Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 06, 2025 ...

Dry cleaning original draperies?

August 09, 2025, 09:36:51 pm

For those with older coaches having draperies in the bedroom - have you had them dry cleaned without issue?

We're a ways from having the bedroom window treatments addressed, and I'm thinking of having our draperies cleaned in hopes of freshening them and getting rid of some of the odd stiffness to the fabric.

Ours are a lined, woven sage green fabric. 

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Re: Dry cleaning original draperies?

Reply #1 – August 17, 2025, 11:37:00 am

Michelle
When we bought our coach the was no evidence that it had been smoked in, but on closer examination we noticed some yellowing. Using a friends steam vac we steamed the curtains, day/ night blinds ceiling and carpet, it was amazing how much nasty colored water was generated as we cleaned it. Everything survived undamaged, and looking like new.
We did not use chemical in the steamer, but sprayed FOLEX cleaner (was recommended on this forum, bought at Lowe's) as we went, more in some places than others.
Soap that is not fully removed tends to attract dirt and stains again, need to rinse (with steam) until super clean.

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Re: Dry cleaning original draperies?

Reply #2 – August 17, 2025, 12:10:20 pm

Were the original draperies a woven or a velvet-like material?  Ours are kind of a stiff woven that's lined. 

I do have a bottle of Folex - used that on the Ozite ceiling material.  And with dogs, we definitely have a steam cleaner.  I did the bedroom carpet twice before we ended up getting it replaced at Infinity - just basic accumulation of road grime/diesel soot. 

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Re: Dry cleaning original draperies?

Reply #3 – August 17, 2025, 06:25:13 pm

Emma says they were a super heavy (nearly like canvas) plad upholstery fabric

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Re: Dry cleaning original draperies?

Reply #4 – August 26, 2025, 07:33:05 pm

FYI - the original draperies, if they have the rubberized blackout lining, cannot be dry cleaned.  According to the cleaners I visited today, the cleaning fluid will cause that lining to blister and degrade.

I'll be trying some spritz of Folex and the Little Green steam cleaner later this week.

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