How to wash a lambrequin at home so that it does not lose its shape?

The need to wash a lambrequin puts some housewives into a stupor. How can you refresh this decorative element without spoiling it? The answer depends on what material the lambrequin is made of.

Regular care

A lambrequin is a horizontal decorative element for decorating windows and doorways, which is used in combination with curtains. Most often, these decorative elements have many folds in which dust gradually accumulates.

To wash lambrequins less often, you need to properly care for them. Recommended:

Once every 1–2 weeks, clean all parts of the curtain composition with a vacuum cleaner, using an attachment for cleaning upholstered furniture;
sometimes remove the decorative element and shake out the dust.

But sooner or later you will still have to take more effective measures - start washing or dry cleaning.

Types of fabric and washing options

When purchasing a lambrequin, it is advisable to find out the composition of the fabric from which it is made and the rules for caring for it. Not all materials can withstand washing; some require dry cleaning.

If information about the fabric was not received in a timely manner, then you can rely on the following recommendations:

silk and wool decorative elements of curtains can only be washed by hand, soaking and twisting are excluded;
models made of velvet and chenille can only be dry cleaned; washing will completely ruin them;
cotton and linen can be washed in a machine, provided that the fabric has been treated before sewing, otherwise the material will shrink, even if washed by hand;
Tulle, polyester, organza can be machine washed on a delicate cycle.

Handwash

Hand washing lambrequins at home should be done extremely carefully. Too hot water, intense friction, or twisting can irreversibly damage the item.

Basic Rules:

You need to wash in a spacious container, preferably in a bathtub filled with water.
Before immersing the products in water, they need to be prepared: shake them well from dust, if there are decorative parts, tear them off.
For washing, you can use both gel and powder, selected according to the type of fabric.
The detergent must be thoroughly dissolved in water. Undissolved grains of powder can leave streaks on the fabric.
Lambrequins made from any fabric should be washed and rinsed in non-hot water. The ideal temperature is 37–38 degrees.
If there are metal eyelets on the lambrequin, you cannot completely immerse it in water: rust stains may remain on the fabric.
Do not pour powder or pour gel directly onto the lambrequin fabric.
Only items made from decated cotton or linen can be soaked. Models made of synthetic fabrics, silk and wool are strictly prohibited from soaking.
Bleaching agents and powder enhancers should only be used after it has been verified that they do not affect the fabric or its coloring.
Do not rub the fabric intensively. If there are stains, you can remove them by wiping with a soft sponge.
It is forbidden to twist the lambrequins - they are only lightly squeezed out of the water and shaken.

Dry lambrequins in a horizontal or vertical position.The choice of option depends on the model. It is important to carefully straighten all the folds, otherwise it will be very difficult to smooth them out later.

How to wash lambrequins in a machine?

Some types of fabrics allow the lambrequin to be washed in a washing machine. But if there are metal eyelets, the product cannot be washed in a machine.

Basic rules for doing the job:

It is necessary to sort curtains, curtains and lambrequins by type of fabric and color: each type of material requires special care.
Products must first be shaken well.
If there are stains on the fabric, you should try to remove them before placing the item in the machine.
If you plan to use a stain remover, it is important to first test how it works on the fabric. To do this, apply a drop of the product to the lambrequin in an inconspicuous place and see if the color has changed.
For washing it is better to use gel or capsules. When using powder, streaks may remain on the fabric.
The delicate wash mode is used with a minimum temperature, no spinning and no automatic drying.
It is recommended to turn on the extra rinse mode so that no traces of detergent remain on the fabric.
After completing the washing process, turn on the water drain without spinning.
The wet lambrequin needs to be placed in a large basin and gently squeezed out the moisture without twisting.

It is better to place the product in a special mesh bag or pillowcase before washing. This will protect the fabric from unnecessary friction. It is not recommended to load the lambrequin into the drum at the same time as other things. If the parts of the lambrequin are voluminous, then they need to be washed separately.

Ironing

Many fabrics require ironing after washing. You need to iron the lambrequins very carefully.

The product is laid out on a flat surface.An ironing board probably won't work as it doesn't have much space. You can use a table covered with a thick soft cloth. And large parts are more convenient to lay out on the floor.

The choice of ironing temperature depends on the type of fabric. If the composition of the material is unknown, then the minimum temperature must be set.

Iron very carefully. First they iron the binding, and then they try to smooth out the draperies. Steam use is not recommended.

How to wash a hard lambrequin?

If the lambrequin is on a rigid base, then it must be handled very carefully - regular washing is excluded.

Ideally, a hard lambrequin should be dry cleaned. If this is not possible, you can clean the product as follows:

Remove and lay out the lambrequin on a flat surface so that there is easy access from all sides.
Pour water into a large basin, add a little gel detergent, and stir.
Take a soft sponge, soak it in the solution and squeeze well.
Wipe the folds of the lambrequin, often rinsing the sponge and squeezing it well.
Then you need to change the soapy water to clean water and start wiping the product again, often rinsing the sponge in clean water.

After cleaning is completed, the lambrequin should be dried thoroughly.

Other cleaning options

If washing the lambrequin is impossible, and you cannot dry clean the product, then you should try home cleaning methods.

You can use a special cleaner for cleaning curtains, carpets and upholstered furniture. The composition is diluted with water and whipped into a fluffy foam. Using a brush, the foam is applied to the product, allowed to act, and then removed with a vacuum cleaner or dry brush. Although this cleaning option involves the use of water, the treated fabric does not shrink.

You can clean curtains and lambrequins with a household steam generator. Using this method, you can remove dust and dirt, but stubborn stains are unlikely to be removed. But it should be understood that not all fabrics will withstand hot steam treatment. The material may shrink or even break.

So, washing a lambrequin is not an easy task, but it can be solved. It is important to learn the rules for caring for the product when purchasing; this will allow you to avoid mistakes and extend the life of the decorative element.