How to Care for Your Soft Goods / Curtains
Have you ever wondered about how to properly store your backdrop, or what to do when you discover a stain? Here are some simple steps you can take to help your soft goods live longer and look better.
Fabrics With Nap
Including velour, commando cloth
Storage
Never store in plastic!
If there is any moisture in the goods due to changing humidity or otherwise, you run the risk of mold/mildew build-up and possible leaching of the flame proofing chemicals or fabric dye. Both flame proofing and dyeing of soft goods are a salt process that can be affected by moisture.
The best way to store curtains is in canvas bags or canvas storage hampers.
It is important that you fold your soft goods correctly and as neatly as possible. This will help prevent or limit the amount of wrinkles, especially with long-term storage. Click here for folding instructions.
Wrinkles
Most wrinkles will hang out over time. If possible, pre-hang your soft goods several days before a performance.
If you have a piece that is severely wrinkled you can try misting the back surface LIGHTLY with warm water. You can use a Hudson sprayer for this purpose, set to the finest setting. Do not soak the fabric!
It takes very little water to remove wrinkles.
Never spray the face of the fabric. You will risk damaging the nap and cause the flame proofing chemical to leach and stain.
Cleaning
Brush your curtains regularly, against the nap and then with the nap direction, to remove dust. You can also use a vacuum, but only with the nap — not against it. This will extend the life of the fabric, as dust makes the fibers stiff and brittle over time and causes discoloration. Too much dust can also cause your curtain to fail during a flame test.
If you discover a stain, try brushing it out first. If this fails, you can try spot cleaning with commercial dry cleaning solvents available at hardware stores or dry cleaners. Be sure to read the directions carefully. Please note: Depending on the age and condition of a curtain spot cleaning can sometimes cause a “clean spot” which may stand out as much as the actual stain did.
With multiple or severe stains the piece should be professionally dry cleaned. Please note, dry cleaning will remove the flame proofing chemicals. The item will have to be re-treated.
Scrim and Muslin
Storage
Never store in plastic!
If there is any moisture in the goods due to changing humidity or otherwise, you run the risk of mold/mildew build-up and possible leaching of the flame proofing chemicals or fabric dye. Both flame proofing and dyeing of soft goods are a salt process that can be affected by moisture.
The best way to store curtains is in canvas bags or canvas storage hampers.
It is important that you fold your soft goods correctly and as neatly as possible. This will help prevent or limit the amount of wrinkles, especially with long-term storage. Click here for folding instructions.
Wrinkles
Most wrinkles will hang out with the use of weights at the bottom. If possible, pre-hang your soft goods several days before a performance.
If you have a muslin that is severely wrinkled you can try misting the back surface LIGHTLY with warm water. You can use a Hudson sprayer for this purpose, set to the finest setting. Do not soak the fabric!
It takes very little water to remove wrinkles. Never spray the face of a muslin or scrim, especially when painted. Too much water will cause the paint to run and the flame proofing chemical to leach. If dye has been used to paint a drop — do not spray at all.
We do not recommend spraying a scrim with water. Water can cause the scrim to “bag” or “belly”. The safest method here is to have enough bottom weight and let the wrinkles hang out.
Cleaning
Muslin and especially scrim are very delicate materials. If stains occur there are no really safe steps to take. Spot cleaning with water may cause the material to “spot-shrink” or leave a ring after drying caused by leaching flame proofing compound or paint. The use of dry cleaning compound is not recommended, and professional dry cleaning and subsequent flame proofing may alter the material and cause severe shrinkage.
If you have a painted drop with a stain, the best solution is to repaint the problem area. A non-painted drop is best left alone or replaced depending on the extent of the stain.
Projection Screens
Front and rear projection screens
Storage
Never store in plastic!
If there is any moisture on the goods due to changing humidity or otherwise, you run the risk of mold/mildew build-up.
The best way to store a projection screen is in a canvas bag or canvas storage hamper.
It is important that you fold it correctly and as neatly as possible. This will help prevent or limit the amount of wrinkles, especially with long-term storage. Click here for folding instructions.
Wrinkles
Most wrinkles will hang out with stretching. For best results a projection should be stretched in all four directions. Where that is not possible side stretching and bottom pipe is very helpful.
If possible, pre-hang your projection screen several days before a performance. Do not spray with water! Never spray the face of the fabric.
Cleaning
Stains may be wiped with a soft cloth and a mild soap/water solution. If this does not remove the stain, you can try a 50/50 solution of rubbing alcohol and water. Rub gently. Too much force will disfigure the surface, and will be visible when the projection screen is lit. DO NOT USE DENATURED ALCOHOL. This will damage the projection screen.