Tulle is the most favorite element of home decor. It serves to protect the room from bright sunlight and create daylight. The fabric has one unpleasant characteristic - color change (to gray or yellow). This occurs due to prolonged exposure to sunlight, high temperatures, street dust or cigarette smoke. Curtains are bleached not only at the dry cleaners, but also at home. The article discusses in detail the issue of how to bleach curtains at home.
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How to bleach curtains at home
Experienced housewives know that washing tulle is not always the best way to bleach it. It can only worsen the situation by damaging the structure. But effective methods for bleaching curtains do exist. But their use depends on the material from which the curtain was made.
Nylon curtains
Nylon curtains have not lost their relevance for a long time. Even the great competition of fabrics made of natural and artificial fibers has not forced them out of use.
Main features of non-bending material:
- high strength;
- elasticity, thinness;
- lightness, weightlessness;
- smoothness, shine;
- resistance to external odors and moisture.
The disadvantages of the fabric include the accumulation of static electricity and fading in the sun, which causes yellowing.
Cleaning of nylon tulle
To remove yellow stains from nylon tulle, modern bleaches and stain removers are used. The most accessible method is to use bleach. It must be diluted in a sufficient amount of water (5-7 l) in accordance with the instructions. Dip the tulle into the resulting solution. Leave the fabric for half an hour. Then rinse and dry it.
Remember! After such washing, you will have to remove the smell (characteristic of bleach) yourself. This can be done with fabric softener or a solution with a small amount of vinegar. Having washed the fabric in bleach, you will have to accept that no other cleaning methods will help.
The method of cleaning nylon curtains with other modern means is similar. The amount of stain remover and the waiting time for the result depends on the specific means. Therefore, before using the liquid, you should carefully read its instructions.
To remove heavy stains and completely whiten the curtains, you can apply a concentrated stain remover directly to the stained area. After that, you need to dip the entire fabric into the liquid.
Warning! Follow the cleaning instructions carefully. It is better to use less than more than indicated. Otherwise, there is a risk of saying goodbye to your favorite curtain forever.
Organza curtains
Organza is often used to create room veils. This is due to its following positive characteristics:
- airiness;
- high thread density;
- versatility, practicality;
- wide range of colors and patterns;
- several surface options (glossy, matte);
- texture (even, compressed).
But tulle made of this material is also not eternal and turns yellow no less than nylon.
Bleaching of organza tulle
You can clean organza curtains using store-bought products. Particular attention should be paid to liquids containing active oxygen (e.g. Vanish). They gently clean the fabric without damaging its structure.
Attention! Do not use aggressive solutions, read the instructions carefully.
Unlike nylon, organza is more sensitive. It does not like high temperatures. Therefore, the maximum temperature of the solution should not be higher than 35 °C.
Remember! Organza may fade when washed. Therefore, before carrying out the procedure, it is necessary to take into account its color and the amount of cleaning agent (indicated in the instructions).
General recommendations for cleaning curtains yellowed by the sun
Bleaching tulle (using chemical or folk remedies) implies a number of specific rules for carrying out the procedure.
- Before bleaching, you should thoroughly shake out the curtain in the air or soak it in a soap solution. Such actions will prevent further dust and dirt from appearing.
- It is not recommended to use folk recipes for new products. It is better to buy a professional bleach.
- To add shine to the fabric, add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to the solution.
- It is not recommended to wring out (either by yourself or in a machine) fabrics. It is better to hang the fabrics to drain.
Folk recipes and the best ways to clean old curtains
Modern bleaching agents are expensive and can be ineffective (due to improper use or incompatibility with the material). Therefore, most housewives prefer to turn to folk advice. Our grandmothers knew exactly how to bleach old tulle curtains at home without special jars, without damaging the fabric.
Salt
For this procedure you will need:
- 4 tablespoons of table salt;
- washing powder (bleaching or regular – it doesn’t matter);
- capacity.
You need to proceed as follows:
- dissolve salt in warm water;
- place the cloth in a saline solution;
- leave the container with the curtain overnight (if you don’t have enough time, leave it for 4-5 hours);
- wash the curtain with running water (if there are no stains, and if there are, in the washing machine);
- dry.
This whitening option is not only affordable (salt and water are in every home), but also safe. Salt is not an allergen, so you can even clean curtains from a child's room this way.
Green stuff
You can not only contaminate the surface with brilliant green, but also clean it. To do this, you need to:
- brilliant green;
- cup (glass);
- capacity.
To bleach curtains with brilliant green, do the following:
- Stir a few drops of brilliant green into a cup of warm water and leave to infuse for 5 minutes.
The green stuff in the glass must be stirred until a homogeneous solution without sediment is obtained. - Achieve complete dissolution of the substance (no sediment). If sediment does not pass through, strain the solution through cheesecloth.
- Add the resulting liquid to a container (at least 5 liters of water), stir.
- Soak the curtain for 5 minutes (turning it over regularly).
- Hang the wet curtain until the water drains completely.
Attention! If the mixture is not stirred well (or if there is sediment), the curtain will acquire a light green tint.
Soda
This product is used to soak curtains before washing them in the machine. You will need:
- 50 g washing powder;
- 1 tablespoon of soda;
- capacity.
All components should be mixed, the curtain should be lowered into the liquid and left to soak for 20-30 minutes.
After which the tulle curtain should be sent to the washing machine.
Blue
The most popular method of bleaching, which our grandmothers used. This substance can be used when directly washing the curtain in the washing machine. You only need to pour 1-1.5 caps of blueing instead of rinse aid. Then you should start the machine in the normal mode.
If hand washing is done, it is enough to mix 0.5 teaspoon of blueing in 7-10 liters of water. The resulting liquid should be free of lumps. After rinsing the curtain in it, it is necessary to rinse it with ordinary water.
Remember! If you do not rinse enough or if there are lumps in the solution, the material may turn blue.
Bleaching old curtains is not an easy process that requires special attention and patience. But with the right approach, it will help you get rid of the annoying yellowness, microbes, bacteria and dirt, and also refresh the interior. The main thing is to pay due attention to the instructions and observe the proportions.
