Whatever the material of your curtains, the biggest concern is dust, pollen, and other debris, which make their way into the pores of the fabric. But simply dusting your curtains every few weeks or gently vacuuming them with a brush attachment when they start looking dingy is the best preventative maintenance, said Adam Skalman, vice president of sales development for The Shade Store.
If you have pets, you’ll also have fur to contend with, and if you have kids (or just very messy family members and guests), expect to fight stains every so often, too.
Satin and silk curtains need to be dry-cleaned; with other materials, try the instructions below.
Maintenance
What you need:
- stepladder or stool
- vacuum cleaner with an upholstery (brush) attachment
How long it will take:
It depends on the size of your curtains, but it shouldn’t take more than two to five minutes.
What to do:
1. Place the upholstery attachment onto your vacuum, and step onto your stool.
2. Vacuum each curtain panel gently on low suction, starting from the top, pulling small sections taut as you pass the bristles over them. Work your way down.
Deep-cleaning
What you need if you’re machine-washing:
What you need if you’re hand-washing:
- laundry detergent or liquid soap
- a bucket or two
- clothes line or drying rack
How long it will take:
Depending on the size of your curtains, allot about 15 to 30 minutes of active time if you’re using a washer and dryer, and about 30 to 90 minutes if you’re hand-washing. Passive time can vary greatly, depending on the size and material of your curtains, your dryer (if using machines), and the climate (if air-drying).
What to do:
1. Dust away the debris. Follow the above steps.
2. Take the curtains down. Check that you’ve disconnected all the hooks or clips from the curtain before washing. Not doing so can damage your washing machine and snag the curtain fabric.
3. To launder machine-washable curtains:
- Don’t overstuff. Chances are, you’re dealing with very big sheets of fabric. Unless you have a high-capacity machine (or plan to go to a laundromat), you’ll probably have to wash one or two panels at a time. Your curtains won’t emerge clean otherwise.
- Don’t veer from the cycle dictated by the label. Otherwise you might end up with shrunken or shredded curtains.
- Consider a mesh bag. For more-delicate materials, such as sheers or lace, a zip-up mesh bag will allow water and soap to do their job without exposing the fabric to rough handling.
- Use cold water. This is particularly important for cotton and linen to avoid shrinkage.
- Run your curtains through the dryer on the gentle cycle, if the care instructions allow. To avoid shrinking, steer clear of heat-drying. You can also air-dry your curtains (see below).
4. To launder hand-wash-only curtains:
- Grab a large bucket. Add lukewarm water and a few squirts of dish detergent or about a teaspoon of gentle laundry detergent. Set it near your bath tub or a big sink.
- Agitate the mixture with your hands. Soak your curtain in the solution, one panel at a time, size depending.
- Rinse out with clean, cool water. You can do this in the tub or sink or in a second bucket filled with water. Squeeze out as much water as you can.
- Air-dry your curtains by clipping them onto a clothesline preferably outdoors on a nice day. You can hang them over your tub’s curtain rod, too. A drying rack can be used for shorter curtains.
- Run a fan until they feel dry for indoor setups. And let the wind do its thing outdoors. Depending on your climate and curtains, this can take from a few hours to about a day. Straighten them out. Again, consult the care instructions. For cotton or linen curtains, you can usually iron them at low heat. For synthetic curtains or those with blackout lining, direct iron heat will likely be too intense; instead, use a steamer at a low heat setting to avoid melting.
5. Straighten them out. Again, consult the care instructions. For cotton or linen curtains, you can usually iron them at low heat. For synthetic curtains or those with blackout lining, direct iron heat will likely be too intense; instead, use a steamer at a low heat setting to avoid melting.
