Knowing how to clean curtains properly makes a bigger difference than most people expect. Curtains act as dust traps and can affect indoor air quality over time, yet they’re one of the most consistently skipped items in a home clean. This guide covers every practical method: machine washing, hand washing, dry cleaning, and steam cleaning, for all kinds of fabric and every situation, including when you can’t take them down at all.
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- Always check the care label before choosing any cleaning method — it’s the single most important step.
- Most lightweight curtains can be machine-washed on a cold, delicate cycle.
- “Dry clean only” curtains can often be hand-washed at home on cold with a mild detergent, though the risk of shrinkage or colour bleed cannot be fully eliminated.
- Steam cleaning works on curtains in situ and is a practical option for fabrics that are difficult to remove.
- Wash curtains every three to six months as a general guide, and vacuum them weekly between washes.
Table of Contents
How to clean curtains at home
Before you start, you need to do a few things.
Check the labels for the appropriate cleaning methods
If you don’t want to damage your curtains permanently, check the label for the recommended washing method.
For machine-washable curtains, follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully. Use the delicate cycle and cold water, and don’t overload the washing machine. The panels need room to rotate freely during the wash cycle.
Some materials, such as silk or velvet, are too delicate to be put in the washing machine, so they need to be hand-washed. For hand-washable curtains, you can wash them in the bathtub, a large tub or a large sink. Use cool water and mild soap, and rinse thoroughly.
Others are sturdy and will probably survive most DIY cleaning techniques. Finally, there are also the ones that can only handle the gentle dry cleaning method.
To test whether your curtains are washable, perform the following steps:
- Wet a small section of the fabric with cool water.
- Apply detergent and rub gently. Allow the fabric to sit for one minute.
- Rinse the area thoroughly with cool water.
- Gently squeeze or blot to remove any excess moisture.
- Let the material air-dry completely.
- Compare the test patch to the rest of the curtain. Look for any changes in colour, texture, or size. If the test patch has not changed, the curtain is washable, and you can proceed without any doubts.
Prepare your curtains for the washer
Before you wash your curtains, give them a pre-wash by vacuuming or shaking off as much dust as possible so that nothing clings to the fabric during the washing process. Remove any curtain rings, hooks, and weights. If your curtains have pencil-pleat heading tape, detach the hooks and remove any gathering cords before washing to prevent tangling or damage. Doing all of this before you load the machine means your curtains come out clean, not mangled.
How to clean curtains in the washing machine
Now, let’s begin with the safety tips for cleaning your curtains in the washing machine.
- Spot-test your curtains before you put them in the washing machine. Testing the fabric is essential if you are in any doubt about the colourfastness of your curtains. Apply a small amount of water and the detergent on the small section on the back of the curtain, rinse and let it dry out completely, so you can see any changes. To be on the safe side, you can use a colour catcher dye trapping sheet to prevent fabric dye bleeding. Also, washing them with other items is not a good idea.
- Remember to remove all hardware before putting them in the washing machine. This way, you preserve the fabric from damage, the hardware, especially if the hooks are plastic and can get broken and lastly, your washing machine.
- You can use a mesh bag for delicate curtains such as lace and sheer. Choose a low-temperature or cold water cycle and use a small amount of laundry detergent.
- Keep in mind that with most drape materials, treating them with hot water will often result in shrinkage.
- Check the manufacturer’s recommended temperature for washing and drying if you have a dryer. We advise you always to put them on the delicate cycle to be on the safe side. For the finer materials, you choose a slow spin with cold water.
- We recommend you use the washing machine only for your lightweight drapes. The heavy ones retain water for much longer, and the rinse cycle does not help at all.
- Curtains can either be air-dried or tumble-dried on a low setting. Over-drying curtains is a common laundry mistake that can be easily avoided by taking them out of the dryer while they are still slightly damp. Remove your curtains from the clothes dryer when they are about 95% dry to avoid setting in wrinkles. By doing this, you will also make any necessary ironing much easier.
How to wash net curtains in the washing machine
Most net curtains can be machine-washed, and it’s one of the easier curtain types to care for at home. The fabric is lightweight, so it dries quickly, but it’s also fine-weave enough to distort if you’re not careful with the cycle settings.
- Place net curtains in a mesh laundry bag before loading the machine. This protects the fine weave from snagging during the wash.
- Use a cool or 30°C cycle. Higher temperatures will cause the fabric to yellow or shrink.
- Select a slow spin or no-spin option if your machine allows it. A fast spin can permanently distort the mesh structure.
- Use a small amount of mild detergent. Nets don’t need much, and residue can leave the fabric looking dull.
- Rehang while still slightly damp. This is the most effective way to prevent creasing and helps the fabric settle back into its natural shape without ironing.
Can you wash “dry clean only” curtains
“Dry clean only” means the fabric is designed to be cleaned with solvents rather than water. The genuine risks of washing these curtains at home include shrinkage, colour bleed, and permanent distortion of the weave or pile. Those risks don’t disappear by being careful. The steps below reduce them, but they don’t eliminate them. If the curtains are valuable or irreplaceable, professional dry cleaning is the more sensible choice.
Dry clean only curtains should, ideally, only be dry cleaned. However, there are times when washing them at home may be preferable. Reasons for this could include wanting to save money or time. Whatever the reason, there are ways to wash your dry clean-only curtains safely at home. Here is what to do:
- Choose the setting for delicate fabrics;
- Select the cold water setting;
- Use a small amount of detergent;
- Wash the curtains one by one;
- Hang dry them and avoid placing them near heat sources.
How to hand wash curtains
Hand-washing is recommended for delicate fabrics and for the times you are not sure if your curtain will survive a cycle in the washing machine. It’s surely the safer option for all kinds of drapes but it is the harder one to complete, as well. For large curtain panels, the bathtub is the right vessel: it gives you enough room to submerge the fabric fully and rinse it without bunching. Here are some general steps to help when you need to clean your drapes.
- Invest in a gentle laundry detergent or soap that is made just for hand-washing fragile materials such as silk and lace.
- Carefully read the instructions of the chosen detergents as different kinds are used in different concentrations.
- Wash the curtains only with cold water and do not use any hard brushes or other tools that might damage the fabric.
- If your drapes are too heavy, consider dry cleaning or steam cleaning them. The drying time is a lot longer as they soak up a lot of water and detergent.
- Air dry your freshly cleaned curtains.
How to dry clean your curtains
Delicate and bright-coloured curtains are best dry-cleaned. If your curtains are made from velvet, velour, chenille, tapestry, brocade, wool, polyester or silk, they should be dry-cleaned. They can shrink, lose their colour and get damaged by almost any wet-washing method, so you always need to be super careful when treating those fabrics. The same applies to interlined curtains.
If you want to dry clean curtains at home, an at-home dry-cleaning kit is your most practical option. The kits work by using a solvent-treated cloth in a dryer-safe bag to lift light soil without water. They’re not equivalent to professional dry cleaning, but they handle light freshening well. Work through the steps carefully and do one curtain at a time.
- Get a suitable “dry-cleaning-at-home kit” with instructions.
- Test the fabric to see if it’s colourfast. If the colour fades away, you shouldn’t treat the rest with the same chemical. Just put a small dose of the chosen detergent on a small inconspicuous area.
- Once you have found the right kit for your curtain, follow the instructions carefully, and the same as with the hand-washing method, do not use any abrasive brushes.
- Clean only one curtain at a time.
- When you are done, hang them away from direct sunlight or any heat source.
- Do NOT dry them in the dryer, or the liner will most likely shrink.
- If you need to iron them, always put a white towel, blanket or a t-shirt on top. Never iron the drapes directly.
How to steam clean curtains
Steam cleaning is one of the most useful methods for curtains that can’t easily be removed, or for fabrics that would struggle in a washing machine but can tolerate heat and moisture. It freshens the fabric, reduces dust, and can help release light creasing, all without taking the curtains down. It won’t shift heavy staining, but for routine maintenance between washes it’s hard to beat.
How to steam clean curtains in situ, without taking them down.
Check the care label
Confirm that the fabric is suitable for steam. Avoid steaming velvet, silk, and delicate embroidered fabrics unless the label explicitly permits it.
Vacuum the curtain first
Run the brush attachment over the curtain from top to bottom before steaming. Steaming over loose dust just pushes it into the fabric rather than removing it.
Fill and heat the steamer
Fill the steamer with clean water and allow it to reach full operating temperature before you begin. Fit the fabric or upholstery nozzle attachment.
Test on a hidden area
Hold the nozzle 10–15 cm from the fabric and apply a brief burst of steam to an inconspicuous area, such as the back hem. Check for colour change or fabric distortion before proceeding.
Work top to bottom in long strokes
Move the nozzle slowly down the curtain in long, steady passes, keeping it 10–15 cm from the surface throughout. Don’t press the nozzle against the fabric or linger in one spot, as over-saturation can cause watermarks.
Repeat on the reverse side
Turn the curtain or work from behind it if possible, and repeat the same top-to-bottom passes on the back of the fabric.
Allow to air-dry fully
Leave the curtains hanging and allow them to dry completely before drawing them closed. This usually takes 30–60 minutes depending on the fabric weight and room ventilation.
If there are stubborn stains that steaming hasn’t shifted, treat them separately with a spot remover designed for the specific fabric type before or after the steaming session.
Drying your curtains the right way
Allowing the right amount of drying time in the right conditions is a crucial aspect of the cleaning process of your drapes. Otherwise, if not careful, the risk of your curtains developing mould and musty, heavy odours is a lot bigger.
Here are some general tips you can follow to ensure that you are drying your curtains the right way:
- The best place to dry your curtains is outside on a dry, sunny day, somewhere with a breeze that speeds the drying. Line drying works well: peg the curtains along their width rather than by the heading tape to help them retain their shape as they dry.
- A lot of fabrics lose their colour when placed under direct sunlight, so it’s best to avoid such areas and put them in partial shade.
- You can machine dry your curtains but only if the fabric permits it. Check the label and see what the maximum temperature that they will withstand should be and adjust the setting accordingly.
- If the drapes are prone to getting wrinkled, take them out of the appliance just a little before the cycle is complete and leave them to air dry.
- If you don’t have space outside your home to dry the drapes, place them in a well-ventilated room and open as many windows as possible. Turn on a couple of fans to speed up the whole process.
- We don’t recommend that you dry heavyweight curtains inside. They can develop mould, where the spores spread onto other furniture. This will lead to a number of problems, such as a nasty odour that will be extremely hard to get rid of, health issues and many more.
Maintenance after cleaning
Truth is that cleaning all of your curtains at home is a tedious task that often times takes up a whole day to complete. So naturally, you do not want to spend every weekend doing so. Luckily, there are plenty of useful maintenance tips that will surely reduce the need to clean your curtains that frequently.
- Invest in a dehumidifier. It will surely reduce the risk of your curtains developing mould and will overall improve the quality of the air in your home.
- Curtains absorb a lot of smells, especially when you are cooking and if you smoke indoors. Our advice is to draw out the curtains and keep your windows open whenever it’s possible so that the room is always ventilated and all of the bad smells evaporate more quickly.
- Every two weeks or so, you can take down your curtains and just hang them outside to air.
- Whenever you are vacuuming your house, go over your curtains, as well. Of course, by using the appropriate attachment.
- If you don’t have a special setting for curtains, shake them outdoors if possible, so the loose dust falls outside rather than settling back into the room. Leave the dust to settle for a couple of minutes and after that vacuum the area under them. If you have pets at home, a lint roller between sessions keeps pet hair and dander from building up between full washes.
How often should curtains be washed?
As a general guide, you should wash your curtains every three to six months to keep them clean. A weekly dust removal routine will help you go longer between washings. Eliminating dust, dirt, pet hair, and cobwebs in your curtains will also make your home smell fresher, look cleaner and eliminate allergen problems. In addition, you’ll be able to spot stains more easily and take care of them before they become bigger problems.
The right interval depends on where the curtains are and how the room is used. Kitchen curtains pick up grease and cooking smells quickly and are worth washing closer to the three-month end of that range. Curtains in a bedroom that’s kept tidy and well-ventilated can often go the full six months between washes without any noticeable deterioration. Households with pets or anyone with dust allergies should lean towards more frequent washing and more consistent weekly vacuuming in between.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you put curtains in the tumble dryer?
Some curtains can be tumble-dried, but only if the care label permits it. Use a low heat setting and remove the curtains while they are still slightly damp, around 95% dry, to prevent wrinkles from setting in and to reduce the risk of shrinkage. Heavy or lined curtains are generally better air-dried rather than machine-dried.
How do you get curtains to hang straight after washing?
Rehang the curtains while they are still slightly damp. The weight of the fabric pulls it straight as it dries, which reduces creasing without ironing. If creases remain once fully dry, iron the curtains on a low setting appropriate for the fabric type, using a pressing cloth between the iron and the fabric to protect the surface.
Can you wash pencil pleat curtains in the washing machine?
Yes, most pencil pleat curtains can be machine-washed, provided the fabric care label allows it. Before washing, remove all hooks and detach the gathering cords or heading tape if possible. Use a cold, delicate cycle and a small amount of mild detergent. Rehang while slightly damp to help the pleats settle back into shape naturally.
Need some professional help?
Maybe you don’t want to risk damaging your drapes, you cannot determine what the exact material that they are made of is and you’re not sure how to treat it or you simply don’t have the time to take care of them properly.
In that case, you can always count on the professionals of Fantastic Cleaners to do the hard job for you. The trained technicians are able to identify the best way of treating your curtains, regardless of what type of material they are made of. They have experience in cleaning both synthetic and mixed fibres or delicate, natural materials that need a gentle touch.
When in doubt, call Fantastic Cleaners and enjoy quality results without lifting a finger!
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Conclusion
The method you choose for cleaning curtains comes down to one thing first: the care label. Everything else follows from that. Machine-washable fabrics are the easiest to manage at home; delicate or dry-clean-only materials need more care and carry more risk if you get it wrong. Steaming and vacuuming between full washes keep things manageable and reduce how often you need to do the whole job.
Regular maintenance is worth more than occasional deep cleans. Curtains that get vacuumed weekly and aired regularly between washes stay in better condition for longer, and the full wash, when it does come around, is a lot less work. If your curtains are valuable, heavily lined, or made from something you’re not confident treating at home, professional cleaning is always the more sensible option.
Image source: Shutterstock/Africa Studio
Good article regarding mosquito net cleaning. The netlon or fiberglass mosquito nets can be cleaned using cleaning brush. Its a very simple procedure. Heavy washing in washing machine will damage the nets.