Updated at: 07-05-2022 - By: Sienna Lewis

In the last several months, have you noticed how much dust has accumulated on your curtains? To begin with: To discover if you can wash or dry-clean your curtains and draperies, read the care directions carefully. In either event, use these “How to Clean Practically Anything” curtain cleaning suggestions from Consumer Reports to good use.

Curtain Cleaning Do’s and Don’ts

When to use a dry-cleaning service

Intricately patterned textiles

Damage caused by the sun’s rays

Curtains with a Sheer Aesthetic

For a further 2 to 3 minutes, place the sheer curtains and a few terrycloth towels in a dryer set to no heat. Pull it into shape while it’s still slightly damp. If you need to iron the hems while the curtains or drapes are hanging, move an ironing board to the window and do so. To smooth them, you can also use a steam iron set to vertical steam or a handheld steamer.

How to clean your curtains: GHI guide to washing your curtains

Curtains should be cleaned regularly.

Avoid sucking up the cloth with a vacuum cleaner by adjusting its suction setting. A rigid plastic screen or an old nylon stocking wrapped in a rubber band could be used to separate the nozzle from the fabric and prevent this from happening.

Use a clothesline or the delicate cycle on a dryer to air dry curtains and drapes that you can take down and put back up with reasonable ease.

Step-by-Step Curtain Care

  • Before cleaning your curtains, measure them to see if they need to be re-stretched. You should remove any weights or hooks from the tapes, and loosen them so that they are lying flat.
  • Use a dryer on the no-heat cycle to dust the curtains before cleaning them. Vacuum with the brush attachment and shake them out on a bed.
  • Don’t put too much in the washing machine, and be aware that wet curtains will weigh more.
  • Don’t wring or rub the fabric when hand-washing; just agitate it.
  • Attempt to dry the curtains in two parallel lines so that the wet surfaces do not come into contact. Prevent wood from being used as a resting place for your curtains.
  • Using a damp iron, run it down the visible side of the vertical length. To avoid watermarks, wet the entire curtain again if some of the cloth has already dried.
  • To prevent puckering, stretch the seams gently while ironing. Then, spread the curtains out on a clean surface, such as a bed, and pull them to the proper size.
  • When the curtains are dry, insert hooks and weights, and then pull the tape to the right width.
  • Using a handheld steamer or a vertical steaming of a standard steam iron to smooth your curtains can potentially save you a step.
  • Vaulted valances should be attached to the wall prior to rehanging the curtains A plastic valance may be cleaned with a sponge dipped in a solution of liquid soap and water, while a wooden valance can be vacuumed with the crevice tool.
  • In order to hang the curtains, one person climbs on a ladder while the other stands below to ensure that the curtains don’t dangle on the ground.

Cleaning Silk Curtains

Silk curtains aren’t as difficult to clean as many people believe. Only a few simple ingredients are required for success: the correct instruments, some patience, and a little know-how. The equipment you’ll need can be found around your house; patience, care, and the ability to follow these directions are all yours. Silk curtains may be cleaned and restored to its former glory by following these simple steps. Finally, you’ll discover how easy it is to clean silk curtains..

  1. Water should be prepared. Add one teaspoon of mild soap or detergent to each gallon of warm water in the bathtub. Woolite, Dawn, Oxiclean, and Palmolive are just a few of the many detergents and soaps you have at your disposal.
  2. Do not use a machine. Using the water that has been pre-heated, gently wash the curtains. Silk can easily be damaged by a washing machine, so you’ll want to wash it by hand. Add a little extra soap to any spots that are extremely discolored. To clean the curtains, use mild pressure and a gentle scrubbing motion.
  3. Rinse. The tub should be drained and the drapes washed. Turning on the water and letting it run over the curtains is an easy way to accomplish this. The silk can be damaged by anything hotter than lukewarm, so be sure you only use that temperature. Rinse the curtains as many times as necessary until all of the soap is removed.
  4. Rinse with vinegar. When you fill up the tub with warm water, add a tablespoon of white vinegar to brighten things up even further. vinegar is an excellent deodorizer, as well as a light “bleach” that can be used to brighten the drapes. Allow the curtains to sit for 10 minutes before rinsing after a second gentle hand wash.
  5. Rinse. The tub should be drained and the drapes washed. In other words, follow the same procedure as in step three. Continue to do this until you can no longer detect the vinegar’s odour in the air.
  6. Dry. Using a gentle squeeze, remove as much water as possible from the drapes. Avoid wringing the silk, since this might cause it to be damaged and stretched. Remove as much water as you can from the curtains, then spread them out on some fluffy towels, and then roll them up loosely to dry. As a result of this, most of the remaining water will be flushed out. Hang the curtains out to dry on a clothesline after unrolling them. Make sure to do this in a shady area to avoid sun damage.
  7. Iron. Iron the wrinkles out of the curtains while they are still slightly damp. Keep in mind that if you use a direct heat source like an iron, you may do some harm to silk.

How to Maintain and Clean Draperies and Curtains - Reliable Blog

Cleaning Silk Drapes Without Damaging Them

Silk curtains are difficult to clean because of their delicate nature. Silk drapes can be cleaned without harming the material, and there numerous techniques to do it. Even while dry-cleaning is the recommended method for cleaning these types of draperies, it may be expensive, and you can clean them yourself while being sure to remove water without using a clothes dryer, which can damage them.

Step 1 – Place Drapes in Cool Water

The size of the draperies will determine whether they should be placed in a sink or a bathtub filled with cold water. Allow the water to soak into the fabric completely before rinsing.

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Step 2 – Add Detergent

Rinse the draperies with a light detergent or soap in cool water. Afterwards, rinse the draperies with soapy water to remove any remaining stains. Slightly scrubbing the fabric with your hands can help remove stains.

Step 3 – Drain and Refill

Drain the soapy water from the sink once the draperies have been washed. Add more cool water to the sink after the water has been emptied to ensure that all soap has been removed from the cloth.

Step 4 – Add Vinegar

To prevent the fabric from discoloring, add vinegar to the water. Do not soak the fabric for an extended period of time.

Step 5 – Remove Water

Drain the sink of water and take the fabric from it. The fragile cloth will be ruined if you wring away the excess water. It is preferable to use a towel to dry the draperies. By doing this, you can help prevent the curtains from becoming sopping wet.

Step 6 – Hang to Dry

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The material of these curtains will be ruined if they are dried in a dryer. You may either use a shower curtain rod or a clothesline to hang these curtains.

Step 7 – Iron

Using a low setting and avoiding steam, iron the curtains.

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Spot Clean When Needed

Rather of washing your silk drapes, you may want to explore spot cleaning if you only have a few blemishes. Apply a mild detergent or white vinegar to the blemish, and then rinse the area thoroughly. To remove soap and dry the stain, use a cloth to blot it. Repeat if necessary when the place has completely dried.

If you’re afraid of cleaning your silk curtains since they’re difficult, you’re wrong! Other than taking it to the dry cleaners, there are other options for cleaning this type of fabric. When cleaning silk, use a light detergent and let it air dry instead of using too much heat to dry it out. When necessary, use a low-heat iron and spot clean the cloth.