How to Wash Curtains? 4 Surprisingly Easy Curtain Cleaning Hacks
Snow-white curtains are a dream of many homeowners. They are a kind of a showpiece of a house or apartment. Unfortunately, the materials they are made of tend to grey or yellow and they don't look as good anymore. It doesn't mean, though, that you have to replace them. Are you wondering how to wash curtains? It's quite easy and quick. We have gathered the best methods for curtain cleaning so that you can easily whiten the drapes and restore their spotless cleanliness.
How often should you whiten the curtains?
You should always whiten the curtains before washing them. Depending on dirt accumulation, it should be done, on average, every two months. Everything depends on how much dust there is in your house or apartment. Typically, curtain cleaning is done more often if there are smokers in the house. Cigarette smoke is one of the biggest threats to the snow-white curtains color.
Curtain cleaning should be done more often for the items hanging in the kitchen. They are exposed to the fumes created while cooking. It’s obvious that they get dirty on a quicker rate.
How to wash curtains using chemical products?
The market offers many various products for curtain cleaning. Keep in mind, though, that each of them contains chemicals which might affect not only the color, but also the durability of the fabric. Many homeowners claim that after using such products a few times, the durability of the curtains decreased and they had to replace them for new ones.
How to avoid such a situation? Instead of using chemicals for curtain cleaning, it’s recommended to pick home remedies. They are often much more effective and most importantly - safer.
Some people try to use a toilet cleaner as bleach for curtain cleaning. It’s not recommended, as it’s a strong, caustic chemical. Its purpose is completely different, and such experiments might result in damaged curtains.
Are home remedies for curtain cleaning effective?
Homemade curtain cleaning methods are very effective. Just make sure to follow certain rules to achieve very satisfying results. Are you wondering how to clean your curtains? You can use the following products:
- baking powder,
- baking soda,
- aspirin,
- vinegar,
- salt,
- lemon juice,
- citric acid,
- flour.
Not every single product from this list can clean very dirty curtains. Some work better, some worse - especially if the curtains are very yellowed. For this reason, one has to clean curtains very often to keep them in a good shape.
How to clean curtains using salt?
You can whiten your curtains using salt - a product available in every kitchen. It’s a very simple method. Just prepare a special solution in which you can soak e.g. kitchen curtains. How to make it?
- Use 2-3 tablespoons of salt per one liter of water. The more water, the more salt you need to achieve satisfying results. Soak the curtains in this solution for at least 3 hours before washing them.
Salt is perfect for more than just curtain cleaning. Using it, you can remove various residues from fittings and kitchen appliances.
How to wash curtains using lemon juice or citric acid?
Lemon juice or the substances contained within citric acid are perfect for cleaning various stains. You can use it, for instance, to clean a dirty carpet or to remove a discolouration from your hands. Because they have lightening properties, they will work great for curtain cleaning.
Just like when cleaning curtains with salt, you have to prepare a solution and soak the fabric in it. Juice from half a lemon or 2 teaspoons of citric acid per one liter are the recommended proportions. The more of those ingredients you add, the higher chance the discolouration will dissappear.
Both lemon and citric acid are a perfect curtain cleaner for fabrics that were hung in interiors inhabited by cigarette smokers. They remove both stains and the unpleasant smell.
How to clean curtains with baking soda or powder?
Baking soda and baking powder are great in the kitchen, where they are used for baking. But such products offer much more possibilities. You can use them for:
They are equally effective for curtain cleaning. It’s also one of the cheapest methods, as a bag of baking soda or baking powder is not a big expense.
How to wash curtains using this method? Prepare a solution using one small packet of baking powder or baking soda and a few liters of water. Soak the material in it for around 30 minutes and then wash the curtains in the washing machine.
Home curtain cleaning hacks also involve unconventional remedies. One can use, for instance, soap nuts or egg shells. Both are used for washing machine cleaning. Although they might be effective, they are definitely less popular.
📍 How to whiten curtains using CLOROX?
Clorox is one of the most effective chemicals for curtain cleaning. It's used diluted in the right proportions for soaking of the fabric. Keep in mind that although the product works perfectly, it might also weaken the material.
📍 How to clean curtains using vinegar?
You can whiten the curtains by adding it to washing in the washing machine. Doing so, you can achieve a snow-white color - it's particularly effective for fabrics made of plastic materials. Vinegar has also one other advantage - it slightly stiffens the material.
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