How to properly wash curtains in an automatic machine so as not to spoil them

Washing curtains in a washing machine is not at all difficult. There is no need to waste time on something that can be delegated to household appliances. The main thing is to choose the optimal mode and permissible washing temperature so that they do not harm the material. In some cases, curtains require especially delicate care; then they are washed by hand in a basin.

Washing curtains made of different materials

Curtains differ not only in their cut, design, and color. Curtains for windows can be made of a variety of materials, and accordingly they will require different care.

The most wear-resistant fabrics are cotton and linen. They can withstand high heat and intense turning during the washing process. Both materials are quite dense, so they need to be rinsed several times. To make the fabric wrinkle less, it is advisable to use conditioner.

It is better to dry clean curtains made of natural silk. If you decide to wash them in a machine, choose the appropriate mode – “silk”. Gels and conditioner are used for washing. Silk curtains should absolutely not be wrung out.

Synthetic fabrics do not like intensive washing and high temperatures. Curtains made of viscose, polyester and other synthetics are washed on a delicate cycle at minimum temperature. To help remove dirt better, the curtains are pre-soaked. Spinning is permissible only at minimum speed, and it is better to do without it.

How to wash curtains with grommets

Eyelets are permanent rings built into curtains. The fittings can be made of plastic, wood or metal. It is clear that curtains with solid inserts require careful handling. Such curtains must be washed in a special mesh bag if we are talking about machine washing. In this case, use the delicate mode. Spinning at high speeds should be avoided.

The care option also depends on the type of eyelets:

1. Plastic – easily withstand soaking and machine washing, unless we are talking about fittings coated with gold or paint that does not tolerate contact with water.
2. Metal – machine washable, but contact with water should be short-term. Exposure to aggressive detergents (bleach, powder with a stronger formula) can cause the metal to oxidize or rust.
3. Wooden – wood quickly loses its attractive appearance from contact with water. Wooden rings may crack. Wash such curtains by hand, avoiding getting the edges of the material with the eyelets wet.

Of course, the type of fabric itself is also taken into account. Before washing the curtains in the washing machine, check how securely the eyelets are fastened.

How to wash thread curtains

Thread or muslin curtains require an individual approach due to their characteristics.Both hand and machine washable are acceptable for them (the only exceptions are models made of glass beads, which should be carefully washed by hand or with a sponge). It is better to use a gel rather than a powder as a cleaning composition.

You need to prepare the muslin for the washing process while the curtains are still hanging on the ledge. The threads are taken in several pieces and braided into a weak braid. The ends are tied with braid from below. After this, the curtains are removed and placed in a mesh bag. The machine is switched to manual or delicate wash mode. The water temperature should not be higher than 30-40° C.

The muslin is taken out of the machine without wrung out and immediately hung on the ledge. The braids are unraveled and the product is allowed to dry naturally. Muslin dries quickly, since the threads are usually made from synthetic fibers. If the braids are not undone in time, the curtains will become wavy, which will ruin their appearance.

How to wash blackout curtains

Such curtains are characterized by a complete lack of light transmission, which makes it easy to darken the room if necessary. The material acquires such properties due to its multilayer structure. It is permissible to wash blackout curtains in a washing machine, unless the fabric has a metallic coating and an acrylic layer.

After studying the label, you can find out exactly the composition of the product and decide on the method of caring for it. It is better to wash multi-layer fabric using gel, then there will definitely be no streaks left. After loading the curtains into the drum, set the temperature recommended by the manufacturer. As for the mode, a delicate wash with a spin cycle at minimum speed is suitable.

Step-by-step instruction

Before washing, the curtains must be prepared, then they can be refreshed in the machine even at low temperatures and without mechanical impact.

Preparation

First you need to rid the curtains of dust that has accumulated in them. To do this, go over the fabric with a vacuum cleaner with a soft attachment. It is convenient to clean curtains while they are hanging on the ledge. If the material is dense, it is cleaned on both sides. After this, the curtains can be removed. Then the fastenings are disconnected from the curtain. They are washed separately in a solution of soap or washing powder.

Removing stains before washing

To remove stains from curtains, use soaking or treat the contaminated area directly while hanging. If we are talking about ordinary dirt, it will help:

• dishwashing gel;
• laundry soap;
• washing powder solution.

The curtains are soaked in a detergent solution or the stain is treated locally using a sponge or an old toothbrush.

Kitchen curtains often become covered with greasy stains. In this case, fat-breaking agents will be more effective:

• "Fairy" – the stain is first moistened with water, then treated with dish soap;
• "Pemolux" – the powder is poured onto the contaminated area, moistened with water, and gently rubbed into the stain with a cotton swab, the dried product is cleaned with a brush;
• soda and lemon juice – this method is suitable only for light-colored fabrics, the powder is poured onto the stain and moistened with lemon juice, after 15 minutes the mixture is washed off with water;
• starch (or talc) – the powder is diluted with water to a paste and applied to the stain, the procedure is repeated several times for 20 minutes.

Contaminants can also be removed with stain removers specially designed for this purpose. This can be a cleansing stick or dry spray. Use the product in accordance with the instructions.

Selecting mode and temperature by fabric type

Any fabric requires its own washing technology, depending on the composition.

The type of fiber also affects the choice of temperature conditions:

1. It is recommended to wash organza in a protective bag on a non-spin program at 30° C.
2. Cotton is washed in warm water, heated no higher than 40° C, using a special mode for cotton fabrics.
3. Nylon can easily be machine washed at a temperature of 45-60° C, “synthetic” mode.
4. Linen can also be machine washed on low heat. The fabric wrinkles a lot, so curtains need to be ironed while they are damp. Washing is carried out on the “linen” mode.
5. Viscose and polyester are washed on a delicate cycle at a temperature of 30-40° C.
6. Taffeta needs to be washed carefully without spinning and drying. Temperatures up to 50°C are permissible for this material.
7. Silk and satin curtains can be washed on a gentle cycle at 30°C when placed in a protective bag. For minor stains, the curtains can be washed in water without detergents.

You can get basic information about caring for the product by studying the manufacturer's recommendations indicated on the tag. When making curtains to order, you should ask the seamstress what material the curtains are made of and how to properly care for them.

Proper drying of curtains so as not to iron

To avoid ironing, the curtains must be washed properly, eliminating the spin cycle or squeezing the water at minimum speed. After this, one of two drying options is used. In the first case, the curtains are hung over the bathroom. Under the weight of flowing water, the material will level out on its own. As soon as the curtain becomes only slightly damp, it is hung on the curtain rod.

In the second case, the washed curtains are immediately hung on the window, and several containers are placed below to collect the flowing water.Do not dry curtains using sources of artificial heat (heater, hair dryer, fan heater). The fabric should dry out of direct sunlight in a ventilated area.

If the curtain doesn't look smooth enough, there's a little trick you can use. In a bowl, mix a glass of 9 percent vinegar with an equal amount of water. To these components add 1 tbsp. spoon of fabric softener. The composition is mixed well and poured into a spray bottle, and then the curtains hung in a permanent place are sprayed with it.

Ironing rules

The curtains begin to be ironed from the top, gradually moving the fabric towards the floor. You can place a table or several chairs close to the ironing board, where the ironed material will lie.

Frills and edging are ironed first. The temperature control should be set to the appropriate position for the type of fabric. You cannot hold the hot sole of the iron in one place for a long time.

The use of a vertical steamer greatly simplifies the ironing process. In this case, you can iron the curtain while hanging. Steam treatment is only suitable for dense materials. This method is not used for nylon, chiffon, organza.

Answers on questions

Curtains belong to the expensive category of home textiles, so no one wants to ruin them. Young housewives often have questions regarding washing curtains.

What to do if the curtains shrink after washing?

The solution to the problem depends on how much shorter the curtains become. If the shrinkage was small, you can open the hem at the bottom or move the tape to which the hooks are sewn higher.

Another option is to sew hooks directly to the top edge of the curtain.These methods will help you gain 2-4 cm. If the curtains are shortened by 5-10 cm after washing, the problem can be solved by sewing fringe to the bottom of the product.

You should never immediately throw away the scraps left after sewing curtains. In the future, the material can save the situation if the fabric shrinks severely. Some solve the problem in another way - lower the cornice to a more suitable height.

Can curtains and hooks be washed?

Sometimes you need to wash your curtains quickly; you simply don’t have enough time to remove the hooks. This washing option is acceptable provided that the curtain gets into the drum in a special bag and the delicate washing mode is used.

How often should I wash curtains?

Kitchen curtains are washed every month. If this is not done, the fabric changes color and becomes stained. In living rooms, you can refresh the curtains less often - once every 2-3 months. There are no clear regulations for this. Housewives usually wash windows and curtains at the same time. Of course, curtains can be washed outside of the schedule if they are dirty in some way.

When should you not machine wash?

Machine washing is contraindicated for curtains whose decor contains beads, rhinestones or glass beads. It is also undesirable to wash curtains with fringes or made of velvet.

Curtains containing natural wool will also not tolerate machine washing. It is better to wash them by hand with shampoo or not wash them at all, but use dry cleaning services. Machine washing can cause chintz curtains to shrink significantly.

Caring for curtains should be appropriate so as not to spoil their appearance. Some fabrics are suitable for washing in a washing machine, others - hand washing.Some curtains are better to be dry cleaned or carefully cleaned with a vacuum cleaner. You should also pay equal attention to the issue of ironing curtains.