A certain amount of preventative maintenance is highly recommended, but the actual cleaning of draperies and upholstery must be performed by a professional upholstery cleaner who specializes in home furnishings.

Draperies should be lined, and also interlined, when fragile fabrics are used.

Window glass magnifies the destructive elements in the rays of the sun. The winter sun and reflection from the snow are even more harmful than the sun.

Colors can fade by oxidation if the fabrics are kept in storage for too long a period without airing. Some colors are more susceptible than other colors. Impurities in the air may cause as much fading as direct rays of the sun.

Use a reputable upholstery cleaner who specializes in home furnishings. Dust has impurities that affect fabrics. Vacuum fabrics often. Upholstery cleaning should be done at regular intervals before excessive soil has accumulated. Very few fabrics are washable.

Be tolerant of normal fluctuations in lengths of draperies. Few fabrics are completely stable. Fabrics breathe and absorb moisture, resulting in stretching or shrinking. It is reasonable to expect as much as a 3 % change in any drapery length. Fabrics placed over or near heating or cooling vents may react to a much greater degree.

Wear will vary with amount of use. Some weaves are stronger than others. A favorite chair will not last as long as a occasionally used showpiece.