How to Clean Silhouette, Luminette, Pirouette Shades | Houston TX

Keeping your window treatments in Houston, Texas looking like new is important, and routine cleaning can help. All of your Hunter Douglas window treatments included cleaning instructions specific to their style and material when they were shipped or installed. It is important that they be cleaned according to these instructions rather than basing it on a general type. Although Silhouette®, Luminette®, and Pirouette® window treatments are all part of the Hunter Douglas sheers and shadings line and are made of similar materials, when it comes to cleaning, they need to be treated differently.

Silhouette sheers consist of two panels of sheer fabric with vanes of more opaque fabric running horizontally in between. While they appear light and potentially fragile, they actually hold up to a variety of cleaning methods you can do right in your home.

As with most window treatments, regular dusting is the best way to keep this type of sheer clean. Avoid harsh bristles that may snag the fabric and steer clear of dusting sprays designed for hard surfaces. A great option for removing dust on the vanes between the sheer panels is using a hair dryer on a cool setting or a can of compressed air. Do NOT spot-clean your Silhouettes. For professional cleaning, consider injection and extraction, where cleaner is sprayed on the fabric and immediately extracted. This method can be done right in your home, eliminating the need to take down the shades and reinstall them.

Pirouette shades have only one sheer panel with horizontal loops of opaque fabric that can be opened for more shade or privacy. Dusting ranks number one as the easiest and most cost-effective cleaning method for these sheers. Vacuuming with a handheld brush is another great option. Unlike Silhouette, Pirouettes should NOT be cleaned with a hair dryer or compressed air, but they can be spot-cleaned. Most fabrics used in Pirouette shades are safe to clean using injection and extraction, and some even tolerate ultrasonic cleaning.

Luminette sheers are similar to Silhouettes in design, but the vanes run vertically instead of horizontally, making them perfect for sliding glass doors and wide windows. Their preferred cleaning methods, however, are more similar to Pirouette shades. Dusting, vacuuming, and spot-cleaning are all safe on these window treatments, but blowing with a hair dryer or compressed air is NOT recommended. Ultrasonic cleaning works well on Luminettes as long as the company has specific knowledge and experience with them and they have cleaning tubs long enough to accommodate the shades without bending the vanes. If you prefer to have them professionally cleaned without them leaving your sight, they can be cleaned in your home with injection and extraction and never have to be taken off the walls. Just be sure the sheers are kept closed until they dry completely.

If you need more specific information on how to clean your sheers or a recommendation for a professional cleaner in the Houston area, contact Window Magic Blinds & Drapery, Inc. Our experts will be happy to help you refresh your current window treatments or help you select some new ones.