How to Clean Curtains: 3 Different Ways

Curtains are easy to overlook when it comes to cleaning – they’re not a high-touch surface, and the dirt isn’t always noticeable. But dust gathers on the tops of curtains, and every time you open them, oils and dirt are deposited on the fabric. Let’s not forget about our pets brushing against them or using the window to spy on their beloved neighborhood. 

We’re going to teach you how to clean your curtains properly, without wrecking, snagging, or shrinking them. Our first piece of advice is to always check and follow your labels. There’s valuable information on how to not wreck or shrink your drapes. If you are anything like me though, you might have cut those off when you hung them up. Oops. In those cases, it’s best to play it safe. 

A few times a year, you should be vacuuming your curtains, especially along the tops where dust settles. This can extend the time in between washes. We like to use our Bissell® Zing vacuum (USA) (Canada) with a horse hair brush (USA) (Canada), on a lower suction setting so that you aren’t fighting the fabric getting sucked into the tube. 

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Pro Tip: If your curtains are wrinkled, use a spray bottle of water to spray them down liberally. The wrinkles will smooth themselves out with the weight of the fabric. 

3 Options for Washing Your Curtains:

Option 1: Dry Clean

This is the safest option. If the tag says “dry clean only”, follow those directions and protect your investment. Take them off the rod, remove any hardware, and bring them to a dry cleaner. 

Bonus: You will get them back all clean and pressed, ready to hang back up.

Option 2: Hand Wash

If your curtains have any clips on them or they are made of fabric that is easily snagged, hand washing is probably your best bet. 

1. Take down your curtains and remove any clips or hardware that could snag the fabric.
2. Pretreat any stains using Tide® Rescue (USA) (Canada).
3. Fill a sink, large basin, or even your tub with cool water, and a few tablespoons of powdered Tide®  (USA) (Canada).
4. Drop your curtains in and move them around to agitate the dirt out, let them sit for 20 minutes, agitate again, then drain the water. 
5. Fill your basin with cool water and agitate the curtains again to get the detergent out. Drain and repeat until the detergent is gone and the water runs clear. 
6. Gently squeeze out as much water as you can, then roll the drapes up in a towel and squeeze again until they are just damp. 
7. Pop them in the dryer on tumble dry (low/no heat) or hang to dry. 
8. Hang them back up while still slightly damp. The weight of the fabric should smooth out any remaining wrinkles. 
9. Iron or steam if needed once completely dry (check the tags first). 

Option 3: Machine Wash

If your care instructions allow it, machine washing is the easiest way to wash your curtains. 

1. Remove any clips or hardware that could snag the fabric. 
2. Pretreat any stains using Tide® Rescue.
3. If your curtains are sheer or delicate, pop them into a mesh laundry bag (USA) (Canada).
4. Wash them with powdered Tide® on a cold, gentle cycle. 
5. Dry in the dryer on tumble dry (again, check your labels).
6. Hang them back up while they’re still slightly damp. The weight of the fabric should straighten out any wrinkles.
7. Iron or steam if needed once completely dry. 

That’s it! To clean the rest of your window treatments, see this article. 

Becky @GoCleanCo