Dust slowly accumulates on our curtains over time. Some curtains are washable, while others need to be dry-cleaned.
The Do’s and Don’ts
When should you dry-clean?
Your curtains might have a washable fabric component, but the seams and linings won’t be spared from shrinking as a result of the wash.
It is always good to play safe by dry cleaning curtains that have swags, pleats or other intricate ornaments that may not do well with a wash.
Special fabrics
Velvet draperies can be freshened up even without dry-cleaning or washing them. Dip a chamois cloth in hot water then wring it out carefully. Use it to brush the velvet from time to time.
If your silk curtains need a cleanup, place them in cool water then wash with a mild detergent. When you are done, swish them gently. Do not wring or twist them.
Sun damage
When fabrics are exposed to the sun for too long, even the sturdiest ones start to become fragile. If you have to use a machine to wash your curtains, engage the gentle cycle, a mild detergent and lukewarm or cool water.
The preferable method of drying them is hanging on the cloth line. If there is no room for this, use a dryer with the delicate or no-heat setting.
Sheer curtains
Your sheer curtains might not look dirty, but you need to wash them regularly. If you wait for the dirt to appear, they might be permanently tarnished.
Sheer curtains need to be cleaned gently. Let them occupy no more than half the capacity of your machine, then soak them in cold water for up to 5 minutes. Only use a mild detergent.
Set the dial to rinse, and after the machine drains the water, run a gentle wash on the curtains for around 3 minutes.
When it’s time to dry the sheer curtains, throw a few terry-cloth towels into the dryer and set it to no heat for around 3 or 4 minutes.
Rehang the curtains while they are a little damp, then pull them into the desired shape. If need be, move your ironing setup closer to the window so that you can iron out the hems of the hanging curtains.
Alternatively, use a handheld steamer. A regular steam iron with a vertical steam setting can also smooth the hems efficiently.
Routine cleaning of curtains
After cleaning the curtains deeply, start a regular program of getting rid of small amounts of dirt. For this, you can dust the curtains using the soft-brush extension of your vacuum cleaner or with a long-handled broom that has soft synthetic fibers.
Use the reduced suction setting while using the vacuum cleaner. This prevents the fabric from getting drawn into the nozzle. Consider covering the nozzle with an old nylon stocking.
If the process of taking down curtains and rehanging them is easy, take them outside for air. Alternatively, put them in the dryer on a delicate or no-heat cycle.
If you are drying the curtains outside, have them lie on two parallel lines to prevent contact between the wet surfaces.
Be wary of wood. If the curtains rest too close to it, they could get stained.
