How to wash curtains at home

To wash curtains at home, take them down and remove every hook, ring and weight, shake or vacuum out the dust, then wash them in cold or cool water on a gentle cycle with a small amount of mild detergent and an extra rinse. Do not overload the drum: the curtain needs room to move. Skip the dryer, and rehang the curtains while they are still slightly damp so their own weight pulls the creases out, with a fan or open window to finish drying. This works for most cotton, polyester and linen-blend curtains whose care label allows washing. Dry clean only, lined, blackout-coated or heavily trimmed curtains are better left to a professional.

Curtains collect more dust than almost anything else in a Malaysian home: road dust from open windows, cooking oil from nearby kitchens, and mould spores in the rainy season. Many households wash them before Chinese New Year or Hari Raya, but once or twice a year is a good habit anyway, and more often if anyone at home has allergies.

Check the label and the fabric

Look for the care label, usually on the top hem or a side seam.

• Machine wash or hand wash: you can wash at home.
• Dry clean or dry clean only: do not wash in water. See what "dry clean only" means.
• No label: check the fabric. Plain cotton and polyester sheers usually wash well. Velvet, silk, wool, heavy lined drapes and anything with a rubbery blackout backing usually do not.

Hold the curtain up to a window. Thin, papery patches near the hem or the sunny side are a sign of sun rot. Those areas can split in the wash, and washing will not repair a tear that is already there.

What you need

• A washing machine big enough for the curtain to move freely, or a bathtub for hand-washing
• Mild liquid detergent
• A mesh laundry bag for sheers
• A vacuum with a soft brush attachment (optional)
• A small tray or bag for hooks

Before washing

1. Take the curtains down and lay them on a clean floor or bed.
2. Remove every hook, ring and clip. Count them into a small tray so none are lost. Metal hooks can rust onto wet fabric and can tear the drum or the curtain.

3. Shake out the dust outdoors, or vacuum both sides with a soft brush attachment. Dust is most of what makes old curtains look grey. If you skip this, you wash dirt back into the fibres.
4. Remove weights from the hem if they come out easily, and close any lining zips.
5. Sort by colour and weight. Wash white sheers apart from coloured or heavy curtains, the same idea as washing a white shirt so colours don't run onto it.
6. Pre-treat marks. Dab a little detergent on greasy edges near the kitchen or hand marks where the curtain gets pulled. Check for mould spots on curtains near damp windows; see how to remove mould from clothes for the method on washable fabric.

How to machine-wash curtains

7. Load one panel or one set at a time. If the dry curtain already fills the drum, it is too big for that machine. Washing it anyway leaves the middle dirty and strains the motor.
8. Put sheers in a mesh bag so they do not snag.
9. Choose a gentle or delicate cycle with cold or cool water, unless the label names a warmer temperature. Hot water can shrink cotton and set yellowing.
10. Use less detergent than for a normal load. Leftover detergent in curtain fabric shows up as streaks once it dries in the light.
11. Add an extra rinse and use a low spin to limit creasing.

How to hand-wash curtains

For delicate sheers or when your machine is too small, use a clean bathtub. Fill it with cool water, mix in a little mild detergent, and soak the curtain for 15 to 20 minutes. Swish and press it gently, do not scrub. Drain, refill with clean water and rinse until no suds remain. Press out the water by folding the curtain and pressing on it; do not wring.

Drying curtains

12. Shake the curtain out as soon as the cycle ends. Do not leave it wet in the drum, especially in humid weather.
13. Rehang it while slightly damp. Put the hooks back and hang it at the window, with the window open or a fan on. The weight of the damp fabric pulls most creases out, so you may not need to iron.
14. For heavier curtains, dry them first over two lines or a drying rack in the shade so air reaches both sides, then hang them once they are only slightly damp.
15. Check the thickest hem before you call it dry. A cool, damp hem can smell musty within a day or two. If it does, see how to get rid of a musty smell in clothes.

Avoid tumble drying unless the label allows it. Heat can shrink curtains and cause permanent creases. Direct afternoon sun fades coloured curtains and can weaken sheers.

Ironing and steaming

If creases remain, steam the curtain while it hangs, working from top to bottom. If you iron, use the setting on the label and iron the hems and top heading flat while slightly damp. Heat will not remove a dirt line and can set one, so check for marks first. For general tips, see how to iron a shirt at home.

Curtains that should not go in the machine

• Anything labelled dry clean only
• Lined curtains, where the lining and face fabric can shrink at different rates
• Blackout curtains with a coated backing, unless the label says machine wash
• Velvet, silk and wool curtains
• Curtains with beads, glued trim, tassels or fragile embroidery
• Sun-rotted curtains that tear easily

If you are unsure, read what not to machine-wash.

Keeping curtains cleaner for longer

• Vacuum them with a brush attachment every few weeks.
• Open windows on dry days so air moves through the fabric.
• Wipe condensation from windows in the rainy season so it does not soak into the hems.
• Keep kitchen curtains short or use washable panels near the stove.

Bedding and cushion covers follow similar rules. See how to wash bedding at home and how to wash sofa cushion covers for a full festive refresh.

FAQ

How often should I wash curtains?

Every six to twelve months for most homes. Wash them more often if you live near a busy road, if they hang near the kitchen, or if someone at home has dust allergies.

Can I wash blackout curtains?

Only if the care label says so. Many blackout backings crack or peel in the washing machine. Vacuuming and spot-cleaning are safer for coated curtains.

Why are my curtains grey after washing?

Usually because dust was not shaken out first, the drum was overloaded, or too much detergent was left in the fabric. Shake or vacuum first, wash smaller loads, and add an extra rinse.

Curtain cleaning near Cheras Yulek

If your curtains are too big for your machine, lined, or labelled dry clean only, bring them to Superman Laundry at 17-1 Lorong Durian, Taman Cheras (Cheras Yulek), 56100 Kuala Lumpur, open Monday to Saturday, 9am to 7pm. WhatsApp 013-833 5526 to ask about an item before you bring it in.