How to Clean and Sanitize Fabrics in Professional Interiors
No dry cleaning services required.
We at Warp & Phil hope you are staying safe and healthy during these difficult times. Because it’s important - now more than ever - to take the extra steps to keep your space and products clean, we’d like to share the proper steps to sanitize your Warp & Phil products without having to rely on dry cleaning services.
First, some general tips for handling laundry during this ongoing period:
Launder items according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Use the warmest appropriate water setting and dry items completely.
Wear disposable gloves when handling items that may have been exposed to a sick person. These items can be washed with other people’s items.
Do not shake dirty laundry.
Clean and disinfect clothes hampers and carts according to the CDC’s guidance for disinfecting surfaces.
Remove gloves, and wash hands right away.
Now, keep reading to learn how to disinfect your bedding, drapery, and roller shades!
The Westin Crown Center KC
Bedding
To maintain peak durability and quality of your bedding while ensuring its sanitation, follow these guidelines for best results.
Washing
Machine wash with warm water (never exceed 120° F) with like colors and products. Don’t combine the load with other products such as sheets and towels.
Before starting, make sure the washing machine is free of sharp objects that could snag the bedding.
Stay below the recommended load size - don’t overload the machine.
Use mild detergents, no bleach or chlorine, no fabric softeners.
Drying
Stay below the recommended load size, to about 50% - don’t overload the machine.
Tumble dry at lowest heat setting, never exceed 120° F. Don’t combine the load with other textiles, wash only with like colors and products.
Do not use any type of fabric softeners.
Remove from dryer immediately to avoid wrinkling. For best results, remove while slightly damp.
Before starting, make sure the laundry machinery and housekeeping carts are free of sharp objects that could snag the bedding. All burrs should be filed smooth. Warp & Phil warranty does not cover snagging. Always test one item as instructed above. If results are unsatisfactory, discontinue laundering and contact Warp& Phil. Warp & Phil will only be responsible for the single test item.
AC Hotel Phoenix Biltmore
Blackout Drapery Linings (2 Pass and 3 Pass Coated)
Often times, curtains and drapes are dry cleaned when they don’t need to be; a regular soft brushing or careful vacuum cleaning will keep them looking fresh and fantastic for many seasons. But, when you really want to sanitize them, hand washing is a great way to clean and revitalize smaller curtains and drapes. Follow these guidelines for best results.
Note: When curtains are washed, shrinkage may occur. If necessary, adjust for shrinkage by un-picking and re-tacking hems.
Washing
Remove all hooks and loosen tape draw strings, if applicable.
If present, follow the fabric care instructions on the label.
Utilize soap flakes or mild detergent and ensure the cleaning agent is dissolved completely in water before immersing the fabric.
Using water that is hand-hot, rinse the curtains thoroughly. Don’t scrub acrylic foam areas - instead, squeeze gently. Cleaning agents remaining in the fabric can damage certain face fabrics.
Avoid using any kind of bleach.
Please check the manufacturer’s recommendations for washing and ironing of face fabrics.
Drying
To remove excess water when you’re done, simply shake the curtains (do not wring them out) and hang them up on a bar from the heading to drip dry at their full length and width.
If it is necessary to dry curtains on a line, carefully pad the line to avoid a permanent crease in the curtains, fold the fabric side - NOT the coated side - over the line, and distribute the fabric evenly across its weight. (If the damp coated side comes into contact with itself, it will stick to itself while drying and damage the foam when you try to separate it.)
If ironing is desired, use a light, cool iron on the fabric side, but DO NOT iron the acrylic-coated side.
Once dry, hang the curtains back up and allow them to rest at room temperature for a few days.
Elliot Park Hotel Minneapolis
Roller Shades
Our Mermet PVC Coated Fiberglass Fabrics are naturally resilient against the pressure and abrasion of everyday handling, making them simple to clean. Try to clean them sparingly, however, as excessive cleaning increases the possibility of fabric deterioration, and harsh chemicals can cause noticeable color, odor and surface changes. Using the appropriate level of cleaning for your application will prolong the life of the fabric.
The following is a list of styles that are PVC coated:
E Screen™
E Screen™ with KOOLBLACK® Technology
M Screen™
Natte™
S Screen™
T Screen™
T Screen™ with KOOLBLACK® Technology
Vienne™
Thanks to Mermet for providing their care guidelines for our roller shades!
Washing
It is best to remove the shade and clean on a flat, horizontal surface rather than attempting to clean a free-hanging shade; if necessary to clean while free-hanging, use a flat surface behind it to apply pressure against.
A soft duster, clean cloth, natural-rubber sponge, compressed air, or a low-suction handheld vacuum can be used to remove dust. Do so in a way that keeps the fabric flat and not distorted.
Use a mixture of a few drops of dish detergent per 8 oz. of lukewarm water to clean minor stains using a soft brush, cloth, or sponge.
Alternatively, use 50% diluted all-purpose cleaner or white vinegar, a clean white pencil eraser, or melamine foam eraser (such as Magic Eraser) to remove small stains.
To treat mold, mildew, or severe stains, use diluted bleach-based cleaners such as Clorox in a 10% bleach, 90% water ratio.
Simply wiping it down with a Clorox wipe will sanitize the shade.
Whenever you use a chemical on the surface of the shade, rinse with clean water front and back. If any odor or tackiness remains, repeat.
Drying
Dry with a soft, clean cloth and leave to hang until completely dry.
Special Cleaning Instructions
For the following fabrics, DO NOT use water or wet cleaning methods; instead, you may use a natural rubber sponge to remove dirt or stains.
Avila Twilight™
GreenScreen Evolve®
GreenScreen Revive®
GreenScreen Nature™
Flocké®
Vizela™
Verona Daylight™
Verona Twilight™
For the following metallized fabrics, we recommend cleaning the treated side with a duster, compressed air, or low-suction vacuum, as water or rubbing the surface can cause the metal to deteriorate and lose its reflective properties. The untreated side can be cleaned normally.
E Screen Chroma™
M Screen Chroma™
Drapery and Roller Shade Hardware
Batons and chain and aluminum side channels can be cleaned with a non-chlorinated bleach solution, such as commercial kitchens use for their stainless steel equipment.
For instructions on how to clean and disinfect community areas, see the CDC’s guidelines.