How to Wash Blinds and Curtains

 

 

Keeping your window treatments clean is an important part of home maintenance. Over time, blinds and curtains accumulate dust, grease, and other types of dirt that can detract from your home's appearance. Regular cleaning also helps these fabrics last longer. Follow these steps to wash blinds and curtains properly.

 

Preparing Blinds and Curtains for Washing

Before washing, you'll need to take some preparatory steps:

 

Check labels - Inspect manufacturer labels for any special washing instructions or fabric composition information. This can dictate what methods you can use.

Dust thoroughly - Use a microfiber duster or vacuum with a brush attachment to remove loose surface dirt first. This prevents it from working its way further into fabrics during washing.

Disassemble hardware - Take blinds and curtains down from rods, brackets, and headers. Remove any hooks, rings, clips, wands, or other hardware.

Pretreat stains - Spot clean any visible stains with a bit of laundry detergent and warm water before full washing. This helps lift stains from setting further.

 

Hand Washing Smaller Window Treatments

For lighter window panels and short blinds, hand washing is often easiest:

Fill the tub or sink with warm water and mild detergent. Avoid hot water that could shrink or bleach fabrics.

Allow items to soak for 15-20 minutes so detergents can penetrate dirt and oils.

Agitate by gently working fabrics between your hands. Take care not to pull or distort shapes.

Rinse thoroughly until the water runs clear. Failure to rinse out detergents could leave a residue.

Roll items in towels to remove excess moisture. Reshape panels and slats before air drying over the rod or rack.

 

Machine Washing Heavier Fabrics

For sturdier, machine-washable curtains and blinds:

Shake off any remaining loose dust before adding to the drum.

Wash on a gentle cycle using cold water and a cleaning agent made for delicate fabrics.

Consider adding old towels or rags to balance out small loads and improve cleaning. The added friction can help scrub fabrics.

Hang vertically on a curtain rod or drying rack to prevent molding and mildew before returning to windows.

 

Alternative Cleaning Methods

If uncertain a fabric can withstand immersion washing, opt for these gentler techniques instead:

Vacuum brush attachment - Thoroughly vacuum all sides of blinds and drapes first.

Steam cleaning - Use a fabric steamer or iron set to steam over fabrics. Avoid direct contact with the iron plate.

Ultrasonic cleaning - Professional ultrasonic cleaners use high-frequency vibrations with solutions to agitate dirt-free.

No matter what process is used, allow time for complete drying before rehanging laundered window treatments to maintain quality and prevent rot or mold growth. With regular care, your blinds and curtains can retain beauty and functionality for years beyond their expected lifespan. Let us know if you have any other cleaning challenges we can help simplify!