How to Clean Curtains: Machine Wash, Hand Wash or Steam

Most curtains can be cleaned at home by machine washing, hand washing or steaming, depending on the fabric. Always check the care label first. Here’s how to clean each type, and when it’s better to send them out.

Step 1: check the care label

• Machine wash symbol: washable at home on a gentle cycle
• Hand wash symbol: washable at home by hand
• Dry clean only, or a circle symbol: don’t wash them, have them professionally dry cleaned
• No label? Test a hidden corner. When in doubt, dry clean, especially lined, blackout, velvet or silk curtains.

How to machine wash curtains

1. Take them down, remove the hooks and rings, and shake out the dust outdoors.
2. Wash in cold water on a gentle cycle with mild detergent, one or two panels at a time.
3. Skip the dryer. Hang them damp, or put them back on the rail damp so the weight pulls out wrinkles.
4. Iron on low on the reverse side if needed.

How to hand wash curtains

1. Soak them in a tub of cold water with a little mild detergent for 15 to 30 minutes.
2. Swish gently. Don’t wring or twist.
3. Rinse until the water runs clear, then press the water out with towels.
4. Hang them to dry out of direct sun to prevent fading.

How to steam curtains without taking them down

1. Vacuum both sides with a brush attachment.
2. Run a garment steamer from top to bottom, keeping it a few centimetres from the fabric.
3. Open the windows so the curtains dry quickly.

Steaming kills dust mites and freshens the fabric, but it doesn’t remove grime or stains.

Curtains you shouldn’t wash at home

• Lined, interlined and blackout curtains, which can shrink unevenly or delaminate
• Velvet, silk, linen blends and pleated or pinch-pleat curtains
• Very large, heavy or high-ceiling curtains that don’t fit a home machine
• Curtains with smoke, mould or heavy cooking-oil buildup

For these, professional dry cleaning or on-site steam cleaning is safer. See curtain cleaning and curtain cleaning prices in Singapore.

How often to clean curtains in Singapore

Vacuum them monthly. Deep clean every 6 to 12 months, or every 3 to 6 months near kitchens, busy roads, or if anyone in the home has allergies.