Sometimes washing curtains can be difficult. Of course, it is easier to take the curtains to a dry cleaner, whose professionals know exactly what type of fabric can be cleaned and can immediately determine what kind of material is in front of them. This is not always convenient, takes time and does not help save money. Let's figure out how to wash curtains at home to keep their appearance impeccable.

Straight curtain on a round cornice
The choice of how to wash curtains depends on the properties of the fabric they are made of.

Many articles are devoted to the problem of caring for fabrics that decorate our windows. Unfortunately, many of the tips in them are quite contradictory, and using them you can harm, not help. We have selected only reliable information and will post it here.

How to Wash Velvet Curtains

It should be noted that, given the capriciousness and high cost of the material, velvet curtains are easier to hand over to competent specialists.

Beautiful velvet curtains on the living room window
Velvet curtains are easily damaged during washing, so it is better to clean them more often with a brush or vacuum cleaner.

If you decide to wash them yourself, then carefully read the recommendations:

  1. It is especially important here to prevent the pile from creasing. Turn the fabric inside out, placing the pile inside, so that it does not crease during washing.
  2. Choose a gentle mode, set the water heating to 30 °C.

    Selecting a washing mode on the machine regulator for velvet curtains
    Velvet curtains require special washing conditions.
  3. Set the cycle to a short time to avoid shrinkage and deformation of the velvet from prolonged exposure.
  4. Turn off the centrifuge.
  5. Dry the curtains horizontally, completely spread out on a sheet or towel to absorb the water. Carefully straighten out the folds and creases, make sure that there are no bald spots, and the fabric is not warped.
  6. No need to iron, it will crush the lint. Hang it up slightly damp.

How to Wash Sheer Curtains

Soaking curtains before hand washing
If you don't know the fabric composition and are concerned that machine washing will damage the curtains, hand wash them.

Organza, silk, veil

To the question of how to wash organza curtains? The answer is - carefully, these are transparent, light fabrics that require especially careful care.

Soaking thin tulle in a plastic basin
The best way to wash old curtains made of thin fabric is to soak them with repeated water changes.
  • The canvases do not require preliminary treatment, dirt is cleaned very quickly. It is advisable to simply shake off dust first.
  • Before putting them in the washing machine tank, use a pillowcase or a special laundry bag. Do not put any other things in addition, this may spoil the result. Use only liquid gels or shampoo.

    Loading curtains into the machine in a laundry bag
    For washing delicate fabrics, use a special bag.
  • Regular powder cannot be used, as hard grains can damage the fragile structure of the fabric.
  • Choose a gentle cycle or “hand wash”, the water is heated to a maximum of 30°C.

    The handle for switching washing modes on a washing machine
    Always choose a gentle washing program and the optimal temperature setting.

Attention! Don't forget to turn off the centrifuge! It is contraindicated to turn on the spin: take out the curtains, wait until the water runs off.

Organza and silk should be ironed through gauze, organza and veil will “hang” on the crossbar under their own weight. Hang in a slightly damp state.

Nylon, tulle, polyester

The only difference from the previous fabrics is that the water heating should be set to 40 °C, the rest of the steps are the same as described above. Tulle dries well when hung, it does not need ironing, the fabric, when wet, smooths itself out in the air.

Transparent white polyester curtain
Synthetic curtains are easy to wash both by hand and in the machine.

If you want to restore whiteness and get rid of dust, use detergents without chlorine in the composition. In order not to spoil the fabric, but to make it snow-white, use oxygen bleach, which works at a wide variety of temperatures. It acts gently, without damaging the structure of the fibers.

Acrylic and viscose

Acrylic curtains and viscose curtains can become rough under the influence of light rays, use washing gels for delicate items, be sure to add conditioner for rinsing. Set the temperature from 30 to 40 ° C on delicate washing and be sure to turn off the centrifuge.

Washing viscose curtains in the washing machine
Viscose curtains lose their strength when wet, so they need to be handled with care and caution.

Before hanging on the window, iron through gauze at 150 °C.

Flax

Linen has a simple weave fabric that does not require special treatment. It is recommended to wash curtains at a temperature of 30 - 40 ° C on a normal cycle.

Linen curtain on the window of a private house
Undyed linen is not afraid of boiling, in case of heavy soiling you can increase the washing temperature

Turn on the minimum spin, linen wrinkles a lot - this is its peculiarity and weak point. It is worth carefully hanging it on a dryer and then ironing it slightly damp.

Cotton

The most unpretentious material. Allows washing at 60 °C in the normal mode.

Pour washing powder into the machine compartment
Any powder is suitable for washing cotton curtains.

Iron through gauze while slightly damp and hang immediately.

String curtains

The hardest part here is to avoid knotting and tangling. So the main thing is preliminary preparation: braid the braid or tie it tightly along the entire height with twine.

Tying a thread curtain with twine before washing
Tying the ribbons in several places will prevent the threads from getting tangled.

Place in a laundry bag and select gentle cycle with medium spin.

Thread curtains in a machine wash bag
The mesh bag will prevent the curtain from getting tangled.

Curtains should be dried by hanging them directly on the curtain rod, removing the string, and straightening the threads so that they take on their original appearance. They are light and will dry quickly, and will look neat and aesthetically pleasing.

Drying thread curtains after washing with your own hands
The curtains must be hung on the curtain rod immediately, while the threads are still damp.

Roman and roller blinds

All these rules are suitable for the care of fabric Roman blinds, just remember - you must remove the slats from them.

Removing a Roman Shade for Machine Washing
To wash the Roman blind, you must first carefully remove it from the rod.
We take out the rods from the pockets on the canvas of the Roman blind
Then remove the weight and cords and proceed as with a regular curtain.

Roller blinds will be damaged by machine washing, this is the case when you should contact the dry cleaner. When washing by hand, put in the bath, drop shampoo on a sponge and gently wipe the dirty areas.

Cleaning a roller blind with your own hands
It is better not to wash roller blinds, but to clean them with a soft sponge with soapy foam or a special gel.

Washing curtains with eyelets

What to do if the curtains have eyelets? Don't be alarmed, these products are all durable and practical, and the rings are strong and reliably withstand loads.

Plastic eyelet on a light curtain
High-quality and simple eyelets, as a rule, are supposed to be washed together with the curtain.
Eyelets with decor on a purple curtain
Another matter is eyelets with decor - such items must be removed before washing the curtains.

Place the curtain in a washing bag without removing the eyelets; it will protect the drum coating and rings from scratches and chips. Do not leave the curtain in the bag for a long time after the machine has stopped working – the parts may fade and the material may lose its shape. It is advisable to select a gentle mode, delicate or hand wash, setting the temperature to 30 °C.

Machine wash curtains with eyelets in a special cover
Not only curtains with eyelets, but also curtains with any decorative elements can be washed in a cover. This preserves the curtain itself, the decorations and the drum of the machine

Use liquid gel or regular shampoo, do not take washing powder. It is abrasive and can leave small scratches. When rinsing, add conditioner to soften the linen, the fabric will become soft and elastic to the touch.

Pouring liquid gel for washing curtains into the machine compartment
Liquid products act more gently and effectively.

You only need to remove the rings if they are made of cheap, simple plastic and you are not sure that their appearance will not be damaged. There are curtains on sale with a removable eyelet strip, this is an additional convenience, helps to avoid damage to the rings.

How often should you wash curtains in an apartment or house?

There is no clear answer to this question. It is recommended to wash curtains hanging in rooms at least twice a year. But if there are small children or people suffering from allergies in the house, then they do it much more often.

A light curtain flutters in the wind from an open window
The frequency of washing curtains depends on the operating conditions.
Different curtains in the interior of a cozy kitchen
The curtains in the kitchen get dirty very quickly

Of course, in the kitchen, where they actively fry and cook, curtains get dirty much faster. Sometimes the windows look out onto a street with heavy traffic. Sometimes, window curtains get dirty from beloved pets. Therefore, the frequency of washing curtains will be different in each specific case, and there are no exact schedules.

Light and clean curtains on the bedroom window
Bedroom curtains get the least dirty if the room's windows do not face a busy highway.

Periodically, it is enough to shake off the curtains from settled dust and vacuum them to prevent dust mites from appearing.

Dry cleaning of home curtains with a household vacuum cleaner
Dry cleaning is especially necessary in the summer, when there is no rain for a long time and the windows are constantly open.

How to Wash Curtains Without Ironing

Wrinkled curtains can ruin the interior of an apartment and upset the owner with their appearance. Of course, ironing a huge heavy canvas is a very difficult task that requires a lot of time and effort.

Ironing organza curtains with an attachment
There are special attachments for the soleplate of the iron for ironing delicate fabrics.

It is enough to know a few simple tricks and you can do without an iron.

  1. You should not leave the curtains inside the drum for a long time after it has stopped, otherwise they will become wrinkled.
  2. Does your machine have an "easy iron" setting? Use it, it will dramatically reduce the number of creases and folds.
  3. Do not fill the drum more than half full. The sheets will not only become more wrinkled, but may also tear or become deformed.
  4. Shake and straighten the curtains before hanging.
  5. Don't forget to consider the type of fabric. Heavy curtains made of velvet or wool are dried horizontally, laid out on towels that will absorb the water.

Basic recommendations

Let's try to summarize everything said above and list everything that is required for proper care of curtains, regardless of the type and size of the window panel.

    • Read the label and follow the instructions.
    • Make sure you know exactly what the fabric is made of and that it is machine-safe. Also check to see if the decorative elements will be damaged.
    • Do not fill the drum of the machine too tightly, otherwise there will be dirty spots and the fabric will not be rinsed out completely. This will lead to streaks on the curtain. If the size of the panels is very large, it is better to wash one at a time and turn on additional rinsing.

      Loading curtains into the drum of an automatic washing machine
      With a half-load of the drum, the fabric is washed better and rinsed well.
    • Use shampoo or liquid gel instead of solid powder. This will prevent damage to the fibers. Special bleaching agents have been developed for white curtains.
    • Be sure to use a laundry bag, this will protect the machine tank and the curtains themselves from snags and prevent damage to the decor.
    • Do not put any things together with the curtains. Leave only the curtains and nothing else.
    • Turn off the centrifuge, spinning causes creases and damage. Allow the water to drain on its own.
    • Washing in a washing machine is much easier than hand washing and makes life easier for housewives.
Clean curtains on the window after washing
By following the fabric care recommendations, the life of your curtains will be extended and washing will be simple and efficient.

Are you unsure whether you should do the laundry yourself? Invite experts to your apartment for a consultation. There are now companies that provide such services at home, so you won’t have to drag heavy curtains yourself.

Video on how to wash curtains with eyelets