How to iron curtains: useful tips and common mistakes

Caring for home textiles often raises a lot of controversy and questions, especially when it comes to ironing curtains, because many believe that they do not need such treatment at all. This is not so, and in this article we will look at how to iron velvet curtains, linen, cotton, synthetics, delicate fabrics, etc. This can be done either with an iron, on an ironing board, or without removing the curtains from the curtain rod, using the steam function or using a steam generator.

Is ironing necessary after washing?

In most cases, the answer to this question is yes. After all, many types of fabric that are used for sewing curtains, even after the most careful washing, look far from ideal - folds and creases remain on them. And only a few materials quickly straighten out under their own weight after they are hung on the eaves.

The following types of textiles that are unable to return to their previous appearance and “sag” require mandatory ironing after washing:

• chiffon;
• organza;
• cotton;
• linen;
• viscose;
• polyester;
• silk;
• taffeta;
• veil;
• velvet;
• fabrics with lycra.

You may not iron curtains made from nylon, chenille, thick taffeta and other heavy fabrics.If after washing you immediately remove them from the drum and hang them out to dry, carefully straightening them out, they will not wrinkle. And small folds will straighten out some time after the product is placed on the cornice. But if you need to put the material in order right away, light steaming is enough.

Curtains are often made from materials that cannot be ironed or steamed. In the first case, a crossed out iron will be drawn on the product label, and in the second, the picture is almost the same, only “steam” is attached to the device platform and in the form of 3 straight lines.

How to iron

To tidy up your curtains after washing, you can use an iron with or without steam, or use a household steamer or steam generator. Each method has its own nuances, pros and cons.

Iron

The advantage of this option is that when using an iron you can adjust the heating, because modern devices make it possible to set the desired temperature with an accuracy of +/-10 degrees. Thanks to this function, you can select the most optimal mode without fear of burning the fabric. The disadvantages of this method include the fact that curtains can only be ironed in a horizontal position - on an ironing board or table. Quite often this causes a lot of inconvenience, especially when it comes to dense, heavy fabrics.

When choosing this option, it is important to adhere to the following rules:

• Start ironing while the material is still slightly damp and has not had time to dry completely.
• Start from the top of the product, gradually moving down.
• Iron seams from the wrong side, and only through gauze.
• Curtains with a relief pattern or trim with metal threads should be processed exclusively from the reverse side.
• If the curtains are long and heavy, do not allow the ironed part to touch the floor.

The last point may raise questions, but in fact everything is simple - you can put a stool in front of the ironing board and lay the ironed part on it.

Steam generator

Treating curtains with a steam generator is much easier than ironing them - you don’t need to remove them from the curtain rod. Moreover, this device is highly efficient and can smooth out even heavily wrinkled textiles in a matter of minutes. But the downside of the steam generator is that, unlike a household steamer, this device is very expensive and is also quite massive due to the large water capacity.

The principle of ironing with a steam generator is approximately the same as for a steamer:

• You need to move the device both vertically and horizontally, alternating them. This will allow the steam to better penetrate the fibers, causing the fabric to smooth out faster and better.
• The device must be kept at a distance of at least 10-15 cm, this will help protect the fabric from damage if the selected temperature regime is too high.
• To steam strong creases and folds, you need to use a backing, placing it on the back side of the material so that it has “support” and straightens out faster. A heat-resistant plastic board will do.

Advice. When processing velor and velvet curtains, you should use a special brush attachment. This will not only allow you to steam the fabric better, but also “comb” the pile, as well as remove specks stuck to the loose fabric.

Steaming

You can steam curtains either with a special device (steamer) or with a regular iron, turning on the steam function.Both devices are more mobile than a steam generator and are also suitable for vertical steaming. However, their efficiency is somewhat lower, and it will be quite difficult to deal with deep creases using an iron or steamer.

In order to smooth the curtains well and not spoil them, you must follow the following rules while working:

• Hang the canvas on the curtain rod while still damp.
• Start steaming no earlier than 2 hours after hanging the curtains - they will have time to dry and straighten a little under their own weight.
• Keep the iron at a distance of 25-30 cm from the fabric, the steamer - no closer than 10-15 cm. This is due to the fact that the latter heats up, as a rule, only up to 100 degrees, while the temperature on the iron can be set higher.

On a note. Vertical steaming is suitable for fabrics such as velvet, organza, linen, cotton, natural and artificial silk, and nylon. But it is not recommended to smooth chiffon, polyester and header in this way.

Ironing rules depending on fabric

When ironing textiles, it is important to choose the right mode, taking into account the characteristics of the fabric. Moreover, not every material can be steamed or moistened during processing. Let's look at how to iron curtains depending on what fabric they are made of:

1. Cotton. Such materials can withstand high temperatures, up to 180-200 degrees (with the exception of thin cambric, for which the “Silk” mode is more suitable). Curtains are ironed through damp gauze, moving the iron vertically.
2. Linen. This material is ironed after being well moistened with a spray bottle. Before ironing, shake the fabric to get rid of excess folds. Just like cotton, linen is resistant to high temperatures (we allow heating up to 180-200 degrees).
3. Organza and nylon. These light, delicate fabrics should not be ironed - “burns” may appear in the form of yellow-brown spots, and the curtains will be hopelessly damaged. It is better to use a steamer according to the instructions described above. And if this is not possible, and you have to use an iron, ironing can only be done through thick fabric with low heat, about 60-70 degrees.
4. Synthetics. In most cases, polyester materials are used for sewing curtains. They “don’t like” temperatures above 120-150 degrees (some particularly delicate species are allowed to heat no more than 70 degrees) and they don’t need to be steamed either. The main thing is to iron such curtains only from the wrong side, otherwise shiny stripes may remain on the front surface.
5. Silk and taffeta. These materials are also ironed only from the inside out, without moistening, as streaks may appear. Recommended temperature is 70-80 degrees.
6. Velvet and velor. Only an iron is suitable for these fabrics; they cannot be steamed. Such curtains are ironed through dense soft fabric, moving in the direction of the pile. Do not press the iron to avoid crushing the fibers. Temperature range – up to 110 degrees.

On a note. If the curtains have embroidery, regardless of the type of material, they are ironed only from the wrong side. And if the curtains are double-sided, lined, you need to iron both the main and lining fabrics.

How to iron blackout curtains

Blackouts are thick curtains that do not allow light to pass through. This effect is ensured by a dense weave of three types of threads, resulting in a three-layer fabric. The middle layer is always painted in a dark shade, and the top and bottom can be of any color.

Such material is washed at a temperature no higher than 40 degrees, spinning no more than 400 rpm.However, it is not necessary to turn it on; the blackout dries quickly without wrung-out. It does not need ironing, but if the fabric is a little wrinkled, you can iron it in the “Synthetic” mode at a temperature of 70-100 degrees.

How to wash without ironing

Most materials can be washed so that only light, minimal, or no ironing is required afterwards. To minimize folds and creases, the following rules must be followed:

• Wash curtains on a delicate cycle, separately from other items.
• Set the temperature no higher than 30-40 degrees.
• Spin at no more than 400 rpm or disable this function.
• Hang curtains to dry immediately after finishing the washing cycle, as deep folds and creases quickly form on wet, crumpled fabric.
• After placing the curtains on the rope, carefully straighten the fabric.
• Do not let the fabric dry completely; it should remain slightly damp.

On a note. If the curtains are made of crinkled material, machine processing is contraindicated. Such products are washed only by hand, and wrung out carefully, without twisting.

Common mistakes when ironing

It would seem that there should not be any particular difficulties when ironing curtains - ironing straight fabric is not so difficult. Nevertheless, housewives, especially inexperienced ones, often make mistakes. The most common are:

• Using the wrong temperature. If the heating is too strong, there is a high risk of burning the fabric, and if it is insufficient, deep folds will not be smoothed out.
• Ironing curtains after complete drying. To make the canvas look perfect, you need to iron it while it is slightly damp, or moisten it well with a spray bottle.
• Ironing seams from the front side.These areas are ironed only from the inside out, through gauze or other natural fabric, without pressure. Otherwise, the seams will be “imprinted” on the front side, and it will not look very attractive.
• Ignoring the need for steaming. Of course, there are materials for which this procedure is contraindicated. But natural fabrics such as cotton or linen cannot be properly ironed without the use of steam.
• Violation of ironing rules recommended for this type of material. How to properly care for the product is indicated on the label. It is worth studying this information, and only then moving on to washing and ironing.

In addition, you should not iron fabrics that do not need this procedure or are completely contraindicated, this will only harm the product. To prevent creases and folds from forming on the fabric after washing, the procedure should be carried out according to the instructions described above.