How to wash the curtains in the washing machine and by hand at home
Anybody curtains in the kitchen, bedroom or children's room requires periodic washing. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the fabric of the curtains so that after cleaning the appearance does not suffer. You can arrange dry or wet cleaning, hand or machine wash, selecting the appropriate mode. It is important to refresh the curtains and remove dirt so that the color does not fade and the material does not deform.
How to wash straight lines without decorative elements
When washing curtains that do not have decorative elements in the form of sewn beads, appliqués, bows and pleats, you only need to focus on the fabric. The washing method and detergent are chosen depending on the material.
silk, organza, voile, satin
Curtains made from delicate and delicate fabrics such as silk, organza, voile and satin require very careful handling. They are washed by hand or in the washing machine, choosing a gentle mode, while the water temperature should not exceed 30 degrees. No pre-soaking is needed as the fabric is easy to wipe clean. The curtains are placed in the drum of the machine in a special bag separately from other things, the program is set without spinning, the water after washing flows out on its own.
Acrylic and viscose
Delicate fabrics can be washed in the machine, but the temperature should not exceed 40 degrees, and the mode is selected gentle, without spinning. Laundry detergents suitable for delicate fabrics are necessary. For acrylic curtains, it is advisable to use an air conditioner so that the delicate material does not harden under direct sunlight. The water flows by itself. You can iron through a damp cloth.
Linen and Cotton
Linen and cotton curtains are not very moody in terms of washing. Decorative linen curtains are often hung in the kitchen, where grease and soot particles constantly settle on the fabric, which is why the curtains should be washed regularly. Dirt is easy to remove, as the laundry can be machine washed at high temperature by selecting a program for cotton fabrics. It will be easier to iron if the material is not overdried, for which the fabric is laid on the board while still damp. Cotton curtains can shrink during machine washing and drying, so it is best to hand wash and iron them damp.
Polyester
Polyester curtains are washed at a temperature not exceeding 40 degrees. Iron them through a damp cloth.
Taffeta
Taffeta is a dense synthetic fabric.Like any synthetic, it's best washed by hand, but machine washing is also possible with the right mode and detergent. If the fabric is very dirty, it can be pre-soaked for 40 minutes. For washing, a temperature of up to 45 degrees is allowed, the agent is chosen sparingly, and wringing in the machine is avoided, it can deform the structure. Do not dry in the sun or near electrical appliances.
Velvet
Velvet looks elegant and sophisticated, but without proper care, the finicky material can fade and lose its appeal. It is best if velvet curtains are dry cleaned or taken to a professional dry cleaner. If you nevertheless decide to wash at home, this should be done very carefully. Hand wash preferably at low temperature up to 30 degrees. Prolonged contact with water is undesirable. It is necessary to dry in a horizontal position so that the material does not deform.
Nylon
Nylon is easy to wash and dries very quickly. Curtains are washed separately from other things, while whites should be sorted from other colors, otherwise they can acquire an ugly grayish tint. Detergents and bleaches should be chlorine-free. The curtains are dried by hanging them wet over the bathroom, where the water flows, and then laid on the fabric.
Wool
Woolen curtains can be washed in the machine only if the appropriate mode is provided for it, otherwise, in order not to spoil it, you will have to wash it by hand. Wool does not like temperature changes and prolonged exposure to water, so it is washed without pre-soaking at 35 degrees, without changing the temperature throughout washing and rinsing.It is unacceptable to rub and stretch the fabric; during washing, the fabric is gently rinsed in water with an appropriate detergent dissolved in it. Rinse thoroughly with warm water. Dry only horizontally to avoid warping.
Nylon
Nylon curtains are washed out when adding products for delicate fabrics. Before hand washing, remove rings and bracelets so as not to snag the fabric. Wash without friction or twist, lifting and lowering the fabric with gentle movements. For machine washing, favor a delicate mode in cold water or as cold as possible, without forgetting to put the product in a bag beforehand.
You can dry on a clothesline or dryer, away from heaters and direct sunlight, with a blanket or towel.
How to wash special models
Windows are often framed with curtains made of modern or sophisticated materials that require special care. Carefully and carefully clean curtains that have other design or functional elements, such as wood, metal or plastic.
On eyelets
The curtains on the eyelets can be hand wash, and using an automatic machine. It is not necessary to remove the eyelets, modern materials do not give undesirable consequences when washing. Before washing, the fabric can be vacuumed to remove excess dust and make washing easier and more efficient. Items with machine washable eyelets should be bagged to avoid damage to the fabric or drum. It is better to take a liquid product, it is easier to wash off the structure of the material than powder crystals.
Thread curtains
Most often, thread curtains are called muslin curtains.In addition to chiffon curtains, curtains made of beads, flowers, sequins, string curtains, threads to which wooden or other elements are attached are classified as thread curtains. The cleaning of these curtains depends on the material they are made of. Usually hand washing with neutral detergent is suitable for these items.
Blackout fabric
The blackout fabric can be machine washed if there is no metallic coating or acrylic layer, otherwise only hand washing is allowed. A hand washing detergent is chosen for synthetics, silk or wool, you can instead grate and dissolve laundry soap in water. The fabric should not be actively rubbed, it is simply soaked for an hour in a basin, then rinsed, shaken out and hung up. Machine washable with 3-layer weave. The program is selected with a temperature of 40 degrees, without spinning. Ironing the blackout is optional, the fibers straighten well after washing.
If necessary, the fabric is ironed with a hot iron or treated with a steam generator.
Roman
Not all roman shades can be washed, only fabric ones. Made from bamboo, they are exclusively dry cleaned. Fabrics are washed according to the material they are made of, with particular care when handling delicate fabrics. To clean the Roman blinds, they are removed, the slats are removed, the fabric is washed by hand or in a typewriter in the hand or delicate wash mode. The slats are put back in place, the curtains are hung while the fabric is still damp, so the fabric straightens without ironing.
Tapestry
It is strongly advised not to wash the tapestry curtains. They take care of these curtains by vacuuming them from dust once a season and gently wiping them with a damp cloth.When using cleaners, their effect on the fabric should first be checked from the inside out in an inconspicuous place. It is impossible for tapestry curtains to be exposed to direct sunlight, since the fabric intensely absorbs dust and loses its appearance.
Flocked curtains
The flocking can be washed in an automatic machine using the delicate mode without spinning, while avoiding proximity to other fabrics and overloading the drum. You cannot squeeze the material. After washing, they hang it in an airy room protected from the sun and wait for the water to drain and the herd to dry. Drying with a hair dryer is allowed, while it is necessary to ensure that there is no overheating and not to bring the device close to the curtain.
Roll
Roller shutters can be dry cleaned with a vacuum cleaner. Wet cleaning without removing it from the accessory is carried out using a damp cloth, with which the unfolded canvas is carefully treated. If further cleaning is required, the material is washed by removing it from the holder. To do this, the canvas is freed from the mechanism, laid on a flat surface and a suitable detergent dissolved in water is applied using a sponge. Then rinse with clean water and wait for the fabric to dry. Machine washing is strictly prohibited.
Kiseya
To wash cotton or muslin curtains, before removing them from the cornice, weave them into a loose braid or tie them with strings in several places. After that, the muslin is removed from the cornice and washed by hand or in a typewriter, putting it in a special bag. If the threads are decorated with beads, wash only by hand.They dry the cotton curtains by hanging them wet on the cornice, then pull out the strings and straighten the threads.
hanging from a tree
Curtains with wooden elements are often used to decorate doorways or arches, ideally fitting into an eco-style. They are cleaned only by hand. Dissolve the detergent in the water poured into the basin, soak the curtain previously tied over the entire length with ribbons for a maximum of 10 minutes, then rinse well. You can dry directly on the cornice. When washing such products, it should be remembered that logs can swell from prolonged exposure to water. If the contamination is significant, it is best to have the curtain cleaned by a professional dry cleaner.
With bugles
Yarn curtains with glass beads should not be machine washed, as the beads may tarnish or damage the drum. Hand washing is done in warm water with detergent dissolved in it. The curtains are tied in several places, soaked for a short time, then crumpled with light movements and rinsed. Hang on to the wet ledge.
General recommendations
Even though the curtains may look quite presentable on the outside, they should be cleaned periodically, as dust accumulates on the material.How exactly to wash specific curtains, it is necessary to decide, from their material and the degree pollution, but there are a number of general recommendations:
- The set is washed about twice a year, if the material does not require other care.
- Before washing, you should carefully study the manufacturer's recommendations indicated on the label.
- When using the washing machine, the curtains are separated from all other things, including curtains made of other fabrics, while preventing the drum from being fully loaded.
- For machine washing, the products are placed in a special bag, especially for curtains made of delicate fabrics and with decorative elements.
- The mode of the automatic machine is set depending on the material, most often a delicate washing program is required.
- It is better to wring at minimum speed or refuse it outright, so as not to deform the material.
- The choice of detergent depends on the fabric, it is preferable to use a liquid gel rather than a powder detergent.
- The detergent can be replaced with a hair shampoo, thus the risk of damaging the fabric of the curtain is minimized.
- Dirty fabrics or heavily soiled curtains are best dry cleaned.
Overview of special tools
For washing curtains, the same gels are most often used as for other things made of the same fabrics. But on sale there are domestic and imported specialty products designed specifically for this purpose.
Apartment
The liquid is for machine and hand washing, suitable for synthetic and natural fabrics, helps maintain color and restore whiteness. Separately, the antistatic effect is noted, which allows the material to attract dust less after washing.
Selena
Selena for curtains and curtains is added to the main detergent and removes impurities with the help of active oxygen. Bleach is only for washable white curtains, effective at 40-50 degrees. If other parameters are needed to take care of the material, the product will not work.
Dr. Beckmann
Bleach is for white and light-colored materials. The agent is added to the base gel, in which case a service sachet is sufficient and can be placed directly in the barrel. The advantage of Dr. Beckmann is that efficiency is achieved from 20 degrees.
unicum
Russian-made Liquid Unicum is a specialty product used to wash the tulle and curtains manually and with a typewriter. The Unicum formula gently cleans the material, maintains the elasticity of the structure and shape of the product, prevents shedding and restores the whiteness of the fabric.
Frau Schmidt
The product is available in the form of tablets and is intended to give whiteness to light curtains and curtains. Bleach should not be used on materials such as silk or wool.
Heitmann
Detergent for curtains and white curtains removes yellowing, dirt, gray deposits, traces of nicotine, unpleasant odors. Bleach is added to the main detergent by pouring the bag into the detergent compartment.
Do not let direct contact with the fabric. It is not recommended for wool and silk curtains.
"Cashmere"
The "Cashmere" elixir for tulle and curtains will eliminate many impurities, in particular such as traces of nicotine, deposited grease particles. The formula helps preserve the color and shape of the product during washing. The liquid has a pleasant smell.
How to clean without removing
Cleaning the curtains without removing them from the curtain rod saves a lot of time and is also well suited to modern curtains such as Roman shades, roller shutters and blinds. Dust is removed with a brush or a vacuum cleaner, which is turned on at low speed. Fabrics that do not fade or shrink can be treated with a steam generator.It is strictly forbidden to steam clean natural wool and linen products.
Before cleaning the curtains with a steam cleaner, it is imperative to get rid of the dust, because the steam will dissolve the dirt molecules inside the fibers without tearing them off, after which it will be very difficult to remove them.
How to dry and iron
The method of drying and ironing curtains should be selected depending on the material. To dry the curtains, do not use an electric dryer, do not hang them near electrical appliances, as well as in direct sunlight. It's best to let the water drain out by hanging the curtains over the tub, then put it back into the still wet ledge. Such capricious materials as velor and velor are dried by first wrapping them in a terry towel to remove excess moisture, and only after that they are hung up.
Ironing curtains is usually not necessary, as the damp cloth is smoothed out by its own weight. The resulting folds should be sprayed with water from a spray bottle and left to dry. If the curtains are badly wrinkled, iron them according to the fabric they are made of. A steamer can help smooth out creases without an iron.
Rules of care
New curtains will last a long time and maintain an attractive appearance if you follow the following maintenance rules:
- Gutters and baseboards should be wiped regularly with a damp cloth so that the dust that accumulates there does not settle on the curtains.
- The material is periodically treated with an antistatic agent to prevent dust from settling.
- Dust from the curtains is removed using a vacuum cleaner with a special attachment.
- The curtains should be ventilated by opening the window in windy weather.
- Curtains should be protected from direct sunlight.
- Dry and wet cleaning is carried out according to the manufacturer's recommendations, depending on the material from which the curtains are made.
Curtains give the interior a finished look, and in order for curtains made of any material to always look neat and presentable, you need to regularly take care of them. Washing the curtains will not cause much trouble if you follow simple rules.