How to clean curtains at home without removing them from the curtain rod: TOP-effective methods + instructions

Without curtains and tulle it is difficult to imagine a complete and cozy interior of any room. Therefore, when decorating a house or apartment, special attention is paid to their choice. In addition to choosing and purchasing curtains, there is also the problem of caring for them. If they are massive and have multi-level lambrequins, then removing them for washing is extremely difficult.

In this case, it is recommended to clean the curtains directly on the curtain rod. The choice of the optimal method depends on the material used, design and type of curtains. Let's look at the simplest and most effective ways to clean curtains without removing them from the curtain rod.

Recommendations

Textiles can be cleaned at home without taking them to the dry cleaner or removing them from their loops. The economical and fast method is the most popular.

You can resort to professional care. And those who like to use their own strength should take into account a few tips so that their efforts give maximum benefit.

An alternative to machine washing is hand washing.

Curtains made from delicate or colored fabrics should not be washed in a washing machine as they may be damaged or discolored. It is better to wash them by hand without removing the hooks.

How to do it:

Fill the bathtub with cool water and add a gentle detergent.
Dip the folded curtains into the water - it is important that they are completely covered.
Let them soak overnight.
The next day, drain the bathtub and refill it with lukewarm water and a special curtain cleaner.
Wash the fabric gently without rubbing it too much.
When finished washing, rinse tulle or curtains with clean water to remove detergent.
Straighten the curtains, shake them so that the weight of the water “stretches” the fabric.
Hang them damp on a rope or curtain rod so you don’t have to iron them later, or smooth out wrinkles with steam, holding the steamer at a distance of 20 cm from the fabric so as not to damage it.

Cleaning

Putting items in order without removing them from the cornice is the easiest way. Many people know how much effort it takes to remove and hang. Working with dense, heavy fabric is especially labor-intensive.

You can clean hanging curtains in several stages:

Remove dust from textiles. To do this, use a delicate cleaning brush that is not capable of damaging the material. And thanks to a vacuum cleaner with a furniture attachment, the procedure is even faster.
Fighting stains. Areas with dirt are treated with foamed detergent. You can use a stain remover that matches the curtains. Many of them have whitening properties, this should be taken into account before use and the packaging should be carefully examined.
Studying the properties of the product. Please read the care label before dry cleaning. If the textiles are made to order, you should ask the tailor for information.

Removing common types of contaminants

Most often, stains appear on curtains from cafes, wine, tea and other drinks, grease, dust and insects. To remove stains, you can use professional detergents, which should be selected depending on the material. In addition, it is also effective to use folk remedies:

Salt. Effectively removes wine and grease stains. Maximum effect can be achieved if applied to a fresh stain.
Laundry soap. Effectively fights most types of stains. It is enough to apply a small amount of product on it, rub a little and rinse.
Alcohol. Can be used against greasy stains.
Petrol. Helps against paint and grease stains.
Ammonia. You can also remove oil marks on a curtain using a mixture of ammonia and vinegar.

Attention! Regardless of the method used, a test should be performed on a small area of tissue in an inconspicuous place before using it.

Hot steam

Mostly steam reading is carried out by professional companies. Steam is able to push out fresh stains, and often copes with old dirt. The fabric, freed from plaque, takes on a fresh look and the color becomes richer.

High temperatures above 100 degrees destroy dust mites. Along with all the properties, the steam cleaner smoothes the curtains. But steam only dissolves dirt, pushing it to the surface. Therefore, after treatment, you should walk over the surface with a brush.

For delicate fabrics made of velvet and pleated curtains, steam is not allowed. But for most fabrics this type of cleaning is suitable.

Is it necessary to clean curtains?

Curtains need to be cleaned at least twice a year!

No matter how sad the answer to this question may sound, curtains need to be cleaned, just like any other thing in your home. This is a large textile fabric on which a huge amount of house dust and dirt particles settle. The curtains also do not become cleaner from contact with your hands, but become more and more dirty day after day. Therefore, curtains must be cleaned at least once every six months. The rest of the time they are refreshed during daily airing, when the air blows over the material and cleans it of excess dust.

Cleaning products

The cleaning solution must be suitable for the material. It is advisable to choose a universal option, suitable for white and colored textiles. The composition should be colorless, not capable of leaving streaks on white material.

The foam has worked well. It deals with stains without making the fabric wet, but only slightly moisturizes it. After the moisture evaporates, the dirt comes to the surface and can be easily removed with a brush or vacuum cleaner.

Stages

To thoroughly clean the curtains yourself, it is advisable to adhere to the following algorithm:

Shake the product to remove any accumulated dust.
Treat the cornice and fabric with a damp sponge.
Choose suitable attachments for your vacuum cleaner.
Treat the product on both sides to get rid of particles embedded in the fabric.

If you do not have the required attachment, you can wrap a standard one with thin cloth or gauze to avoid harsh impact on the fabric.

Dry cleaning

If working with curtains at home is so simple, then why do you need dry cleaning for curtains from professional companies? The main feature is saving time and effort.

The workshop uses dry cleaning, only with organic compounds. The products must comply with GOST standards so that the material in the house does not cause allergies and is not toxic.

Features of washing curtains depending on their type

Whatever the products, the method of washing them is primarily determined by the type of material from which they are made. Curtains differ not only in the type of material, but also in the presence of decorative elements and design.

We clean and wash curtains and drapes at home

Washing curtains at home is quite a difficult task.

Curtains and drapes have a very presentable appearance and create an atmosphere of luxury and well-being. If the material of the curtains allows them to be washed without dry cleaning, then washing should be done by hand. Carefully read the manufacturer's information on the label and strictly follow the recommendations.

The following steps are required:

Repeated soaking in cold water with the addition of soda or salt;
Several soaks in warm soapy water;
Hand wash with mild detergent;
Repeated rinses in warm and cold water;
The washing process takes place without rubbing or boiling the fabric.

Velvet curtains

Velvet does not like moisture; at home, curtains can be cleaned without removing them

If your window is decorated with velvet, then washing in water is contraindicated. To prevent the material from shrinking, clean velvet curtains as follows:

Carefully remove dust with a brush from the entire surface;
Wipe the material with a woolen cloth and gasoline;
Let dry;
Finally, wipe the velvet with a wool cloth and alcohol.

Tapestry

At home, the tapestry can only be vacuumed

Tapestry curtains at home should only be dry cleaned:

Vacuum the tapestry with a special nozzle;
Use a damp sponge or cloth to care for the canvas.

Flock

At home, flock curtains prefer dry cleaning

Flock curtains require regular care:

Remove accumulated dust with a vacuum cleaner;
Clean the fabric with a soft clothes brush or household sponge.

Tulle, silk, organza

Light curtains can be washed by hand or on a delicate cycle.

Light air curtains are washed mainly in this way:

Repeat soaking in cold water several times. Try not to delay the process, as this contributes to the formation of numerous folds;
Carefully fold the fabric into a wash bag or pillowcase, do not add other items;
Hand wash in warm water or use delicate machine wash without spinning.

Feedback on washing:

Cleaning things up is my job; I’ve been working as a technician at an enterprise for a long time, where I have to “fly” seriously. In the spring and fall, there are cleanup days, 22 windows need to be washed and insulated/or sealed. I’ve been working for more than 10 years, so all this is nothing to me. In the director's office there are three tulle sheets - 6m each, to the floor, with a large lambrequin, I wash it twice a year, in general I should do it more often - but it’s a little hard to hang on hooks; Sarma powder, I’ll pour more of it - and go ahead, pre-soak it, but then it’s hard to push it into the machine - you’ll pour it all over the floor. I tried it without spinning - I didn’t like it, it’s hard to hang such large pieces to dry. Spinning at 600 rpm is normal, almost does not wrinkle. Then I fold it like an accordion, smooth it out with my hand and hang it on the door - it dries over the weekend. You have to iron only where there were folds. Organza - compared to tulle - is fluff, it can be washed without spinning, on a 15-minute wash, 40 - 50 degrees, I don’t regret the powder - then I carefully hang it over the bathtub, it drips off quickly. This is how I iron it: I fold it in several layers, it warms up and smoothes out well. At home I wash all the curtains every month, it takes about 2 hours to remove, wash, slightly iron and hang.
Skalyarka
https://www.flylady.ru/fly/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1105&start=105

Fabric kitchen curtains

Kitchen curtains made of mixed fabrics are washed in salt water

Kitchen curtains containing synthetics are washed following these recommendations:

leave them overnight in cold salt water;
wash in cold water with salt;
Rinse well, finally dilute vinegar in water and dip the product in it.

Acrylic, viscose, taffeta

When washing curtains made from such fabrics, you can use an automatic machine:

We use the delicate machine wash cycle;
We set the recommended temperature: 30–40 degrees (acrylic and viscose), 50 degrees (taffeta);
Select the additional rinse option or rinse repeatedly;
Disable the spin function.

Nylon curtains

Nylon curtains are washed by soaking in salt water

Nylon curtains are hand washable. You need to act in the following order:

rinse before the main wash in cold water;
dilute hot water with a handful of soda;
soak in the resulting solution for an hour and a half;
wash with powder;
after washing, leave for an hour in salt water;
Finally rinse the product.

Satin curtains

Satin can be washed by hand in warm water, but it is better to dry clean it

It is advisable to entrust satin products to professionals. However, if you decide to wash them at home, then choose the manual method.

wash by hand in warm water (no more than 30 degrees);
use soft washing powders for washing;
do not use bleach;
rinse in a weak vinegar solution;
let the water drain from the fabric without squeezing.

If a dirty stain appears on your satin curtain, try removing it without washing:

Apply corn or wheat flour to the stain for one hour;
Remove any remaining dirt and flour using a soft brush.

Flour perfectly absorbs various types of dirt and, perhaps, after an hour there will be no trace left of the stain.

Curtains with eyelets

Curtains with eyelets are washed along with the rings if it is not possible to remove them

Curtains with eyelets are very convenient to use. There are curtains with removable rings, then it is advisable to remove them while washing. If the eyelets are not removed, then wash them together. It can be washed in an automatic machine if the quality of the fabric allows. In this case, proceed according to the following instructions:

place in a washing bag;
set the delicate wash cycle and water temperature to 30 degrees;
wash with liquid detergent;
do not squeeze;
After the end of the cycle, immediately remove from the drum to prevent the metal eyelets from becoming dull.

Curtains with lambrequins

Lambrequins are removed and washed together with the curtain or steamed

With lambrequins the product looks luxurious, however, the washing process becomes a little more complicated. There are two types of lambrequins:

Soft. They are made of the same material as the curtain. They are erased with her.
Tough. For this type of lambrequins, steam cleaning is used.

Filament curtains

Thread curtains are washed by tying them into a knot or a braid

Curtains made from threads are very original, but after washing it becomes difficult to unravel the threads. To avoid this problem, tie the threads into a knot or several knots. You can choose machine wash for curtains like these:

Tie into knots or braid from threads;
In this form, carefully place it in a washing bag;
Set to delicate spin mode;
Remove from car;
Untie and hang on the curtain rod, where they will dry completely.

Thread with glass beads

Filament curtains with glass beads are tied with ribbons before washing to prevent them from getting tangled

These products give the room a fabulous atmosphere. You need to wash it by hand and very carefully, making sure that the threads do not get tangled together. Procedure:

Tie the threads with the glass beads along the entire length with ribbon;
Place in this form in warm soapy water;
Wait 30 minutes;
Add hot water and gently knead with your hands;
Rinse;
Hang to dry on a curtain rod.

Another washing option:

My mother-in-law sews curtains, and she said that thread ones should be braided and the end tied with an elastic band. Wash it without spinning, and then hang the raw ones first on a rope, and when it drips, then hang it on a baguette.
Ksyu
https://www.babyblog.ru/community/post/housedesign/1742703/1#comm_start

Video: washing curtains made of threads with glass beads

Roller blinds

How to clean roller blinds depends on the material of construction

Cleaning methods depend on the material from which they are made. When thinking about how to clean them, always rely on the manufacturer's information. There are four different cleaning methods in total.

Dry cleaning. There should be appropriate information on the label that the curtain can be dry cleaned.
Dry cleaning with a vacuum cleaner with a delicate nozzle. Such cleaning can be carried out as it gets dirty, and not just twice a year.
Local stain cleaning. You can try to wipe off a simple stain of dirt with an eraser. Grease stains are removed with a natural-based stain remover without solvents. Don’t get carried away with the process: don’t rub too hard so that the color doesn’t change in the area of contamination.
Wet cleaning with sponge and soap.

When planning to wet clean, follow these instructions:

add a neutral detergent without fragrances or additives to cold water;
gently rub with a sponge in a circular motion;
remove soap residue with water or wash it off with a shower;
straighten and leave to dry;
steam the folds and iron the seams, focusing on the information about the composition of the fabric.

Feedback on washing:

Today I took off this curtain along with the barbell. I poured warm water into the bath, added liquid Laska for white (my Vanish turned out to be very expired), my curtain was light. The length of it did not fit entirely into the bathtub. Well, I struggled - first I soaked it in foam with one end, then the other. It lay there for about 20 minutes, the water didn’t immediately become dirty, it gradually got wet. Where there were all sorts of soot stains, I also washed them with white washing soap.. then I drained the dirty water. Using a shower, I rinsed it clean, first with almost hot water, then with cold water, everything rinsed well. I kept it in the bath for half an hour, letting the water drain. and then onto a regular floor dryer. It took a few hours for everything to dry! It’s true. There were slight creases left from the dryer, but I hung it in place and rolled it up right away - another hour - it straightened out and is now hanging clean. It’s true. It’s already dark. It’s not very visible whether the stains remain or not after cleaning with zoom, I’ll look in daylight and write. But overall I'm happy with the result.
McQueen
https://forum.sibmama.ru/viewtopic.php?t=602759

Video: removing dirt from roller blinds

Roman curtains

Roman blinds can be cleaned in different ways: it all depends on the material

Just like rolled ones, Roman ones are cleaned depending on the material from which they are made. There are four main methods.

Dry cleaning.
Dry cleaning with a brush or vacuum cleaner with a special attachment. If they are made of bamboo or rope, then only this method of cleaning is recommended. There is no need to remove them.
Steaming. An excellent option for Roman blinds. If you have a steam generator or vertical steam iron, use it more than twice a year if possible. Then you won’t have to wash them for a long time.
Hand or machine wash.

If you are planning to wash fabric items at home, then read the following recommendations:

hand washing is always a priority;
soak for an hour in warm soapy water;
bleaching is prohibited;
do not rub the fabric;
wash carefully;
rinse well;
let the water drain.

If the products are allowed to be washed in an automatic machine, then proceed as follows:

place in a special laundry bag;
select delicate mode at a temperature of 30–40 degrees without spinning;
rinse several times;
remove from the drum;
dry flat.

Feedback on washing:

I have a Roman blind made of synthetic fabric in my kitchen. I take it off, rip out the seams on one side, take out all the bars, wash them in the machine, put the bars back in, and sew up the seams by hand.
na-din
https://www.flylady.ru/fly/viewtopic.php?t=1105&start=135

Video: caring for a Roman blind

Japanese curtains

Japanese curtains can be cleaned without removing with a vacuum cleaner or damp cloth

Such curtains create a wonderful ethnic atmosphere of the East at home. Washing is contraindicated for them. There are two methods of care:

Dry vacuum cleaning on both sides;
Wet cleaning. If the products are not impregnated, they can be wiped with a special sponge or soft cloth. Do not use harsh detergents or acidic cleaners.

Pleated curtains

Pleated curtains can be washed in water

Pleated blinds can be washed and wiped with a damp cloth to remove dust. When planning to wash pleated fabric, follow these instructions:

On the window, fold the curtain completely;
Remove from fasteners;
Choose a container for washing that will fit completely;
Wash by hand at 30 degrees;
Use a neutral detergent;
Soak the slightly opened curtain in the soapy solution for 15 minutes;
Open completely and use your hands to wash the material in a circular motion.
Important! Please do not rub the pleated fabric with brushes or sponges. We wash the curtains only with our hands!
Fold it in water and, once folded, remove it from the container with soapy water.
Unfold, holding the top;
Rinse with cold water (shower or watering can);
Fold completely;
Attach all fasteners;
Attach the structure to the window;
Do not unwrap for 12 hours, leave it to dry in this state.
It is not recommended to unroll it earlier than after 12 hours, as the fabric may become deformed.

Whitening yellowed curtains

Over time, curtains, especially white ones, turn yellow. But there are several ways to return the curtains to their former cleanliness and freshness.

Oxygen bleach or color restorer

You can use bleach when washing nylon curtains. Add the product you choose during washing to the automatic machine or soak it in cold water with bleach after washing.

Ammonia, hydroperite or hydrogen peroxide

In this way you can bleach synthetic curtains:

Add 1 tablespoon of ammonia, 5 tablets of hydroperite or 2 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide to 10 liters of water.
Soak in the solution for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
rinse thoroughly and let the water drain.

Zelenka

Zelenka is used to bleach synthetic curtains, including tulle:

Dissolve salt and 2-3 drops of greenery in cold water;
Dip the already washed item into the prepared solution;
After a while, remove without squeezing.

Salt

Sometimes ordinary salt helps restore the curtains to their former whiteness:

Add 4 tablespoons of salt to 5 liters of warm water;
Before the main wash, soak the curtain in the solution for 20 minutes;
Wash without spinning and rinse.

Feedback on washing tulle curtains using salt:

But I washed it as they advised. So, first I soaked it in hot water with added salt... half of the dirt and dust came off right away. Then I left it in the powder solution overnight. and then I threw it in the machine and after double rinsing with the addition of silane sensitive, everything was washed. It turned out great - the tulle was white, like new and most importantly, it was ironed perfectly. without folds or crumpled places, without hidden “cookiness”. and without the participation of my nerves
Vlada56
https://forum.uaua.info/family/2331402-kak-vy-stiraete-gardiny-tyul-shtory/

Video: bleach curtains

Drying

It is recommended to hang muslin on the curtain rod immediately after washing . First you need to hang the rope curtain woven into a braid on the curtain rod. After this you can unravel it.

Wet threads will stretch on their own under their own weight.
After drying, they will become straight again. There is no need to leave the product in a bandaged state to dry . In this form, the thing will not only quickly lose its appearance, but will also stretch incorrectly. If such a situation arises, it is recommended to moisten the threads of the product with a spray bottle and wait until they dry.

How to care for roller blinds or how to slow down the pollution process

To minimize the rate of their contamination, avoid stain formation and keep the curtains in a well-groomed and neat condition, you should perform several easy steps:

when installing roller blinds, you need to take into account the proximity of heating devices and place them at a distance;
Open the window once a day for ventilation - this will not only get rid of some of the settled dust, but is also good for health;
When cleaning your house regularly, you don’t need to ignore the roller blinds and go over them with a vacuum cleaner after installing the nozzle for cleaning upholstered furniture;
when washing windows, it is better to roll the curtains into a cassette;
the resulting creases or bends must be straightened in a timely manner (it is better to avoid them), since in such places there is a more intense accumulation of dust;
Roller blinds installed in the kitchen are best rolled to the “open” position during cooking;
For a positive effect, problem areas should be cleaned immediately after contamination appears or is detected.

Maintaining basic cleanliness of your home, ventilating the room and periodically dry cleaning your roller blinds will allow them to last longer and delight you with their beauty.

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Prohibited actions in care

Any thing requires self-care and actions that cannot be used. Roller curtains are no exception; when starting to clean them, you need to know what not to do:

The most important prohibition is automatic washing, regardless of their material. Such actions will hopelessly ruin the canvas and a beautiful appearance is out of the question;
processing the fabric with aggressive chemicals (acetone, solvents, gasoline, etc.) is unacceptable;
some advise treating curtains with steam, not taking into account the fact that it can contribute to the disintegration of the dust-repellent coating;
After wet treatment, the roller blinds must be dried in a straightened form and in a horizontal position. Various bends and additions in several layers are unacceptable. If this happens, then it will no longer be possible to fix the curtain;
Ironing in the care of roller blinds will also do more harm than good. If this becomes necessary and you only need to iron a small part of the fabric, you can do this with the tip of the iron, at a minimum temperature and always through a damp cloth.
if the material of the solar control fabric is made of natural materials, such as bamboo, flax, reed, wood and the like, such curtains should absolutely not be washed;