Curtain Cleaning Guide

The curtains are important decorative elements in our home that shape the style and atmosphere in the space. However, due to their position, they can accumulate dust, microbes, and odors from the environment. Therefore, cleaning the curtains is essential to maintain their appearance, hygiene, and freshness. Follow the cleaning guide below to keep your curtains in excellent condition!

Washing Curtains in the Washing Machine

Step 1. Check the care instructions:

Before starting the cleaning, check the care instructions provided by the manufacturer. Although most curtains can be machine washed, some require special care or hand cleaning.

Step 2. Use a roller and remove accessories:

Before placing them in the washing machine, use a lint roller or a soft brush to remove dust and dirt from the curtains. Gently run the roller over the surface of the curtain. Also, you should remove accessories from the curtains, such as hooks, rings, and pins, as they may cause damage to the fabric.

Step 3. Machine washing:

If your curtains allow machine washing, place them in a large mesh bag designed for washing delicate fabrics or use a program for delicate fabrics and gentle spinning. Add a mild detergent and wash in cold water, around $30^\circ\text{C}$. Avoid using bleach or chlorine unless the instructions allow it. To ensure your curtains are safe during washing, you can place them folded. 

Step 4. Dry correctly:

After the wash cycle is complete, let the curtains air dry naturally in a well-ventilated and sunny area. A medium or high-shading curtain can be hung on the clothesline, without being folded. Let it air dry, avoiding direct sun exposure. If it is necessary to use a tumble dryer, choose the lowest possible temperature to prevent creasing and damage to the fabrics. If your curtain is low-shading, meaning made of thin fabric, you can hang it directly on the curtain rod after a simple shake and let it dry there. To avoid accidents, you can place towels or newspapers on the floor to absorb moisture. 

Step 5. Ironing:

If your curtains need ironing, do it gently and moderately. Use a low temperature and place a cloth between the iron and the curtains to avoid burning them. It is good to place an ironing cloth on your ironing board for even better results. If you have a steam ironing press, you will save a lot of time. If your curtain is not very wrinkled, you can iron it while it is hanging on the curtain rod with a vertical iron.

Step 6. Selection of special cleaning products:

If your curtains require special care, such as cleaners for velvet or specific fabrics, carefully follow the manufacturer's instructions. For some fabrics, there are special cleaning products that must be used either during washing or for their maintenance. 

Hand Washing Curtains

If you are concerned that the washing machine will damage the curtain or if the curtain manufacturer recommends hand washing, follow the instructions below to wash them effectively and safely. For example, cotton curtains are best washed by hand. 

Detergent selection:

• Choose a mild detergent, preferably liquid, that is suitable for your curtain fabrics, according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Filling the basin or sink:

• Fill a basin or sink with lukewarm water and add the detergent.

Add the curtains:

• Submerge the curtains in the water and gently agitate them to ensure the detergent reaches every fold of the curtain.

Allow them to soak:

• Allow the curtains to soak in the water for about 30 minutes or more, depending on how dirty they are. 

Stain cleaning:

• If there are stains, use a soft brush or a sponge to gently remove them.

Empty and refill the basin:

• Optionally, you can empty the dirty water from the basin and refill it with clean lukewarm to cold water, adding a little fabric softener, if the manufacturer allows it. 

Rinsing: 

• Carefully rinse the curtains with clean water until all detergent and softener residues are removed.

Wringing:

• Wring them gently and carefully to remove most of the water, and then follow the drying and ironing steps (4, 5) mentioned above for machine washing. For safer wringing, you can place them on a surface covered with a towel and press them so that the towel absorbs the water. 

Curtain Cleaning with Steam

Another even easier way to clean your curtain is by using steam. A steam device is ideal for curtains made of heavy fabrics or those that are not easy to unhook from the curtain rod. Before using a steam device, make sure that the curtain manufacturer allows its use. Usually, curtains that can be washed in the washing machine are suitable for steam cleaning. Fabrics such as velvet are recommended not to be cleaned this way. 

Fill the steamer with water up to the permitted limit and wait until the water heats up. Attach the appropriate nozzle and start steaming the curtain from a distance of about 15-20 centimeters. If you notice that the fabric is getting too wet, make sure to move the steamer away. Start from the top with downward movements to evenly cover the entire surface of the curtain. Once you finish with one side, repeat the process on the other side. Then let your curtain dry, and if you see that it has not been fully cleaned, go over it again with the device. 

Useful Tips for Curtain Care

1. If you are going to wash two large curtains, prefer to wash them separately so that they can be agitated better and clean more effectively.

2. Only add the curtains to the washing machine. Clothes and other various fabrics may transfer colors and lint to the curtains.  

3. Ideally, you should wash your curtains once or twice a year, but you should dust them weekly with a feather duster, a soft brush, or a damp cloth. 

4. To protect your curtains from odors, close kitchen doors while cooking and avoid smoking inside the house. 

5. Remove stains immediately by creating a mixture of water and vinegar and rubbing with a damp cloth. Instead of vinegar, you can also use liquid dish soap.

6. For your white curtains, you can use sugar. Add two tablespoons of sugar to the detergent dispenser, and you will see that it will give your curtain a unique whitening effect!

What do the icons on the care instructions symbolize?

Most textiles have instructions on how to wash, iron, and dry the products. Generally, you should know that the basin symbolizes washing with water, the circle symbolizes dry cleaning, the triangle symbolizes bleaching, and the iron symbolizes ironing. Some of the most common washing symbols are the following:

To choose the perfect curtain for you, consult the corresponding curtain buying guide from designdrops and visit our category linens to find curtains and many other quality products!