Frequently Asked Questions

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Why should I have my custom window treatments cleaned? They don’t look dirty.
Many homeowners are surprised to learn that custom window treatments serve as highly effective room air cleaners, constantly scrubbing the air we breathe. They remove allergens, carcinogens, cooking grease, dust, hair, pet dander, soot and tobacco from the air inside your home. Over time, however, as your window treatments collect these various particulates, they become less effective as air filters thus reducing your air quality. After window treatments are professionally cleaned, customers often remark how much newer they look and how much fresher they smell.
Is getting my window treatments professionally cleaned actually good for them?
All window treatments have a life expectancy. The natural and man-made materials that make up your window treatments are under constant attack by their environment. The acids from air-borne particulates cause stiffening and microscopic tearing of the material fibers. Sunlight accelerates the harmful effect of these acids. Bugs make nests and lay eggs in hidden areas such as the hems and linings. Having your custom window treatments professionally cleaned in your home will safely remove these foreign substances from your window treatments, thus prolonging their life expectancy.
Do you use toxic chemicals?

We use only patented GreenEarth® dry cleaning solution, which is non volatile, non toxic and non hazardous. This liquid silicone-based solution breaks down into three natural components: sand, water and carbon dioxide. Green Earth is the only completely non-toxic dry cleaning solution available for on-site drapery and upholstery cleaning and we must be licensed to use it. Unlike traditional solvent-based dry cleaning solutions, Green Earth will not off-gas into your home for a month or so after cleaning. It is even safe for nursing homes and hospitals. Not only is Green Earth non toxic, we have found that it does a better job than the solvent based cleaners and contains natural brighteners, which make the colors “pop” giving the drapes a new appearance.

How often should I have my window treatments cleaned?
This depends on both the age and condition of your draperies as well as on environmental factors. It is best to have a Certified Fabricare Specialist carefully inspect your window treatments to ascertain their condition and recommend an appropriate cleaning schedule. Most homeowners choose to have their window treatments cleaned annually. This is usually adequate with once every two years being the maximum.

Whether you make or purchase your draperies, they will last longer if they are cleaned or laundered at least once a year and vacuum cleaned between cleanings. —Better Business Bureau

Why shouldn’t I just send my custom window treatments out to be cleaned?
Shirts are pre-shruck. Drapery fabric is not pre-shrunk. The harsh cleaning agents used by clothing drycleaners, which are fine for shirts, are far more aggressive than required to clean window treatments so much so that they can actually shrink your draperies. Drycleaners often require the customer to sign a waiver to this effect. By shrinking and restretching your fine window treatments, their life expectancy can actually be shortened. There is also the inconvenience and added expense of arranging to have your window treatments taken down, leaving your windows bare for a few days and reinstalling the window treatments.

Our ON-SITE method eliminates all of these problems by having the custom window treatments cleaned right in your home. They are not soaked and twisted in solution with other people’s draperies as in regular in-plant dry cleaning. This means NO SHRINKAGE OR DAMAGE or contamination to your fine draperies and other fine fabrics. We arrive at your home in the morning. You can entertain that evening.

Can’t my carpet cleaner clean my drapes?
Carpet cleaners will almost never touch window treatments or upholstery. They view drapery or upholstery cleaning as more of a collateral service if they offer it at all. First, they do not have the specific knowledge and training, which means they have liability concerns. Secondly, stopping to clean drapes or upholstery slows down the carpet cleaner’s operation, which is built around fast in and out turnaround.
Well then, can you clean carpets?
Sometimes, we are asked if we clean carpets. We used to recommend several firms we were aware of who specialized in carpet cleaning. However, we made the business decision to provide carpet cleaning to our clients directly in order to insure top quality work. We are a Certified IICRC Firm and adhere to their S100 standards for cleaning carpet. We use hot water extraction, which is the most effective and gentlest method for cleaning wall-to-wall carpet. Hot water extraction is the only method recommended by Shaw Floors, the world’s largest manufacturer of carpet. We also offer new technology, low cost, encapsulation carpet cleaning for intermediate touch up to keep your carpets looking really clean.
The maid dusts the window treatments every week. Do I still need to clean them?
Yes. Your window treatments are attacked by many other contaminants besides just dust. Also, after dusting, the dust usually just settles right back on the window treatments and everything else in the room. Most window treatments should be vacuumed regularly. Be sure to use a soft brush attachment with the vacuum cleaner set to low. Remember to follow manufacturer’s instructions for vacuuming shears. Don’t even touch Luminettes. And please don’t let the painter take them down and drape them over the sofa.
So then, how should I get my windows treatments cleaned?
The best way to get your window treatments cleaned, whether they are material draperies or Hunter Douglas type shear shades, is to have them cleaned by a professional Certified Fabricare Specialist in your home or business right where they hang. Shades are professionally dry vacuumed and blown clean of debris. Plastic sheathing is then hung behind the shades to protect windows and walls from overspray. The shade is pre-sprayed with cleaning solution in order to loosen and emulsify the locked in dirt. Stains are treated with spotting chemicals. Next, the shades are rinsed with a powerful yet gentle state-of-the-art US Products injection/extraction machine. Finally, box fans are used to gently dry the drapes so they are ready by the time we leave.
How involved is the process and how long does it take?
Our ON-SITE process requires two visits. The first visit is for a “preinspection” and estimate. The second visit is for the actual cleaning. During the preinspection visit, a Certified Fabricare Specialist will come to your home to evaluate the condition of your window treatments and provide you with a detailed, written estimate.

The actual cleaning takes place during the second visit. Depending on the number of window treatments and complexity, the cleaning process can easily take a full day.

Machinery is brought into the home with care taken not to track any outside dirt into the home (we even change our shoes to indoor shoes). We typically set up in the foyer and move from room to room. Furniture is moved away from windows where possible using sliding furniture glides. Plastic sheathing is then hung around windows and behind drapes to be cleaned in order to protect the walls, floors and unmovable furniture from overspray. Next, all items to be cleaned are meticulously air blown and professionally vacuumed before cleaning. This removes all loose dirt, dust buildup and bugs or eggs hiding in hard to reach areas. We then dry clean or wet clean depending on the type of fabric. After cleaning, plastic is removed and all furniture is moved back while your fabrics are drying. Your home is left smelling fresh and you can entertain that evening.

Our sign on your front lawn for the day while we are cleaning your window treatments lets your neighbors know that you are a discerning customer who has wisely chosen to have Bedminster ON-SITE Drapery Care service your window treatments and upholstery at your home the professional way. NO DAMAGE, NO SHRINKAGE.

But how can you guarantee no damage or shrinkage?
Unlike the drycleaner, who subjects your precious window treatments to unnecessarily harsh solvents in a tumbling machine, and consequently cannot guarantee against damage or shrinkage, our system involves cleaning your window treatments right where they hang. This permits us to utilize our far less evasive injection/extraction treatment. Injection/extraction uses much gentler cleaning solutions, which are specifically formulated to guard against shrinkage or damage or loss of sizing.
What is CFS certification and why is it important?
The CFS certification, which is the most highly regarded certification in the window treatment cleaning industry, is the only certification recognized by Hunter Douglas for cleaning their shades and shears.

The comprehensive training required to obtain this certification is provided by experts with many decades of experience. Biennial recertification classes are required to keep updated on new developments within the industry and to maintain status. Our national network of 145 Certified Fabricare Specialists provides continuous support to its members through an internet forum, phone support and monthly exchange of ideas through chat group meetings.

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Can you clean upholstery?
We clean any type of fabric upholstery from individual office chairs to full length living room sofas. We use the same careful and gentle methods we use to clean window treatments. When your upholstery is cleaned professionally, it looks new and smells fresh. On cleaning day, we clean your upholstery and/or mattresses first so that they will be dry by the end of the day.
Can fabric protectant be reapplied after cleaning?
Fabric protectant protects your draperies and upholstery from spills provided the spills are wiped off immediately or as soon as possible. Fabric protectant, however, breaks down over time and is also removed by dry cleaning. Therefore, it is generally a good idea to reapply fabric protectant after cleaning. We can perform this service the same day of the cleaning once the material is dry or nearly dry.
Should we have our mattresses professionally cleaned?
Yes. Mattresses can house millions of allergen-producing house dust mites (Dermatophagoides Farinae or Dermatophagoides Pteronyssinus), which feed on the dead human skin flakes we shed while sleeping. Dust mite waste products make up most of the dust you see in the air through the sunlight. If you wake up in the morning with symptoms of sneezing, runny nose or watery eyes, which go away about an hour after you arise, you could be one of the ten percent of the population suffering needlessly.

Children are particularly sensitive to house dust mite allergens. Children under one year of age can contract permanent asthma sensitivity merely as a result of exposure to dust mite allergens. Is it any wonder children often complain of breathing difficulty at night?

For mattresses, our injection/extraction method uses heated cleaning solution containing 35% commercial grade hydrogen peroxide. This hydrogen peroxide mixture gets down to the inner areas of the mattress where dust mites hide, kills them and removes them. Your mattress will be clean and smell as good as new. We recommend that you have us clean your mattresses at least annually.

Can you clean my pool table?
Your pool table should be vacuumed and brushed monthly or after every ten hours of use. However, over time, dust, dirt and especially chalk particles tend to sink into the felt, which can affect play. Dry cleaning the felt using our injection/extraction method will suction out this imbedded dirt while renewing the look of your felt. We replace the foot spot (where you rack the balls), since the old one usually comes off during cleaning. We always reapply fabric protectant after cleaning a pool table. Finally, we wipe down the sides and pockets with a special cleaner preservative.
What else can you clean?
Lamp Shades, pillows, fabric wall hangings, oriental rugs (these must be taken to our cleaning facility to be cleaned) and wall-to-wall carpet.
Do you only clean in Customers’ homes?
We clean in churches, country clubs, day care centers, funeral homes, health clubs, hospitals, hotels, offices, retirement homes, schools, ski resorts, stores–anywhere one finds fabric items. We can even clean inside airplanes or yachts since our operation is portable. We do need to be able to plug in to a power outlet. We can work during non business hours in order to accommodate your schedule.

Are You Insured?
Yes, we carry general liability of $1,000,000/occurrence with Harleysville Insurance Co. of NJ. We are bonded by RLI Capital Surety Company.