If curtains are labelled dry clean only or have no label on them to state the washing instructions, you can choose to wash curtains in the washing machine but you should be aware that this could damage the curtains and your machine.
Can I Machine Wash My Second Hand Curtains?
If you’ve bought or been given some second-hand curtains it’s likely that you will want to make them as clean as possible before you hang them without wasting a lot of money.
Tempting as it is to throw them into the washing machine, you may end up having to replace them if they shrink or the colour bleeds.
New curtains can be very expensive, so it’s worth treating your second-hand curtains well.
So, before you risk machine washing your second-hand curtains, why not try these other easy methods to make them look and smell fresh:
- freshening
- surface cleaning
- steam cleaning
- hand-washing
Cleaning Curtains without using a Washing Machine
If they are marked dry clean only and you have the money and want to spend it, then send them to the cleaners, but here are some other easy methods that you can use:
First, remove any hooks and loosen the header tape strings if possible. Make sure that you loosely tie the two or three strings together at each side as it is important that they don’t get pulled out whilst you are cleaning.
It makes sense to start with the gentlest methods to clean your curtains.
Remove the dust and freshen
- Take them outside and give them a good shake to remove any dust. (Cover your mouth and nose to avoid inhaling any particles.)
- Drape them over a washing line so you can look carefully to see if there is dust caught where they were folded. This can be removed with a brush or sticky tape.
- Once the worst of the dust is removed, you can take them indoors and use a vacuum cleaner to finish it off.
- If they look clean but smell musty, you can also sprinkle them with bicarbonate of soda which will absorb odours. Leave for about half an hour before vacuuming the powder off.
- Hang them out in the fresh air if you can to make them smell even fresher. Alternatively, add a drop or two of essential oil to the bicarbonate of soda that you sprinkle onto the dry curtains.
- Essential oil sprays can freshen curtains, but be careful not to use too much as it may stain them. Try using a couple of drops of your favourite oil in a spray bottle of water, shaken well and applied lightly. You can buy a fabric deodoriser spray if you prefer.
Wet Surface Clean
If the curtains need a more thorough clean you can try a surface clean:
Work from the top of the curtain down to the bottom. You can have the curtain lying flat or hanging at the window. Use a spray bottle containing warm water with a few drops of washing up liquid or laundry detergent and start spraying at the top of the curtain.
Use a clean white cloth to wipe them clean. You may need to work over dirty areas a few times but don’t rub too hard and try not to make one area much wetter than the rest of the curtain as this could cause puckering.
A steam cleaner can be used to remove surface grime. Follow the manufacturers instructions. I think this is easier done whilst the curtains are hanging.
Hand wash
For an even more thorough clean, soak the curtains in cold or lukewarm water. Cool water is least likely to cause shrinkage or colour bleeding but be aware that curtains marked dry clean only may shrink or lose colour.
You can add a small amount of laundry liquid or well dissolved laundry powder to the water. Either way, rinse well, squeeze without ringing, and hang outside or over a bath to drip dry.
Successful Machine Washing
If you decide that you want to risk washing the curtains in your machine even if they say dry -clean only or have no label, use a gentle wash with cool or lukewarm water and a low spin. Some kinds of black-out curtains have a lining which can break off and damage your machine.
Don’t wash anything else at the same time and wash large or heavy curtains separately to give them room in the drum. Hang them outside or over a bath to dry.
Tumble drying them is likely to cause them to shrink, unless the label says that they can be machine-dried.
Ironing Your curtains
It’s best to iron curtains when they are still slightly damp. Test for the correct iron temperature by ironing the hem at the back before moving onto the front as some materials will require a low heat setting.
Do not iron over the ridge from the hem from the front of the curtain or you will end up with an unsightly line. Curtains that have a nap, such as velvet or velour, should be lightly pressed from the back if they need ironing at all.
Oh No! The Lining Has Shrunk Differently To The Curtain
It can be very disappointing if you want to use these curtains and you think you have just ruined them but there are things you can try to salvage them. If the lining is pulling the hem up or the sides in, so that the curtain doesn’t hang well, you need to release the tension by unpicking the stitching or by cutting the lining free. Be aware that if you unpick the stitching you will need to redo this, sewing either by hand or machine. A few hand stitches may be enough to let the curtain and lining hang well without looking too unsightly. If the curtains are thick enough for you without the linings, you can carefully cut them out, ensuring that you don’t cut the main curtain.
Help! The Curtain Is Now Damaged
If the fabric has ripped slightly, you may be able to carefully hand sew the torn edges together using a colour matched thread. You can make a patch from a small amount of fabric of the inside hem if the hole is larger. Sewing a narrow vertical pleat may disguise a vertical tear. Lining the curtain with fabric that you can sew the damaged or weakened part onto can stabilise the fabric and help to prevent further damage.
I Like The Fabric, But Not The Colour: Can I Dye Curtains?
It’s fairly easy to buy home dye kits from Amazon, including ones that you dye in the washing machine. Natural fibres tend to dye more easily, so if the fabric is synthetic you will need to use a dye specifically for synthetic fibres. If your curtain does not have a label saying what it is made from, there is a simple home test you can try:
- Remove a small piece of fabric from an inconspicuous part of the curtain eg the upper hem and hold it in a pair of tongs or a peg.
- CAREFULLY, in a well-ventilated room or outside, bring a match or lighter to the fabric.
- If it burns without the edges looking like they are melting, it is probably a natural fibre, such as cotton, linen or wool.
- If it melts, it is probably synthetic, such as polyester or nylon.
Many modern curtain fabrics are either fully or partly synthetic. Dyes for synthetic fabrics are unlikely to produce a very deep colour and will not necessarily come out the colour you expect, depending on what the colour was to start with. A small sample piece can help you to decide if it’s worth trying.
Can I Change The Style Of My Curtain?
If you can use and have access to a sewing machine, changing the style is not too difficult. See this post https://handgsolutions.com/sew-curtains-for-your-patio-door/ for details on sewing different curtain styles.
Header tapes come in different widths and this will alter the look of the curtain. Deep tapes can make the curtains hang with a much more pleated look, whilst narrow tapes give a more gathered appearance.
Eyelet curtains, designed for curtain poles, can have the eyelets cut off and a header tape or tab-tops attached.