Before she bequeathed her precious set of net curtains to me, my grandmother gave me the that goes with it. I am pretty sure you all know how that can get! But as I listened I learnt some pretty interesting things. You see Grannys are a particularly shrewd species. They have the simplest answers to the toughest of questions.

• Sunlight, she said, is a bane to most curtains because they cause fading... also the UV rays aren't very good for you. It is advisable to install a window film so you can mitigate the harmful effects of the sun.
• Curtains need everyday care. Fortunately this isn't hard because all you have to do is give your curtains a gentle tug when you draw them. This way the dust doesn't get collected where the weaving is complex.
• Every month, vacuum your curtains and do not have a very high pressure level on. Use soft brushes. If your curtain has beads, buttons or any other additions, take care to see that these don't get affected. Be gentle!
• If you have kitchen curtains, in all likelihood they are the most soiled. Laundry is a great idea but if you like cheaper home cure then vinegar is your friend. It leaves your curtains sparkling and quickly too!
• Bathroom curtains need to be cleaned with soft water and some bleach. Do not overdo the bleach as your curtains will lose the colour, texture and feel.
• Look at product labels. If it says dry cleaning only stick to the instructions. Always know what treatment you need to give your curtains based on the fabric. If polyester is what your curtains are made of, machine washing will be adequate. Press them once they dry cleaned keeping in mind that the iron needs to be warm. Not too hot, just warm enough to straighten creases. Cotton should be washed in COLD water and pressed with warm iron.
• If you have lace curtains, do not take things directly into your hands. These curtains are delicate and can be easily damaged. Trust a professional to do this for you but look for someone who will not clean your pockets along with those curtains.
• If you are soaking your curtains in water, use a fairly large tub so all the dirt can be thoroughly rinsed. Small tubs will be like you dipping an already soiled curtain in a pool of dirt.
• Here a clever thing granny said start to clean your window curtains after sunset. You don't have to take an extra effort to dry them, you just have to hang them back again and let the sun do its job!
• If your curtains are of light colours then you have a lesser risk of them fading because light colours don't absorb sunlight. However, they can get grubby so clean and dry them carefully as improper handling or a shoddy job can look distressingly bad.
• Smaller curtains can be scrubbed if they aren't made of think, woolly material. Spread them and use a sprinkler or a garden hose to clean. I used to enjoy doing this when I was little so if you have kids, take this as an excuse for having some unusual fun!

You don't have to sing to them or give them love but curtains need care.  As long as you get them cleaned periodically and sufficiently, curtains can last for a very long time. If poorly maintained, they can mar the beauty of your entire room which is ironical because this would defy their very purpose of making a room look great! So heed what granny said a house is only as clean as its curtains!