Washable Window Curtains
Purchasing window curtains can be an expensive proposition. Depending on the type and style you choose you can spend a lot of money to outfit every window in your home with them. Window curtains are either dry clean only, or home washable. Dry cleaning can run you a pretty penny, so a budget wise choice would be selecting washable window curtains for your home. Plus most dry cleaners aren’t going to get your window curtains back to you the same day you drop them off. You’ll be going with bare windows for a few days, or you’ll have to hang up another pair of window curtains until the ones you dropped off are ready.
The first step, obviously, is to read the care labels on the window curtains you are considering buying. Even if the instructions are to hand wash the window curtains you can still care for them at home as opposed to having to take them to a professional dry cleaner.
Once it’s time to wash the window curtains, remove them from the curtain rod and shake off any dust or debris you might find on them. If you have young children you might find something small tucked into the folds or the hem of the window curtains.
Depending on the size of the curtains, you might not be able to wash them in the washing machine in your home. You don’t want to stuff it full to the brim; otherwise the washable window curtains won’t get fully cleaned. You might need to take your washable window curtains to a Laundromat and use their commercial sized washing machine to clean them.
Follow the instructions for the temperature of the water to use carefully. Some fabrics will shrink or the colors will run in hot water. Even if the label on your washable window curtains says that warm water is ok to use, you might want to consider using cold water instead. Your window curtains will come out just as clean, and you won’t have to worry about shrinkage or running colors.
Most curtains can be put in the dryer, but you want to use the lowest heat setting possible. You’ve spent a lot of time finding the perfect window curtains, and in some cases a lot of money – you don’t want them to shrink in the dryer. If you remove the window curtains from the dryer while they are still damp you can hang them to dry on a clothesline or lay them over a clothes drying rack to finish drying. You’ll most likely prevent any shrinkage of your washable window curtains in this case.
Finally, to have your window curtains looking their best, you’ll want to iron them once they are completely dry. Low heat is a good option on your iron to prevent the fabric from burning. Or if you like, you can use a higher heat setting on the iron and place a clean, white cotton cloth on top of the window curtains to iron them. Don’t iron your window curtains if the care label says not to do so.
If you have a pair of sheer or lace washable window curtains, you can wash them by hand or even use the gentle cycle on your washing machine. For even more protection of the delicate fabric, place the washable window curtains in a mesh bag (which you can find at stores like Target or Wal-Mart) before placing them in the washing machine. Keep them in the bag when you put them in the dryer as well. You can use a steamer to take out any wrinkles before putting them back up on your windows.
Washable window curtains are a great option for your home. With a little time and care you can keep them looking as good as the day you purchased them.
