A-Z of DIY & Building Guides How To Clean Curtains And Blinds

Date Published:

15/09/2008

It’s easy to overlook them, but even just hanging around curtains and blinds can get dirty, and the better you keep on top of cleaning them, the longer they should last.

By Kerry Young

How To Clean Curtains

Check curtains for signs of rotting – see if the fabric starts to disintegrate when you gently stretch it – once the rot has set in, it’s time to invest in some new drapes. Regular vacuuming should prolong the time between washing curtains and blinds. Use the upholstery tool, or for delicate, lightweight fabrics you could try covering the nozzle with a piece cut out of an old pair of tights and an elastic band.

How To Clean Lined Curtains

Unfortunately, if your curtains are lined, you have no choice but to take them down to the dry cleaners and brace yourself for the bill.

How To Clean Washable Curtains

Check the label to find the correct treatment for your curtains. Pay close attention to these because although they may seem a bit over-cautious, many curtains are made of a combination of fabrics and materials that make washing tricky, or may have a flame-retardant treatment that could be compromised by the wrong sort of wash.

Remove any hooks, weights or metal fittings and loosen any tape strings. If hand washing is recommended, you might want to do it in the bath unless they are quite small. Use a gentle detergent without optical brighteners or bleaching agents, which might affect the fabric colour, and make sure it’s thoroughly dissolved in the water before adding the curtains. Adopt a gentle squeezing technique rather than a firm rub and rinse thoroughly.

Drying is much easier if the curtains are spun first. Follow the care label or go for a fairly slow spin – the curtains need to be heavy enough with water to smooth themselves out when hung up to dry. If the curtains are machine washable, then commend yourself for your forethought when you bought them and wash according to the instructions on the care label. Don’t overload your washing machine, though – if you have ample drapery, get down the launderette and use one of their large machines.

How To Clean Voiles & Net Curtains

Voiles tend to be hand-wash only – check the label to be sure. Wash in lukewarm water with mild laundry detergent. Grubby nets are not a good thing, but steer clear of bleach. Instead, try a dedicated product such as Glo Care Net Curtain Whitener (85p for 3 x 50ml sachets). Hang them to dry on the line (the sun will whiten them even more) and creases should drop out. If they do require an iron, go for a low setting and iron on the reverse.

For step by step instructions on making curtains, both lined and unlined, click here >>