How to Clean and Refresh Home Textiles for Winter: Duvets, Curtains & Throws

How to Clean and Refresh Home Textiles for Winter

Getting Your Home Ready for Winter

As the cool autumn days give way to cold London nights, our homes become the warm, safe spaces we rely on. We take out heavy duvets, close thick curtains, and wrap ourselves in soft throws. But here’s something we often forget — these cosy items collect dust, allergens, and odours when stored away for months. The result? Air that feels heavier, fabrics that smell stale, and comfort that isn’t quite what it should be.

By cleaning your home textiles before winter, you’re doing more than tidying up — you’re refreshing your home’s atmosphere. When duvets are sanitised, curtains are dust-free, and throws are soft to the touch, every room feels warmer and healthier. Clean fabrics also trap less moisture, helping to prevent mould growth in older London homes where condensation is common during cold months.

Taking this extra step before the cold fully arrives helps your heating work more efficiently, too — clean curtains insulate better, and fresh bedding holds warmth longer. It’s a simple way to make your home more comfortable and energy-smart for winter.

1. Duvets: Fresh and Ready for Cosy Nights

Your duvet is what makes winter nights warm, comforting, and restful. However, duvets gradually collect sweat, body oils, and dust mites, even when they look clean. Over time, this buildup can flatten the filling, create unpleasant odours, and trigger allergies or breathing issues.

How often should you clean it?

Experts recommend cleaning your duvet every six months — once before winter and once after — to maintain hygiene and keep it fluffy. Families with pets or allergy sufferers may benefit from more frequent cleaning to reduce exposure to allergens and bacteria.

Home washing vs. professional cleaning

Some synthetic duvets can be machine-washed gently, but many household machines are too small to clean them thoroughly. Feather, down, and wool-filled duvets need professional care because they can clump, lose shape, or take days to dry if washed at home. A damp filling can quickly lead to mildew growth or a musty smell.

Professional duvet cleaning involves specialised equipment and controlled drying that preserves the natural loft of the filling. The process sanitises deeply without harsh chemicals or over-agitation, leaving the fibres fresh and balanced.

At Hampstead Garment Care, we use eco-friendly technology that cleans deeply but gently. Our temperature-controlled drying restores fluffiness while removing 99% of allergens and bacteria. Each duvet returns to you soft, odour-free, and perfectly warm — ready to make those long winter nights truly cosy.

2. Curtains: The Hidden Source of Dust and Allergens

Curtains do more than block out light — they act like filters, catching dust, pollen, pet hair, and even mould spores that drift through the air. Over time, they can hold onto odours from cooking, smoke, or humidity. During winter, when most of us keep our windows shut, all those trapped particles can linger and lower the quality of the air we breathe. In homes with radiators or central heating, this buildup can dry out the fabric and weaken the fibres, especially in older or delicate curtains.

Why professional cleaning matters

Most lined or heavy curtains can’t be safely washed at home because of their size, weight, and construction. Water can cause shrinkage, fading, or separation between fabric layers, especially in silk, velvet, or blackout linings. Professional dry cleaning removes built-up dirt, dust, and microscopic allergens without harming the material. It also helps to lift stains from condensation marks, remove trapped cooking fumes, and restore the fabric’s original colour and drape.

At Hampstead Garment Care, our curtain specialists use eco-friendly cleaning solvents that target dust and pollutants while protecting delicate fibres. We carefully inspect each curtain before and after cleaning, ensuring hems, linings, and hooks remain intact. The result? Curtains that look fresh, hang perfectly, and help improve the air quality inside your home.

Extra seasonal advice

Ideally, have your curtains cleaned once a year, preferably before winter begins. This timing clears out months of accumulated dust before the heating turns on, keeping the air healthier. For homes near busy London roads, consider a mid-year refresh to remove soot and pollution particles that cling to window fabrics.

Our curtain cleaning service at Hampstead Garment Care includes safe removal, expert dry cleaning, precise pressing, and delivery. We return them crisp, bright, and ready to hang — helping your home look and feel cleaner all winter long.

3. Throws and Blankets: Soft, Warm, and Luxurious

Throws and blankets are the finishing touch that make a living space feel truly inviting. Whether draped over the arm of a sofa, folded neatly at the foot of the bed, or wrapped around your shoulders on a cold evening, they combine practicality with a sense of luxury. These fabrics—often made from wool, cashmere, cotton, fleece, or blends—help regulate body temperature, hold warmth, and add texture to your décor. Yet after months of being packed away, they can easily collect dust, pet hair, and lingering scents from storage areas.

How to refresh them

Start by giving your throws and blankets a gentle shake outdoors to remove surface dust and revive flattened fibres. Lay them flat in the open air or hang them in indirect sunlight for a few hours to naturally reduce odours. Avoid direct heat or dryers—high temperatures can shrink or distort delicate fibres like wool or cashmere. For those materials, gentle steaming can help lift creases and revive softness without damaging the weave.

Wool and cashmere throws in particular need special attention. These fibres contain natural oils that keep them soft and flexible, but harsh detergents or agitation can strip them away, leaving the material brittle. Professional cleaners use mild solvents and low temperatures to preserve those oils and restore the fabric’s texture. Fleece and synthetic throws, on the other hand, can hold onto static and lint, so they benefit from professional anti-static finishing treatments that keep them smooth and clean for longer.

Storage tips

Proper storage is key to preserving both cleanliness and shape. Before putting your blankets away in spring, make sure they are spotless and free of any scorch marks. Residual moisture can lead to mildew, especially in the damp conditions common in London lofts and basements. Fold them loosely to allow air to circulate and store them in breathable cotton or linen bags rather than plastic. For wool or cashmere items, consider adding cedar blocks or lavender sachets to deter moths and keep them smelling fresh.

To maintain texture throughout the year, take your throws out occasionally for a quick shake and air-out. This small habit keeps fibres supple and prevents that “stiff” feeling fabrics can get after long storage.

At Hampstead Garment Care, we give each throw and blanket the same precision and respect as a designer garment. Our advanced cleaning process restores softness, neutralises odours, and preserves the integrity of every fibre. Whether you own a handwoven wool throw or a designer cashmere blanket, we make sure it’s returned to you clean, fragrant, and luxuriously soft—ready for your next cosy night in.

4. Why Professional Fabric Care Is Worth It

Professional cleaning isn’t just about making your home look polished — it’s about protecting your health, extending the life of your fabrics, and keeping your environment safe. When fabrics are adequately cleaned, they hold up better against wear and tear, maintain colour vibrancy, and provide better insulation throughout the colder months.

Better hygiene for a healthier home

Home washing machines often can’t reach the deep layers of heavy fabrics, such as duvets or curtains. Professional dry cleaning uses advanced equipment to remove hidden dust mites, bacteria, and mould spores that accumulate over time. This deep sanitisation helps reduce allergies, improve air quality, and keep your home smelling clean and fresh.

Preserving the lifespan of your textiles

When fabrics are cleaned with precision and care, they stay softer for longer and resist fading and stretching. Professional cleaning prevents damage caused by over-washing, harsh detergents, or incorrect temperatures. Delicate materials such as silk or wool benefit greatly from gentle handling and temperature control — preserving their texture, colour, and shape. By investing in professional care, you’re essentially extending the life of your home textiles and saving money in the long run.

Eco-friendly and sustainable solutions

At Hampstead Garment Care, we’re committed to eco-conscious practices. Our cleaning methods use biodegradable, non-toxic solvents that clean effectively while reducing environmental impact. This means your fabrics stay beautiful without harsh chemicals that could harm your skin, your home, or the planet. We also recycle water and use energy-efficient equipment to minimise waste.

The bigger picture: comfort and confidence

Clean, well-maintained fabrics create a calmer, more comfortable home environment. Whether it’s a duvet that feels lighter, curtains that hang beautifully, or throws that feel freshly brushed, you’ll notice the difference instantly. Professional cleaning not only improves how your home looks but also how it feels to live in.

Professional care keeps your home textiles looking great, feeling soft, and lasting longer — a small step with a significant impact on your comfort and wellbeing.

5. Hampstead Garment Care: Your Local Home Textile Experts

From duvets and curtains to blankets, sofa covers, and household linens, Hampstead Garment Care proudly serves North and Central London with trusted fabric care expertise. Our team understands that every textile has a different weave, fibre type, and sensitivity — and we approach each one with precision, care, and decades of experience. We’re not just cleaning your home textiles; we’re restoring comfort, freshness, and longevity to the fabrics that make your home feel alive.

Our commitment to excellence

Each item we handle undergoes a careful inspection. We identify the fabric type, note any stains or damage, and choose the best treatment to clean it safely and effectively. Our facilities are equipped with the latest eco-friendly cleaning machines that combine gentle technology with deep sanitisation. The result? A service that cleans thoroughly without compromising texture, colour, or shape.

Convenient and sustainable service

We know Londoners have busy lives, which is why we offer flexible, free collection and delivery across NW London. You can schedule a pickup at a time that suits you, and our team will handle the rest — from careful transport to professional finishing. Every item is returned freshly pressed, neatly packaged, and ready to use.

Our cleaning solutions are entirely biodegradable and designed to be safe for sensitive fabrics, skin, and the planet. We believe quality should never come at an environmental cost, so we continuously invest in green technologies and water-saving measures to reduce our footprint.

What makes us different

• Personalised care: We don’t use a one-size-fits-all approach. Each piece receives individual attention.
• Trusted expertise: With over two decades of professional experience, we’ve built lasting relationships with clients who trust us to handle their most delicate fabrics.
• Satisfaction guaranteed: Your comfort and confidence matter to us. If something doesn’t meet your expectations, we’ll make it right.

We offer:

🚚 Free collection and delivery across NW London
🧺 Eco-friendly cleaning for all fabric types
📞 Friendly, reliable service every time

Whether you’re preparing your home for winter, doing a seasonal refresh, or need deep cleaning after a renovation, we’re here to help. Hampstead Garment Care ensures your home textiles stay soft, clean, beautifully cared for — and ready to bring warmth and elegance to every season.

Conclusion: Refresh Your Home, Embrace the Season

Winter isn’t just about surviving the cold — it’s about transforming your home into a retreat where comfort and warmth meet care and cleanliness. A fresh, well-kept home helps you unwind after busy days, sleep better, and enjoy a healthier environment. Clean duvets mean fewer allergens, well-pressed curtains frame your space beautifully, and soft throws make every evening feel more luxurious.

When you invest in professional cleaning, you’re doing more than maintaining fabrics — you’re extending their life, preserving their texture, and protecting your indoor air quality. Imagine curling up in bed beneath a freshly cleaned duvet or opening curtains that smell clean and look vibrant under soft winter light. That’s the quiet luxury of proper seasonal preparation.

Winter in London can be harsh, but your home doesn’t have to be. With regular professional textile care, you can maintain a space that feels fresh even when the world outside is cold and grey. Let Hampstead Garment Care handle the details — we’ll bring back that feeling of crisp freshness, subtle fragrance, and effortless warmth.

✨ Book your winter cleaning today with Hampstead Garment Care and discover how beautifully maintained textiles can transform your home for the season ahead.

📍 Serving Hampstead & nearby London areas
🖥️ Book Online Now