Mary Larsen, Correspondent Spring cleaning is right around the corner. As a designer who does a lot of custom work for clients, I find spring cleaning tips taking on quite a different feel. Just how do you clean a pair of draperies that hang from ceiling to floor in a double-story room? Some helpful tips follow for your special spring cleaning.

You should never for any reason take down your custom window treatments and run them through a washing machine or even take them to a dry cleaner. These types of window treatments are not intended to be taken down and manipulated in any way.

The good news is that many fabrics used for window treatments have a special finish that resist any type of soiling. And it is not as though these treatments are being handled or walked on -- typically they are just doing their jobs, dressing your windows and accenting your surroundings.

1. Use Febreze, a wonderful product that really does remove lingering odors in fabric. It can make a world of difference if you feel that any scent has been trapped in your fabrics.

3. Contact a local interior designer to have a professional window-drapery and blind cleaner do an in-home cleaning using static-electricity technology.

Ideally, upholstered furniture should have a finish applied that resists soiling even before the piece is put to use in your home. These finishes have a come a long way, and application does not change the feel or hang of the original fabric.

Interior designers can bring these specialists into your home to finish furniture as well as rugs. Or you can try a retail product such as Force Field. If your furniture does not have a finish, spot cleaning with a very mild cleaner is helpful. Try your dish detergent as the cleaner. Because it is designed to have your hands soaking in it, it is nonacidic and neutral -- good for both upholstery and rugs.

Have you ever heard that washing your windows and wiping them down with newspaper will leave a streak-free finish? It's a myth. Using newspapers to wipe down your windows actually allows ink residue to apply to the surface, causing smears. Try microfiber cleaning cloths -- with water only. Use glass spray only on dirty areas -- it actually cuts down on your cleaning time.

Don't let spring cleaning overwhelm you. With the great products on the market today, you should be able to save time. My favorite all-purpose cleaner is SimplyWow. Not only will it get out any stain that ever existed in your silk clothing (yes, even that red-wine stain that has been there for four years), but it also does wonders on carpet stains and anything remotely related to grease. It works for clothing stains, kitchen cleaning, and rug and upholstery cleaning. Go to www.simplywow.com to check out all of the products.

Another great time saver is Wrinkle Release from Downy. It does wonders on taking out wrinkles -- from your clothing to your comfort covers -- quickly and easily, without dragging out the iron and ironing board. It's perfect for quick touch-ups on items from your linen closet, too.

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