A fabric with a honorable history
Velvet has traditionally been associated with opulence. This has as much to do with the complicated process of manufacturing it as well as with the traditional use of silk in making velvet cloth. Royalty, as far back as the middle ages, used velvet curtains to adorn the walls of their palaces and to display their royal insignias.
Modern Velvet
Today, velvet curtains are not exclusively made out of silk. A number of different fibers can be used successfully to make velvet cloth. Silk is still the material of choice for the more expensive kinds of velvet but cotton is also used to make velvet. The resulting fabric is less plushy than traditional velvet but on account of the fiber density of cotton has certain advantages for use as curtains. Many synthetic materials are used to manufacture velvet curtains as well. Among these are nylon, polyester and acetate. Velvet cloth may also be made from a combination of organic and synthetic materials as well as from wool and mohair.
The best velvet curtains are just thick enough
In general, the materials which make finer velvet are the ones that curtains should be made of. In this group we should include silk and combinations of silk with other materials, cotton, nylon and polyacetate. Curtains should be just thick enough to furnish comfortable warmth to the room without stifling it. Cleaning velvet is also easier if it is not too thick. This is especially true for removing stains from it.
One setback of using velvet
For all the beauty and luxurious feeling that you get out of velvet, you should expect there to be at least one setback. And there is. The disadvantage of using velvet curtains is that using the ordinary methods for cleaning fabrics may damage the texture of the velvet curtain. As much as possible, the nap or the natural direction of the fibers should not be disturbed in the act of cleaning it. Neither is it advisable to soak the fabric in water to clean it.
For stain removal, it is recommended to use a spray bottle containing detergent solution. The nozzle should be adjusted to fine spray. After spraying the stained portion, a gentle motion is applied repeatedly in the direction of the nap to squeeze out the stains. After that, blot the fabric until it is dry enough always taking care to move your hand in the direction of the nap. When the velvet curtain is completely dry you can use a brush to lightly work the fibers against the nap to regain its body.
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