How to Wash Curtains and Keep Them Dust-Free
Check the label, bag them and use the delicate cycle. Spin briefly and hang them straight back on the rail, with no ironing needed.
What you need
Supplies
- Mild detergent (wool wash)
Tools
- Large laundry bag
- Duster or vacuum brush
- Spray bottle
How to do it
- 01
Check the care label
Look at the label on the back of the curtain to see whether it can be machine washed. If it says do not wash or dry clean only, take it to a cleaner.
- 02
Dust and remove hooks
Before taking the curtains down, dust them from top to bottom with a duster or vacuum brush. Once down, remove all the hooks and pins and keep them together.
- 03
Wash on a delicate cycle
Fold the curtains along their pleats, put them in a large laundry bag and wash on a wool or delicate cycle with mild detergent in cold water (30°C / 86°F or below). Wash one or two panels at a time to limit creasing.
- 04
Spin for just a minute
A long spin sets deep creases that will not come out. Spin for a minute or less, or choose the gentle spin setting.
- 05
Hang them on the rail to dry
Put the hooks back and hang the curtains straight on the rail. The weight of the water pulls out the creases naturally, and with the window open they dry in half a day.
Be careful
- The coating on blackout curtains can crack in a washing machine. Check the label and hand wash or dry clean.
- Hot water and tumble dryers shrink curtains, and the length will not come back.
- Put a towel on the floor under the rail to catch drips while they dry.
Malkkeum tips
- Vacuuming the top pleats with a brush once a month stretches washing to once a year.
- While the curtains are down, wipe the rail and the top of the window frame, where dust collects most.
- Opening the window on a sunny day and letting the curtains move in the breeze freshens them better than fabric spray.
Curtains catch more dust than you think
Curtains are the first filter for dust and fine particles coming through the window. They also absorb cooking smells and grease, so curtains that have not been washed in a long time can be the source of room odor. Washing them after spring dust season or before closing the windows in autumn is ideal.
By material
| Material | Washing | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Polyester | Machine, delicate cycle | Keep spin short |
| Linen / cotton | Hand wash or delicate cycle | Shrinks easily; cold water only |
| Blackout (coated) | Hand wash or dry clean | Coating can crack |
| Velvet / silk | Dry clean | Deforms when washed |
FAQ
I have no washing machine. Can I wash them in the bathtub? Yes. Soak them in lukewarm water with mild detergent for 30 minutes, press gently with your feet, rinse two or three times, press out the water and hang them on the rail. Wringing them sets deep creases.
