Looking clean and actually being clean are rarely the same thing when it comes to household textiles. You’ve swept and mopped, scrubbed the baseboards, and wiped the counters… but what about your decorative pillows, throws, or curtains?
The reality is that many of the fabrics in your home are cleaned far less often than they should be – not because they look dirty, but because they don’t attract the same attention as everyday laundry.
Here are some commonly overlooked household items that may deserve a place in your cleaning routine.
Decorative Pillows and Covers
Decorative pillows rarely enter a regular cleaning cycle. Because they’re not treated like bedding, they often remain in place far longer than most fabrics we interact with daily.
Yet these pieces are constantly being touched, picking up residue from hands, pets, and everyday use. Even pillows that serve a purely decorative role are still part of the home’s environment, quietly accumulating particles over time.
Home cleaning decorative pillows isn’t always straightforward. Many covers are made from delicate fabrics, have textured materials, or include decorative elements that don’t respond well to home washing. Pillow inserts can present their own challenges, from maintaining shape to avoiding uneven drying.
Occasional professional cleaning helps preserve the fabric, maintain structure, and restore freshness – particularly for items that are handled frequently but cleaned infrequently!
Throws and Blankets
Throws and blankets tend to live very active lives in most homes. They’re used for comfort, naps, movie nights, guests, and often become favorite resting spots for pets.
Despite frequent use, these throws are commonly washed far less often than clothing or bedding. Because they don’t always show visible soil, it’s easy to underestimate how much contact they have with skin, hair, dust, and everyday household exposure.
Washing throws at home can be tricky. Decorative styles, tassels, and knit patterns can fall apart in home machines. They’re also very prone to distortion and shrinkage in the dryer. That’s where professional cleaning can come in.
Table Linens and Fabric Decor
Table linens often spend long stretches folded away or used only for special occasions. Because they aren’t part of everyday laundry, they’re easy to forget from a cleaning perspective.
Items like placemats, table runners, cloth napkins, and decorative overlays regularly encounter food, beverages, and handling – even when they appear perfectly clean. Small spills and oils can settle into fibers without leaving obvious marks.
Professional cleaning helps preserve the freshness and appearance of these pieces, particularly those that play a visible role in gatherings and entertaining.
Slipcovers
Slipcovers and fabric furniture elements experience daily use but are rarely cleaned as often as other household textiles. Sofas, chairs, and cushions quietly collect dust, oils, and everyday residue through normal living.
Unlike clothing or linens, these pieces can be difficult to clean at home. Their size, structure, and materials don’t always cooperate with standard machines, making thorough cleaning a challenge.
Professional cleaning helps refresh these high-contact fabrics while preserving their texture, color, and shape.
Why Home Cleaning Often Misses These Items
Household fabrics often go unnoticed simply because they don’t appear visibly dirty. Yet many of the textiles in your home experience constant exposure to dust, air, handling, and everyday life.
Periodic professional cleaning can help preserve the freshness, appearance, and longevity of these items – often with far less effort and damage than trying to wash in a home laundry machine.
If you’re not sure whether a particular household piece should be cleaned or how best to care for it, our team of household cleaning experts at Kean’s is always happy to help! Give us a call or stop by any of our locations with your items, and we’ll provide honest guidance and solutions to protect the items you use and enjoy the most.
