The question of how to wash tulle from grayness at home worries a large number of housewives. And not everyone knows that this can be done using improvised means! The main thing is to correctly observe the proportions and strictly follow the instructions.
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Why does tulle turn grey?
Tulle is a wonderful element of home decor. It protects the room from excessive sun rays, gives the room a special daylight, coziness. Perhaps this is due to the airiness, lightness and thinness of the material from which the curtain is made. But such a curtain has a very unpleasant feature - to lose, change its color.
Color change is most typical for white products. Over time, an unpleasant gray tint or pronounced spots appear on them. Their appearance is due to the following reasons:
- constant exposure to sunlight (leading to material fading);
- contact with heating devices (kitchen stove/radiator in the room);
- cigarette smoke (a common cause of greyness on the tulle covering the balcony door);
- dust and dirt particles (brought in from a frequently opened window or fat released during cooking) getting onto the fabric.
As a result of all the above factors, over time, the snow-white material loses its attractiveness. In addition to a grayish tint, it can also become covered with yellowness.
General washing recommendations
Before attempting to deal with an unwanted shade on a white curtain on your own, you should take into account some of the features of this process. These include the following factors:
- Before bleaching the fabric, it is necessary to shake it out or soak it in a regular soap solution. Otherwise, all the dirt will remain when washing.
- When washing by hand, do not wring out the curtain yourself by twisting it. It is enough to just wring it out a little and let the water drain by hanging the fabric. When washing it in a machine, the wringing function should be turned off completely.
- To avoid long ironing, just hang the still damp curtain on the curtain rod. It will straighten under its own weight (increased by water) and create beautiful folds.
- When washing, it is not recommended to use products containing chlorine. They can destroy the structure of the material, damaging the appearance of the product.
Knowing such features of the curtain bleaching process, you can safely proceed to choosing the washing option itself. At home, it can be done using professional (store-bought) or folk remedies.
Main types of home whitening
Folk methods for cleaning white curtains are very popular. This is due to their cost-effectiveness (most of the ingredients can be found in every home) and effectiveness (after all, our mothers and grandmothers successfully used them).
Hydrogen peroxide and ammonia
One of the most effective options for giving old gabardine a new look. To use it, you will need:
- ammonia (1 tablespoon);
- hydrogen peroxide – 3% (2 tablespoons);
- container with hot water 60 °C (5-7 liters).
The method of application is also quite simple:
- combine all liquid components in one container and mix them well;
- soak the pre-shaken curtain in the resulting solution for 30 minutes;
- rinse the fabric under running water;
- wring out (without twisting) the curtain and hang it out to drain.
In addition to its simplicity and speed, this method is very profitable. Peroxide and ammonia can be purchased for mere pennies. And the result of such a procedure will be truly worthwhile.
Remember! Only cotton fabrics can be bleached this way. Nylon fabrics or organza items will not withstand such high temperatures and will damage their structure.
Laundry soap
Laundry soap also serves as an answer to the question of how to quickly whiten tulle at home from gray or yellowness. Its high cleaning properties are familiar to everyone. But not every housewife resorts to using such a simple (but effective) method of bleaching.
To use this method, you will only need a piece of laundry soap (100 g). You need to act according to the following algorithm:
- grate the soap on a large/medium grater;
- pour the resulting powder into a saucepan and place it on the fire;
- after boiling, remove the mixture from the stove and mix with cold water to medium temperature;
- soak the material in the resulting liquid for 5-7 hours;
It is better to additionally rub heavy dirt with a bar of soap. - wash the product by hand and rinse it under running water;
- Squeeze the curtain slightly and hang it out.
You can add potassium permanganate to the mixture. This will enhance the whitening effect, reducing the waiting time to half an hour. To do this, dilute a few drops of the preparation in a glass of water and add it to the general solution. The water should acquire a slightly pinkish tint.
Attention! When adding potassium permanganate, make sure that there is no sediment in the solution of water with potassium permanganate. It can cause stains on the curtains. The mixture should be stirred until it is completely dissolved. You can also strain it through cheesecloth.
Laundry soap will also help if old curtains have not only turned grey, but are also covered with greasy stains or even soot.
If the usual solution does not work, you can use dishwashing detergent. It will help if you do not know how to wash out greasy stains on tulle quickly and reliably. All you need to do is make a solution of washing powder and dishwashing detergent (one tablespoon of each ingredient), soak the curtains in the resulting liquid, and then wash them by hand or in the machine in the usual mode.
Bleach and chemical bleaches
The harshest method of whitening is considered to be the use of bleach. It is worth turning to it only if no other option has helped. For such a procedure it is necessary:
- dissolve a small amount of bleach in 5-7 liters of water (indicated in the instructions);
Please note that the time it takes to process items in the bleach solution depends on the water temperature. - place the cloth in the resulting solution for 0.5 hours;
- rinse the item and hang it up.
Attention! Bleach is a serious allergen. It is prohibited to use it to clean children's curtains! The characteristic smell can only be removed with fabric conditioner.
Another unpleasant fact is that after using bleach, there is a chance to forget about more gentle cleaning methods forever, since they will not be able to give any results.
Remember! Before using bleach, pay due attention to the instructions. If the proportions are incorrect, there is a chance to say goodbye to your favorite curtains forever!
A more gentle way is to use special bleaching chemicals. You can buy them in almost every store. They act gently on the fabric itself and can be combined with regular powder and conditioner, which simplifies the cleaning process in the washing machine.
A few more folk remedies for whitening
Green stuff
In order to restore the whiteness of grey tulle, you can also use a medical preparation called brilliant green.
This procedure occurs as follows:
- in a glass you should stir 5-7 drops of brilliant green, wait until the sediment is completely dissolved (if it does not disappear after 10 minutes, strain the mixture through cheesecloth);
- pour the resulting solution into a bowl of water;
- leave the curtains in the container for 5 minutes, constantly turning them over;
- rinse the fabric and let it drain.
Important! The green stuff must dissolve completely! Otherwise, light green stains may appear on light curtains.
Salt
In the fight to return the curtains to their original appearance, you can also use table salt.
You can use this method as follows:
- in a container (5-7 l of water) mix 3-5 spoons of salt and powder;
- place the cloth in the resulting liquid;
- After the night has passed, you should take out the curtain, rinse it and hang it out.
Important! If there is serious contamination after the procedure, the curtain must be washed in the machine.
Bleaching in the washing machine
If you don't have time to wash curtains by hand, you can use a washing machine. To achieve the desired result, it is enough to use special bleaching powders and products.
Cleansing must be carried out in a special manner:
- Before washing, it is necessary to soak the fabric in water or soap (or bleach) solution;
- normal temperature – 30-40 °C;
- the spin cycle should be turned off;
- It is recommended to select the “delicate wash” mode and double rinse;
- the washed curtain must be carefully removed and hung up to drain;
- If possible, use a special laundry bag or net.
A special bag should be used when washing curtains with decorative elements that cannot be separated from the fabric.
If the above conditions are not met, the tulle may lose its color, change in size or become loose. These are standard washing rules. More detailed information about the mode and available degrees can be found on the product label.
Bleaching tulle is not the easiest task. But even this can be done at home using improvised means. The main thing is to observe the proportions and waiting time. The cleaned curtain will fill the room with coziness, giving it more saturated daylight.
