You would never venture out in 100-degree weather without some sort of skin protector, would you? Never! You protect your skin because you want to live in it for a good long while. And just as you slather on the SPF before sun exposure, you need to remember to protect one of your other investments – your clothes, draperies and furniture.
Here are some tips to keep in mind.
Always store your clothes away from direct sunlight and heat. In closets, make sure the clothes are hung loosely for proper air ventilation and with similar colors together to prevent color bleeding.
Although leather is strong, the sun is stronger. Too much sunlight could lead to two things: color fading and drying. Fading can be avoided by keeping you leather furniture and clothes out of direct sunlight. Once the natural oils of the leather dry out, re-hydration is not an option, so to prevent drying by cleaning and conditioning about every 6 months to a year.
The sun can also cause fabrics to fade. Very few fabrics have built-in repellents or protection. For natural fabrics, consider cotton and wool, along with wool blends. Fabrics blended with acrylic, polyester, and nylon are generally less likely to fade. High end fabrics like linen and silk are notorious for fading quickly (as you may have discovered with once-favorite linen placemats or silk scarves). Also consider the fade-ability of the colors you select. Dark colors will fade much more rapidly than lighter ones. Proper cleaning will extend the life of all your clothes.
For your drapes and furniture, find a way to incorporate shades and blinds into your decorating scheme. Blinds and shades take the brunt of the sun’s fore, and in the process protect your draperies, which otherwise would be the first line of defense.
Lined draperies have a longer useful life than unlined draperies; the lining will succumb to the sun’s effects before the face fabric. Often the lining can be removed or replaced, thereby extending the life of the drapery.
When the heating or cooling season is upon you, make sure your draperies are not in front of the air intake or discharge vents. You don’t want your draperies acting as an air filter.
Finally, be sure to let Flair Cleaners take special care of annually cleaning your drapes for longer life, and caring for your clothing and leather.
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