How to Wash Curtains and Drapes
Curtains are often overlooked when it comes to cleaning the house. But if you think about how much dust has settled on them and how many soiled hands have pulled at them, washing your curtains from time to time is a good idea! We explain the important things you need to keep in mind when washing curtains.
Washing curtains made of different materials
The most common types of curtain fabric are cotton, silk, linen, polyester, velvet, acrylic, rayon, brocade, lace, and voile. Each material has its own characteristics, but also its own needs when it comes to being washed. Silk and linen and some types of lace curtain, for example, are dry-clean only so they should be kept well away from your washing machine. Other materials are fine with being machine-washed. Whatever material your drapes are made of, it’s important to check the care symbols on the label so no mistakes are made.
How to wash curtains in the washing machine
If you have velvet, polyester, net, voile, linen, or nylon curtains, for example, you can throw them in the washing machine. This also applies to washing fabric shower curtains and even ones made of plastic! If you’re wondering how often you should wash your curtains, once a year should suffice. Follow these step-by-step instructions on how to wash your curtains and they’ll be pristine in no time.
Step 01: Make sure you remove all hooks and curtain weights and give a little shake outside to remove any dust.
Step 02: Wash carefully, depending on the type of fabric. If you are machine-washing the curtains, choose a delicate cycle or cool wash with a slow spin. If you have decided to hand wash the curtains, make sure the detergent is thoroughly dissolved in the cool water before you submerge the drapes. Rinse and Squeeze out as much water as possible when you’re done washing the curtains. You can use any Persil® ProClean® detergent, such as Original Scent or Intense Fresh®, since they all provide a deep clean even in cold water.
Step 03: Iron the curtains on a low setting while still damp. It’s recommended to iron along the vertical length on the side that doesn’t show. At the same time, make sure to stretch the fabric gently to stop the seams from puckering. Hang the curtains while they’re still damp so they drop to their original length.
Useful tips when washing curtains
In order to get the most out of your curtains and ensure they’ll still hang beautifully in decades to come, take a look at these practical tips for curtain care.
- Measure curtains before washing in case you need to stretch them back into shape.
- Don’t wash too many sets of curtains at the same time since they become much heavier when wet and may become too much for the washing machine.
- If parts of the fabric have already dried when it’s time to iron the curtain, dampen the entire curtain again to avoid watermarks.
- Before rehanging the curtains, make sure that windows sills and curtain tracks are dust free to prevent the curtains from getting immediately dirty again.