Updated at: 22-08-2022 - 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. Put these “How to Clean Practically Anything” curtain cleaning suggestions to use.

Curtain Cleaning Do’s and Don’ts

When to dry clean

Customized Textiles

Solar Ablation

Curtains with a Sheer Aesthetic

Two to three minutes in the dryer on no heat with the sheer curtains and terry-cloth towels should do the trick. Pull into form and re-hang while still damp. The hems of draperies or curtains can be ironed while they are hanging if necessary. Use a portable steamer or a normal steam iron’s vertical steam setting to smooth them out if necessary.

How to Clean Curtains | Caring for Blockout & Sheer Curtains

Cleaning the curtains on a regular basis

Use a vacuum cleaner with a lower suction setting so that you don’t suck the cloth into the machine. A stiff piece of plastic screen or an old nylon stocking could be placed between the nozzle and the fabric to prevent that from happening.

If you can easily remove and rehang curtains and drapes, place them in a clothes dryer set to the no-heat or delicate cycle and air them out on a clothesline.

Step-by-Step Curtain Care

  • Before cleaning your curtains, measure them to see if they need to be re-stretched. Remove any weights or hooks, and then loosen the tapes until they rest flat.
  • Before cleaning the curtains, run them through a dryer on the no-heat cycle to remove dust. 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 a lot more than dry.
  • If hand-washing, don’t rub or wring the fabric; just agitate it gently.
  • Don’t wring or rub the fabric when hand-washing; just agitate it.
  • It’s best to avoid puckering by stretching out seams gently and then pulling the curtains to the desired size when they’re spread out on a flat surface like a bed instead.
  • Use a tape measure and hooks to make sure your curtains are at their proper length.
  • Instead of taking down your curtains, try using a handheld steamer or a straight-up steam iron to smooth them out after they’re up.
  • Curtains should be hung with tidy valances attached to the wall. Use the upholstery attachment on your vacuum to clean an upholstered valance, the crevice tool on a hardwood valance, and a sponge dipped in a liquid detergent solution to clean a plastic valance.
  • In order to hang the curtains, one person climbs on a ladder while the other stands below to ensure that the curtains don’t droop on the ground.

How to Whiten Window Sheers

Sheer curtains add an air of elegance to any style of window. However, if they are allowed to accumulate dust and filth, they can take on an unappealing dingy appearance. It is fortunate that many translucent curtains are composed of synthetic fabrics that are easy to clean. Even delicate linen sheers can be cleaned as long as they are handled with care. Most sheer curtains can be brought back to their former glory with a little hand or machine washing.

Preparation

Sheer drapes elevate every window treatment to a higher level of formality. Because of the dust and filth they accumulate, they can take on an unappealingly dingy appearance if not cleaned frequently enough. Many sheer curtains are composed of synthetic fabrics that are easy to maintain. Lavish linen sheers can be washed if they’re treated carefully. A good hand or machine wash may bring out the best in most sheer curtains.

It’s best to only remove as many curtains from the window as you have time to launder at once. Avoid folding or wrinkling the cloth more than is absolutely necessary when handling them. Removing any drapery hooks or other hardware is essential.

How to Clean Custom Made Curtains - Curtain World

Hand Washing

Use a mild dishwashing or laundry soap in a warm basin. Hand-agitate the curtains after submerging them in the soapy water. Soak for ten to fifteen minutes.

Empty the bowl and carefully press down on the curtains to remove as much water as possible. To remove the soap from the curtains, fill the sink with fresh water and stir it. Press rather than wring the fabric to remove as much water as possible.

Place the curtains flat on the floor, laying them on towels to absorb excess water. Rehang the curtains in the window while they are still slightly damp.

Machine Washing

Remove any extra water by laying the curtains out flat on towels. Immediately hang the curtains in the window after drying them.

Once the wash cycle is complete, remove the curtains as quickly as possible. Dry the sheers for a few minutes in the dryer with cool air. Drying drapes with a few clean, dry hand towels helps prevent them from becoming wrinkled.

While they’re still somewhat moist, remove the sheers from the dryer and hang them to dry. Make sure all the hardware is reattached before hanging them back up.

What Causes Sheer Curtain Discoloration?

Dust, pet dander, pollen and other air pollutants can accumulate on the surface of window curtains. Opaque curtains have a tighter weave, whilst sheer curtains have a looser one. If the white sheers start to become yellow or brown, you may have missed the accumulation. Adding stains to your sheers will make them appear darker. Cleaning your curtains on a regular basis helps maintain them white or return them to their original white color.

Vacuum the Sheer Curtain Panels

Dust or vacuum your sheer polyester curtains to eliminate any loose dirt or debris before you wet them. It’s more difficult to get rid of dust that’s been exposed to water. To remove dust more gently, attach a brush attachment to the hose of your vacuum cleaner. In order to ensure that any stray dust falls into areas you haven’t yet cleaned, start at the top and work your way to the bottom of the room.

Hand or Machine Wash

Make sure to check out the care label on your sheer polyester curtains before deciding how to wash them, since they can be machine washable or dry cleaned. Cleaning sheers by hand, even if they can be washed in the machine, is a softer procedure that can help them last longer, especially if they are decorated by embroidery or appliqué. Make sure you wash them on a moderate cycle and in cold water if you choose to do it by hand. The sheers can also be protected in the washing machine by using a mesh washing bag. It’s recommended to avoid using bleach on your polyester curtains because it can weaken or damage them, which can hasten their demise.

Fill a tub or bucket with warm water and a few drops of dish soap to make a gentle cleaning solution for handwashing sheer drapes. The sheers should be placed in a bowl of water and swung around gently to release the dirt and particles on the polyester material. Allow the curtains to soak in the water for five to ten minutes before rinsing them well to remove any soap stains.

To avoid stretching or pulling the fabric, gently wring out some of the extra water from the curtains. Place a thick sheet or large towel on top of the curtain panel to absorb more water. Gently wrap the towel up with the curtain in it to dry it out. Before re-hanging the curtains on the rod, make sure they’re mostly dry. To avoid wrinkles, hang the curtains up when they’re still slightly damp.

TERESIA Sheer curtains, 1 pair, white, 145x300 cm - IKEA

Spot Clean the Stains

Spot cleaning will help restore the whiteness of your polyester sheers if they have become discolored due to stains. Curtain cleaning may remove some light stains, but additional spot cleaning may be required for more serious stains. If you don’t want to wash the entire curtain, this is an alternative method for tackling problem areas. While you spot clean the sheers, you can leave them hanging on the curtain rod.

Alternatively, you might use a mild cleaning solution made of warm water and dish soap, or equal parts of white vinegar and water. Make sure the solution doesn’t stain the area by testing it on a hidden spot first. Apply the solution to the place using a gentle cloth or sponge. The cloth can be damaged if you use a scrubbing motion. Continue to blot until the stain is removed from the polyester fabric.