Keeping our curtains clean and fresh is important, not just for the look but for our health. Curtains add agood  finishing touch to any space in your house, yet many have often be overlooked until the spring clean comes around the corner. Why? It’s simply because it’s hard to know where to begin. The thought of bringing down the curtains and hooking it back seem like a duanting task. However, with our experience,  we have prepared this simple guide for you and hope it helps to ease of your worry. Our goal is to make your life better and beautiful!  

When to turn to the washing machine

‘Can we machine wash our curtains?’ This is the number One question that most of our customers asked. The answer is yes, but only in some cases unless advised by us. We always share the maintenance tips with all our clients but of course, just in case, you decided to wash your curtains after some time, all these tips may have long forgotten. Fret not, many of our curtains comes a washing label, so try to find this and read the advice before you proceed. Otherwise, we are just a ring away. The instructions on the label will show you the best way to wash this curtain and let you know if it is safe to pop them into the washing machine, and at what temperature.]

However, If you are in doubt, lightweight fabrics which won’t retain much water, such as cotton, are usually fine to wash in the washing machine with your usual laundry detergent. Remember to choose a ‘delicates’ cycle mode, or a cool wash on a slower spin cycle mode.

It is always important to check your curtains for torns or loose threads before popping them into the washing mahcine. Remove any loose thread by giving a simple snipe instead of pulling the thread off. If you notice that your curtains is torned, popping them into the machine may result in larger tear. Do take note of this.

Keep a good pre-wash stain remover on hand for places where they may have become discoloured or dirty from the windows or being handled and consider washing them inside a laundry bag or pillowcase to prevent damage in the drum.  

How to hand wash curtains

If you’re worried about damaging or creasing your beautiful curtains ,you can always opt to hand wash them. Hand wash is a safer route that will minimise the risk of any damage especially for delicate fabrics. Try handwashing delicate curtains with a little washing detergent, which cleans well at low temperatures. It’s best to use the large sink so you do not have to wash the curtains in sections or risk dirtying the rest. To be very careful to avoid letting the fabric become water logged. Always, remember to read the washing instruction label if available. 

Drying your curtains

Whether you’ve opted for a machine wash or hand wash, drying your curtains well is key to avoid mould or musty odours. If you can, line dry your curtains on a dry, sunny day with a good breeze to get as much air around them as possible. Direct sunlight may affect some colours or fabrics though, so try to avoid putting them in too bright an area of the garden. Alternatively, if the wash label permits, you can tumble dry your curtains on a low setting.

Remove them when they’re 95% dry and leave to air dry naturally to avoid setting wrinkles. If your curtains are looking a bit crinkly after line or tumble drying, check the wash label and iron on the setting recommended. One of the key things to remember when you wash curtains is drying time. Large amounts of heavy fabric can retain lots of water, which mean your curtains can take a long time to dry which could make them musty. These fabrics are often better off being steam cleaned.  

Maintaining clean curtains

If you’re wondering ‘how often should I wash my curtains?’ there is no straightforward answer. We advise you give them a deep clean about twice a year, but you may need to clean them more often if your home is prone to dust or odours. You can help keep them looking better for longer by going over them once a week with the brush attachment of your vacuum. This will help lift surface dust and help you enjoy fresh looking curtains for longer.