How to Clean Lace or White Curtains?

How to Clean Lace or White Curtains? You may have found yourself in the unfortunate situation of needing to wash your lace or white curtains. The best way to clean them is by using dish soap and water, but there are other ways you can do it as well. It’s important that if you use bleach, make sure it’s not mixed with ammonia because this will cause a toxic gas to be released into the air.

Using vinegar instead of bleach will help get rid of any stains on your curtain without harming your lungs. Make sure that when ironing the curtains after washing them, you use a cool temperature setting for delicate fabrics like these.

A curtain expert will tell you that the specialist tools needed for cleaning curtains are not to be found in ordinary household cleaners like laundry soap or dish-washing liquid. The key to successfully washing lace or white curtains is knowing how best to select and use these specialized products.

1. Don’t bleach delicate fabrics

Never use chlorine bleach when washing fine fabrics such as lace, since it can damage them by causing runs, yellowing, pilling, and other problems over time. Instead, choose a safer bleach alternative. This product works on delicate fabrics without bleaching them out or damaging their colorfastness. It also provides brightening action so your once dingy curtain looks brand new again.

2. Avoid fabric softeners and dryer sheets

Fabric softeners and dryer sheets can leave a residue that builds up over time to cause curtains to lose their shape, waxy buildup, and even mildew. The best way to prevent these build-ups is never to use fabric softener or dryer sheets when washing your curtains at home. If you already have such build-ups, it would be advisable not to wash them with laundry soap as this will only worsen.

Use instead of a non-phosphate powder detergent, which has been specifically designed for delicate fabrics like lace curtains, so there is no fear of causing any damage during the cleaning process.

3. Protect the hem

If you have white lace curtains, then protect the delicate hems by placing a nylon stocking over them before putting them in the washing machine. This will keep them looking great for longer.

4. Wash at 30 degrees Celsius only

The key to successfully cleaning lace or white curtains is always to wash them at 30 degrees Celsius or lower. Any hotter and there is the risk of damaging the fabric, which could cause runs or discoloration that won’t budge no matter how much they are washed.

5. Check care label first

Care labels on fine fabrics like lace curtains can be confusing if they don’t specify whether hand-washing or machine-washing is recommended, so it’s best to check this first e.g. in this case it would be hand-wash only.

6. Use a small amount of mild detergent

When using powder laundry soap, always use just a small amount of the freshest product possible so there is no risk of fabric damage during the cleaning process. The less detergent used, the better.

7. Don’t put delicate fabrics in the tumble dryer or hang them to dry on a clothesline

The sun’s UV rays and wind can fade delicate fabrics like lace curtains, so choose chemical-free Ways To Wash Curtains. If your curtains are made from polyester, then you can safely tumble dry them but do not hang them over an outdoor clothesline or radiator to dry as there is a high chance they will get damaged during the drying process.

8. Wash delicate fabrics inside out

One of the best ways to protect lace curtains from being caught on other garments in a washing machine is to wash them inside out, with the delicate seams also turned inside out. This way there is no risk of catching sensitive fabric on tougher clothes and causing runs or pilling that will not come off.

9. Check for stains prior to washing

Lace curtains can be stained by things like deodorant residue left over after ironing, which does not come clean when washed again in the washing machine. To resolve this problem be sure to check your lace curtains pre-washing for any stubborn stains like these and only wash them if they are fully removed – otherwise, it would be best to dry clean the curtain instead.

10. Use a mesh bag for washing delicate fabrics

In the absence of a specialized lace curtain washer then protect them from damage by placing them inside a mesh laundry bag, like this Universal Extra Fine Mesh Wash Bag, which ensures they are kept away from tougher garments and other items in the washing machine that can damage or snag delicate fabric like lace curtains.

11. Use only cold water if the dye is coming off

If your lace curtains are made from cotton, silk, or wool and begin to lose their original color during washing because of excessive dye transfer (which happens when colors mix together), then pre-soak them in cold water first for 10 minutes prior to washing without detergent using an old toothbrush to remove the dye stains.

Drying them in the sun will help fade out these stubborn stains even more, but be sure to wash them inside out and protect sensitive hems and edges from catching on other objects during the drying process (use a clothesline or washing line indoors instead).

12. Dry hanging indoors

Hang delicate fabrics like lace curtains over an indoor railing using stick-on hooks if possible – this way there is no risk of them touching anything while they are still wet and causing any damage.

If you don’t have a safe option, lay over a towel until fully dry before putting it away. To keep all laundry smelling fresh for longer, try Purifico Active Fabric Freshener, which uses natural ingredients that neutralize odors and inhibit bacterial growth to keep clothes smelling as fresh as the day you bought them for weeks at a time.

How to Clean Lace or White Curtains? – Conclusion

Anyone looking for ways to clean lace or white curtains should be aware of how delicate these fabrics are – so follow these tips e.g. use cold water only, put inside mesh bags, hang from railing indoors, dry fully before putting away. There is a much greater risk of damage using hot water or machine-washing/tumbling dry, so always check care labels first and avoid these options if possible.