Curtain Care: Washing, Dusting and Ironing

How long curtains last depends on how you wash them and how you keep dust off in between. Separate care rules for labels, fabric types, linings, roller blinds and Venetians.

Curtains rarely draw attention day to day, yet they constantly absorb room dust, kitchen steam, cigarette smoke and sunlight. Often they only get noticed when the colour dulls or the sheer turns yellow, and then the whole curtain goes straight into hot water. The result: the fabric shrinks, the lining shrinks differently from the face fabric and the folds lose their shape. Proper care is not complicated; it simply means knowing the fabric and not rushing.

Start with the label and a test

When curtains are made up, keep the fabric label or the manufacturer's care instructions. They show, in symbols, the washing temperature, machine or hand wash, whether bleach is allowed, and drying and ironing settings. If there is no label, it is wise to wash a small piece from a hidden edge first and check whether the colour runs or the fabric shrinks.

Before washing, remove all hooks, rings, weights from the weighted tape and any metal parts. Do not cram a large curtain into the drum: it will not rinse well and the creases will set deeper. If necessary, wash it in two loads.

How different fabrics are washed

Polyester sheers and synthetic curtains usually wash well on a delicate machine cycle at the low temperature shown on the label. A gentle spin helps reduce creasing.
Linen and cotton curtains can shrink. Unless the label says otherwise, choose cool water and a gentle cycle, and in some cases dry cleaning is the safer option.
Velvet, silk, jacquard, heavy decorative fabrics, lined curtains and Roman blinds generally need dry cleaning. When lining and face fabric shrink by different amounts, the edge of the curtain puckers.
On blackout-coated fabrics, high temperatures and hard spinning can damage the coating, so the manufacturer's instructions deserve particular attention.

Never use chlorine bleach on coloured fabric. For a yellowed white sheer, choose a whitening product that matches both the label and the fibre content.

Drying and ironing

Light sheers and synthetic curtains often need no ironing at all: hang them back on the track while still slightly damp and their own weight will straighten them. Drying works best with the window open but out of direct sun. Use a tumble dryer only if the label permits it.

If ironing is needed, iron on the reverse at the temperature on the label. Velvet should never be pressed with an iron, as it flattens the pile; such fabrics are refreshed while hanging with a vertical steamer. For long curtains, steaming them on the track rather than on an ironing board is both easier and kinder to the folds.

Keeping dust off between washes

Washing curtains too often wears the fabric, so the care in between is what really matters:

vacuum regularly with a soft brush attachment on low power, working from top to bottom;
shake light curtains out in the open air;
open and close the curtains fully from time to time, since dust settles inside the folds;
when cleaning the room, dust the curtains first and mop the floor afterwards.

How often washing is needed depends on conditions. A window onto a busy street, a room near the kitchen, a smoking household and pets all make curtains dirty faster, while in a quiet bedroom they stay fresh much longer.

Roller and Venetian blinds

Roller blind fabric is often specially treated and should not be soaked. Clean it fully lowered with a vacuum and a soft brush, and lift stains with a damp cloth by dabbing rather than rubbing. Roll it up only once the fabric is completely dry, otherwise marks or creases may remain.

Aluminium and plastic Venetian blinds are wiped with a damp cloth with the slats closed, then the slats are tilted the other way and the other side is cleaned. Timber and bamboo slats must not get wet; wipe them with a dry or barely damp cloth. On fabric vertical blinds the louvres can be removed and cleaned according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Sun and moths

Over time sunlight fades a fabric's colour and weakens its fibres. A lining, a second layer nearer the glass and not leaving the curtain exposed to full sun all day will extend its life. Wool and wool-blend curtains that are going into storage for a long time should be stored clean, in a closed cover and with moth protection, since soiled textiles attract moths more.

Pərdə Zaferoğlu has many different fabrics, so ask how each one should be washed or cleaned before you decide. A fabric that is easy to wash and suits your daily routine makes looking after it much simpler later on.

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