains clean
Washing and rehanging curtains with hooks can be a huge job. It is also expensive to have them drycleaned. Which is why the new type of readymade curtain with loops is really the best thing since sliced cheese.
Keeping your curtains as dust-free as possible can greatly reduce dust mite allergies. Vacuum your curtains twice a week, but take care not to vacuum in the presence of allergy and asthma sufferers.
Wash your curtains with hot, soapy water at least twice a year or take them to the dry cleaners. It is also important to keep the windows clean, as this reduces the amount of dust that settles on the curtains.
If you suffer from serious allergies, replace drapes with shades or curtains that can be washed more frequently.
Handy hint:
If you have small children, darker washable curtain fabrics are preferable to light fabrics that must be drycleaned.
