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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

Washing curtains

27 replies

AuntieJoyce · 09/10/2023 19:29

Apologies for the exciting topic. I’ve just got some curtains out of a bag that have been stored for about a year. They are quite foists; not mould foisty but just generally carrying a bit of a smell of the old house and a bit storage smelling.

The price of dry cleaning looks extortionate - they are large curtains. Has anybody washed their curtains successfully? They are lined with a cotton lining and they are cotton themselves. I am thinking of risking them in a washing machine at a low temperature.

Thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
AuntieJoyce · 09/10/2023 19:30

Giving this a little bump

OP posts:
bonbon2023 · 09/10/2023 19:31

I'd wash them on a cold quick wash. I'm assuming they just need a "freshen up"?

Original poster
AuntieJoyce · 09/10/2023 19:36

bonbon2023 · 09/10/2023 19:31

I'd wash them on a cold quick wash. I'm assuming they just need a "freshen up"?

I think so. Just a bit nervous about shrinkage

OP posts:
bonbon2023 · 09/10/2023 19:45

Cold water doesn't shrink anything.

Roaminginthegloaming · 09/10/2023 19:52

@AuntieJoyce You could try spraying them with some ‘Febreze’?

Original poster
AuntieJoyce · 09/10/2023 20:01

I think the lowest temp my washer will do is 30 degrees.

@Roaminginthegloaming I thought about febreze but is it not just replacing one smell with another?

OP posts:
WellLetsSayHesSquare · 09/10/2023 20:05

I wash mine in the bath

Lilibert456 · 09/10/2023 20:06

Wash them on a cold wash with low spin. Lots of fabric conditioner and then hang them while still damp. If creased after this then steam them while hanging. Worked for me with very expensive heavy curtains. Put one curtain in wash at a time. Takes ages and needed two pairs of hands.

Lilibert456 · 09/10/2023 20:08

If your washer doesn't do cold then use the rinse cycle.

Azaeleasinbloom · 09/10/2023 20:11

What is the fabric? Are they lined? How much do you love them and are they the right size ?
Before washing, can you hang them outside ( inside out) on a sunny , preferably breezy day. See how they seem thereafter.
If they are simple cotton, unlined, go ahead and wash , delicate or wool cycle, slow spin, hang outside to dry.
Otherwise, dry clean. Badly washed curtains can be hard to un-wrinkle, lining can shrink at different rate etc. Not worth it if they are expensive to replace.

Original poster
AuntieJoyce · 09/10/2023 20:30

Some great suggestions here thank you. I know that the fabric does crease a bit as I have matching cushions which to be fair washed okay apart from the creasing.

Would definitely be easier to get them. Dry cleaned but I’m worried that I’ll spend a fortune and end up with something that still has some residual smell.

OP posts:
TheGirlOnTheLanding · 09/10/2023 20:33

Agree about shrinkage - I washed cotton curtains (cool water, in bath) and the lining didn't shrink as much as the curtains so I had to re-hem them, which was a monumental PITA.

DuesToTheDirt · 09/10/2023 20:38

Mine shrank. Wouldn't do it again.

17to35 · 09/10/2023 21:31

Worked in a curtain shop.
We always advised not to wash but to hang outside in the sun and beat them or to hang them inside and hoover them with an upholstery attachment

SM4713 · 09/10/2023 21:40

I'm clearly the only one with no clue what foists are??? Google says its an unnecessary person or thing! 😕

Isn't there a care instruction label on the curtains? I recently washed caravan curtains on a very gentle wash- and they came out in shreds! Admittedly, they were likely very old, but I wasn't expecting the mess that came out of the machine.

Could you hang them over the clothes line, spray with febreeze and air them. Or, possibly hose them down whilst on the clothes line?

persisted · 09/10/2023 21:47

Bicarbonate of soda absorbs smells. I’d try and find a big plastic bag and tie them up in that for a day or two loosely with some bicarbonate.
Then vacuum up most of it and stick them on the clothes line to air and the rest of the bicarbonate will shake out.

BabyFireflyx · 10/10/2023 00:15

SM4713 · 09/10/2023 21:40

I'm clearly the only one with no clue what foists are??? Google says its an unnecessary person or thing! 😕

Isn't there a care instruction label on the curtains? I recently washed caravan curtains on a very gentle wash- and they came out in shreds! Admittedly, they were likely very old, but I wasn't expecting the mess that came out of the machine.

Could you hang them over the clothes line, spray with febreeze and air them. Or, possibly hose them down whilst on the clothes line?

Same! Foists, foisty?! What?!

ChocolateCinderToffee · 10/10/2023 06:03

Same as fusty, apparently. I’d never heard it before either.

Roselilly36 · 10/10/2023 06:19

Check the label before you wash them. If they say dry clean only, honestly don’t attempt it. Unless you are happy to buy new ones, if it goes wrong. Good luck.

greenacrylicpaint · 10/10/2023 06:32

I'd risk it on a gentle cycle with cold water.
they might not come out all straight though if they are made of layers of fabric.
you need to gently pull them into shape when drying and lay them to dry flat.

the washing instructions will be because curtains are treated with anti fammable stuff.

grafittiartist · 10/10/2023 07:04

I'd risk it unless there's a blackout lining.
That doesn't wash in the machine.

SnapdragonToadflax · 10/10/2023 07:07

I assumed foist was a typo of fusty?

longwayoff · 10/10/2023 07:18

I found a pair of beautiful vintage silk brocade curtains at a jumble sale. Lovely but a bit grubby. Hmm. I'll hand wash these. Put them in the bath to soak with a handful of biological washing powder. The following day, all I had was a bath full of sludge as the enzymes in the washing powder had eaten the silk. I was young and unthinking. Never occurred to me that might happen. You'll be ok to cool wash cotton OP but I've been wary of bio powder ever since Smile

Parakeetamol · 10/10/2023 07:22

If you're getting good weather today I'd leave them on the line for a good blow about.

SM4713 · 10/10/2023 09:56

SnapdragonToadflax · 10/10/2023 07:07

I assumed foist was a typo of fusty?

I've never heard the word fusty either!

Musty- yes

Foists, foisty, fusty- no