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You are visiting: Home » Decorating/DIY » Decorate Your Home » How to Clean Curtains + a HomeRight SteamMachine Plus Giveaway

How to Clean Curtains + a HomeRight SteamMachine Plus Giveaway

by Lindsay Ballard on September 23, 2014

Alright, let me see a show of hands.  Who is long overdue on cleaning their curtain panels?

Yep, I was, too.  In fact, I’m going to go ahead and admit that I haven’t cleaned any of them since they had been hung…and for some of them, that has been years.  Gross!

But, when the magazine came to photograph my house a few weeks ago, one of the things that they wanted to do was switch out my master bedroom curtains for some that would be lighter in the images.  As I was taking them down, I couldn’t believe how dusty and gross the top of the curtain panels had gotten.  And we sleep in there, y’all!

There are a few different ways to clean curtain panels, so I thought I’d share them with you in case you are like me.  Ahem.

How to Clean Curtains

1.  Shake It Off – Like Taylor Swift says, “Baby, I’m just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake.”  But seriously, if it hasn’t been too terribly long since you hung your curtains, take them off the rod and head outside.  Give them a good shake so that the dust and dander flies off.

2.  Sticky Roll – No, it’s not a new sushi roll (mmmm….sushi).  You can use a sticky roller (or a thick dishwashing glove) to remove any lint or pet hair that’s stuck to your curtains.  My big, sheddy, white dog loves to sleep up against our dark gray curtains, so we use this method a lot.  It works pretty well for a quick fix.

How to Clean Curtain Panels

Yep, he looks like trouble next to dark fabric, doesn’t he?

3.  Suck It Up – If you have a vacuum with good detail attachments, you can use it to clean the curtains.  Pay particular attention to the tops of the panels near your rod, as that is where dust seems to collect the most.  I’m about as good with vacuum cleaner  attachments as I am with hair styling tools (read: not at all), so I generally avoid this method myself.

4.  Keep it Steamy – If your curtain panels are made from washable fabrics, you can throw them in the washing machine.  I put them in cold water on the delicate cycle.  Then, I put them into the dryer on a low setting.  I take them out when they are still damp and hang them up immediately on the rod.

How to Clean Curtain Panels

Since they are still damp and warm, I try to smooth out wrinkles with my fingers.  For those wrinkles that don’t want to come out, I use the handheld portion of my HomeRight SteamMachine Plus steam cleaner.  I just blast the wrinkle with some steam and then smooth it out against the wall.

How to Clean Curtain Panels

5.  Visit the Dry Cleaners – If your curtain fabrics aren’t washable, you probably need to visit your local dry cleaners.  They will clean and press your curtains, so all you have to do is hang them up when you get home.  You can also use one of those home dry cleaning kits in your dryer (I love those!), but you’ll still likely have to press your panels yourself.

Cleaning your curtains isn’t fun, but it’s something that has to be done every once in a while.  To make it a little easier, I’m joining HomeRight in giving away one SteamMachine Plus to a lucky reader!  This is the machine that works as a steam mop but has a detachable handheld steamer for jobs other than mopping.  It’s easily one of the most used cleaning tools in our home.

To enter the giveaway, just leave me a comment below telling me how you clean your curtains (or if you have never cleaned them).  One winner will be randomly selected.  This giveaway runs through September 30, 2014 and is open to US residents, 18 and older.

Good luck!

About Lindsay Ballard

Lindsay Ballard is a former college mascot turned political geek turned roller derby playing, DIY fanatic.

Lindsay chronicles her projects, design ideas, and lifestyle tips here at Makely, where she shares tutorials and inspiration. Her DIY designs are bold and graphic, while her spirit is fun and full of color.

Lindsay lives outside of Austin, Texas with her husband (Tom), children (Zack and Emma), and dogs (Duke and Jill). She plays roller derby for the Rockin' City Rollergirls out of Round Rock, Texas.

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Comments

  1. Angela W says

    September 23, 2014 at 10:21 am

    Honestly, I have never cleaned my curtains but just bought a new pair for a different season. However, the cost is adding up and I would like to start cleaning them.

  2. Rachel Lillard says

    September 23, 2014 at 10:37 am

    I just throw them in the laundry! Mine are usually just cotton blends from Ikea or Target 🙂

  3. Laurie says

    September 23, 2014 at 10:48 am

    I was them and then dry and iron. Not fun!

  4. Diane says

    September 23, 2014 at 10:52 am

    I shake or vacuum first. Last resort is the washing machine because I am the world’s worst iron-er!

  5. Patricia S. says

    September 23, 2014 at 10:54 am

    Laundry and vacuum as necessary.

  6. Danielle says

    September 23, 2014 at 10:59 am

    Most of our curtains are machine washable, so that’s what I typically do. However, I made a set for my 4 year old’s room a few months ago that have 3 layers (blackout fabric, cotton, lace overlay) and I don’t think they’d do well whatsoever in the washer. The steamer would be PERFECT.

  7. Penny says

    September 23, 2014 at 11:13 am

    I hang on the clothes line to air out.

  8. Rayanne Hinton says

    September 23, 2014 at 11:13 am

    I shake them and then spray with lysol. Probably not the best idea, now that I think about it haha.

  9. Lori says

    September 23, 2014 at 11:31 am

    I wash the washable ones and try to use a lint roller on the dry clean ones. Oh, to have a steamer….!

  10. Kelly says

    September 23, 2014 at 11:35 am

    I clean my curtains like you do but I don’t have a fancy steam cleaner like you. I have a lower end model. Which means I have to find a stool or something to prop my steamer on because it doesn’t have a long reach. No wonder I don’t clean them more often.

  11. Jen K says

    September 23, 2014 at 12:29 pm

    I’ve had curtains up for about 18 months & not cleaned them yet! I like the idea of shaking them out & steaming them. I’ve been reading your reviews of the Home Right Steam Cleaner & put it on my wishlist.

  12. Caryn says

    September 23, 2014 at 12:33 pm

    I’m not sure I’ve ever cleaned my curtains. Though now I’m about to go put them in with my laundry.

  13. carol easterday says

    September 23, 2014 at 12:44 pm

    I have some vintage lace curtains and I really hate hand washing them this steamer would save lots of time and work…. thanks for the awesome giveaway!

  14. Cheryl Lewis says

    September 23, 2014 at 12:53 pm

    I washed one set a week ago, but it have several sets that have never been cleaned!

  15. Angel says

    September 23, 2014 at 12:53 pm

    I usually take my curtains down and send them to the cleaners

  16. Melissa B. says

    September 23, 2014 at 1:17 pm

    Sad to say, I have never cleaned my curtains. I live in a rental for six months… maybe it time. Could surely use this steamer!

  17. Angela says

    September 23, 2014 at 1:23 pm

    Once, I left them in the house we sold (technically, I was contractually obligated to do so, but they didn’t ask for them to be clean!) I usually wash them each time we move. But we aren’t moving anymore, so I probably should make a schedule…

  18. Debbie says

    September 23, 2014 at 1:32 pm

    Washing machine, then ironed.

  19. Jenelle says

    September 23, 2014 at 1:32 pm

    Um…I’ve never cleaned them. In my defense, we mostly have Roman shades, and I tell myself that since they’re vertical the dust just falls right off.

  20. Karen H says

    September 23, 2014 at 1:41 pm

    My curtains haven’t been up that long…. but the dogs rub past them and since they are cream colored, the bottom of one side is showing dirty. So I really need to clean them! I would love to win this SteamMachine!

    Thank you for the opportunity!

  21. kristin says

    September 23, 2014 at 1:45 pm

    i throw mine in the dryer on air to get rid of the dust every month or so.

  22. Jenna says

    September 23, 2014 at 1:46 pm

    I put off washing and re-hanging curtains as long as I can. I hate to iron, so my linen curtains are kind of looking a little wrinkly. The Steam Machine looks awesome.

  23. Karin Meenan says

    September 23, 2014 at 1:48 pm

    Hmmm. It’s been two years since I got them and they have not been cleaned.

  24. Karen says

    September 23, 2014 at 1:48 pm

    My dry-clean only curtains have never been cleaned. I’m not using them right now, though! All my other curtains are machine-wash sheers, thank goodness.

  25. Carrie says

    September 23, 2014 at 1:56 pm

    We moved into our house a year and a half ago and I haven’t cleaned any of our curtains yet. Oops.

  26. Anne Marie says

    September 23, 2014 at 2:07 pm

    I am embarrassed to say I have never cleaned them but I do, periodically, put them in the dryer to refresh them.

  27. Rachel Musgrove says

    September 23, 2014 at 2:24 pm

    i clean mine about as often as you do! I don’t even have curtains on a lot of my windows so that helps!

  28. Margaret says

    September 23, 2014 at 2:31 pm

    I used to own a dry cleaners. I think those do it yourself dry cleaning kits are the equivalent of spraying Febreeze on your panties and throwing them in the dryer, refreshing maybe, cleaning no. Anything you put in your closet that is not clean is an invitation to moths to come lay their eggs and then their babies dine on the food stain even if it isn’t visible to you. Along with the food stain they eat the fibers that contain the food and that’s where mysterious holes come from.

    As for curtain cleaning, mine are washable but they also need much ironing so I’m happy that I’m too short to see the tops, lol. Now that you’ve got me thinking about that dirt above my head, I’ll probably wash them and then take them to the cleaners and have them pressed since I’m not able to stand and iron anymore.

  29. Rose Keller says

    September 23, 2014 at 2:38 pm

    I’ve lived in my place for over 2 years and never cleaned my curtains…fail…

  30. Berit Berndes says

    September 23, 2014 at 2:43 pm

    I almost never clean my curtains…I would love to be able to steam them!!!

  31. Gail Medeiros says

    September 23, 2014 at 2:49 pm

    I wash them if they are washable but not very often! I’m a big fan of sticky rollers for getting kitty fur off of them.

  32. carol clark says

    September 23, 2014 at 3:08 pm

    i get a damp cloth with some hot water and go over them and then i spray febrezze

  33. mechele johnson says

    September 23, 2014 at 3:24 pm

    I am able to put mine in the laundrey! I just bought some new heavier drapes for my room though, that I am worried about. I may need a steamer 🙂

  34. staci torgerson says

    September 23, 2014 at 3:50 pm

    I usually vacuum my curtains and also have them dry cleaned every year or two. Would love the steamer. It would be super handy to have.

  35. gayle says

    September 23, 2014 at 4:33 pm

    I will sometimes wash my curtains in cold water and hang dry!

  36. jenna says

    September 23, 2014 at 5:08 pm

    Once I splurged on dry cleaning, but the chemical smell was nasty. I rarely use the lint brush attachment on the vacuum, but I’m a little embarrassed to say: more usually, I cover up any problems with Febreze.

  37. Manda J says

    September 23, 2014 at 5:17 pm

    I either vacuum them or throw them in the washer

  38. Kelly D says

    September 23, 2014 at 5:30 pm

    Every once in a while I throw them in the washer, and then dryer… which is a pain!

  39. Anna says

    September 23, 2014 at 5:59 pm

    It depends. Sometimes I run them thru the dryer to get the dust out. If they’re washable, I wash them. Sometimes taking them down is impossible so I vacuum.

  40. Claudia M says

    September 23, 2014 at 6:48 pm

    Wash and iron, or vacuum!

  41. Dede Jackson says

    September 23, 2014 at 7:38 pm

    Thanks for the giveaway. I haven’t washed my curtains yet in this house. We haven’t been here long and I’m worried about the best way to do that. This would be a perfect solution!

  42. Mary K says

    September 23, 2014 at 8:07 pm

    I have never washed my curtains. My curtains are long fabric panels on a system from Ikea. That said, they could use a good washing as they’re coated with cat hair…

  43. Cathy R says

    September 23, 2014 at 8:40 pm

    I try to wash my curtains at least once in the spring and the fall. If I don’t, the pollen and the dust just becomes too much and we can’t breathe around here. A steamer would make the task so easy!

  44. Heather C says

    September 23, 2014 at 8:57 pm

    I usually throw them in the wash and iron as needed.

  45. Ashleigh Hall says

    September 23, 2014 at 9:46 pm

    I wish I could say I have cleaned my curtains or had them cleaned, but the truth is they’ve been up for over 3 years and I haven’t touched them. Ewww!! Just thinking about all the dust and yuckies. This task goes on my list for this weekend!

  46. Alex says

    September 23, 2014 at 9:51 pm

    I seem to have machine washable curtains, so I (probably too infrequently) machine wash them at home.

  47. Erin says

    September 23, 2014 at 10:12 pm

    i never have and often think that i should, but don’t know how!

  48. Danielle says

    September 23, 2014 at 10:32 pm

    I launder them once a year or so. I always dread it, though, because then they all need ironed, too!

  49. Nicole says

    September 23, 2014 at 11:52 pm

    I usually throw them in the wash if machine-washable or run the vacuum over them.

  50. Trish says

    September 24, 2014 at 3:48 am

    I generally get them dry cleaned

  51. Jackie says

    September 24, 2014 at 6:58 am

    Some have never been cleaned, some go in the washer!

  52. vicki says

    September 24, 2014 at 8:23 am

    I usually change curtains often enough that I don’t clean them. Is that a good excuse?

  53. danielle says

    September 24, 2014 at 8:59 am

    Dosing whacking them count?

  54. Bri D. says

    September 24, 2014 at 9:33 am

    We have lived in our house for 3 years and I have never cleaned my curtains…yep, just admitted that. Looks like I may need this! 🙂

  55. Wendi says

    September 24, 2014 at 10:02 am

    Never cleaned them and don’t really feel particularly bad about it………

  56. Patti B says

    September 24, 2014 at 3:50 pm

    Wait. You’re supposed to take them down and clean them? If anyone had told me that when I bought them, those windows would be still be uncovered, haha!

  57. Lacy says

    September 24, 2014 at 4:04 pm

    You’re supposed to clean curtains? Here I was thinking my daughter using them for her pretend singing stage did the trick (you know, because the dust falls off when she whips them open to announce her latest performance).

  58. kathy schwartz says

    September 24, 2014 at 5:00 pm

    I put them in the washer but it would be so much easier to steam clean them!

  59. Bev Edge says

    September 24, 2014 at 5:10 pm

    I have vacuumed them before, but it’s been a while. I think it’s time to throw them in the washer.

  60. Amber Bryant says

    September 24, 2014 at 7:08 pm

    I try to avoid fabrics that need specialized cleaning. Sometimes I just fall in love with something that can’t get thrown in the washer, so those are the curtains in my house that never get washed. My vacuum cleaner does have a curtain setting and that seems to help the surfacy dust, but I don’t even want to know what lives on top. Anything that can be washed in the washer, only gets cleaned during Spring cleaning. Shame on me. 🙂 Good to see I’m not alone.

  61. Martha says

    September 24, 2014 at 7:12 pm

    I’ve just taken them off – and put them in the washing machine…probably time for some nicer curtains…

  62. Suzanne Melton says

    September 24, 2014 at 10:15 pm

    Back in the day, in my 20s, I sewed a pair of cotton gingham curtains for the kitchen. About ten years later, I decided to toss them into the washing machine. THEY SHREDDED!

    We have a new/old house and, so far, no curtains. But, when I make new sets, I’ll be sure to clean them at least once a year, if not every six months.

    Thanks for reminding me of my idiotic 20s.

  63. Cindy Brooks says

    September 24, 2014 at 10:17 pm

    We don’t have any curtains. We don’t need them for privacy and don’t want to block any of our mountain view. We do have wood blinds to control the sun. I try to clean them at least twice a year.

  64. MARTHA says

    September 24, 2014 at 11:18 pm

    Wash ,,,& Hang to dry ..& Iron……

  65. Lisa Kubin says

    September 24, 2014 at 11:58 pm

    I have never cleaned my curtains and they have been up for 4 years. Guess I better figure out a way to do it!

  66. Cindy B says

    September 25, 2014 at 12:00 am

    I haven’t cleaned mine in a while, either. Well, probably not since I hung them but it hasn’t been too many years. Thanks for the giveaway… I did take my mom’s down and wash them for here a few weeks ago… which put me in mind I might need to the same for mine.

  67. Abi Beutler says

    September 25, 2014 at 3:25 pm

    Vacuum them or shake them.

  68. Jeannee Taylor says

    September 25, 2014 at 3:50 pm

    I really only dust and spot clean my drapes because we move about every 2 years and I am always buying new curtains. We just bought a house that is 55 years old and I have been wishing I had a steam cleaner for the window tracks as they are black, black, black ! Was just researching reviews on this exact brand ! Thought it was cool I came across your Blog offering a free one at this time !

  69. Jessica w says

    September 25, 2014 at 8:21 pm

    I have never cleaned them but realize that I really should!

  70. Susan Harrison says

    September 26, 2014 at 3:18 am

    I have never cleaned mine but my husband & I were just talking about how great it would be to have a steam cleaner for the curtains!

  71. Rose says

    September 26, 2014 at 9:37 am

    The last time I did it was the 1st time. What a mess. I did use the gentle cycle but still I found a few holes. I was able to repair them as they were in inconspicuous spots but never again in the washing machine! The steam cleaner would be very, very handy.

  72. Nicole says

    September 27, 2014 at 12:49 am

    The last time I cleaned my curtains is when I bought new ones, so I guess I never cleaned them just replaced them.

  73. Jessica says

    September 27, 2014 at 11:35 pm

    I usually spot clean with a damp rag (I have a toddler who leaves sticky everywhere so this is necessary pretty often) and wash in our washing machine as needed. This machine looks really handy! I think keeping curtains out of the washing machine will keep them looking crisp and new longer 🙂

  74. Kathy Lee says

    September 28, 2014 at 10:19 pm

    I have to confess that I don’t often clean the drapes 🙁 I have thrown the washable ones in the wash, then dry until damp and hang right away. I’ve also thrown non-washable ones into the dryer on low temp with a damp washcloth and then re-hung them.

  75. Robbie Pink says

    September 28, 2014 at 11:39 pm

    When I get around to cleaning them (It is such a chore!) I either vacuum or machine wash. But then I usually end up leaving them down because it’s such a hassle to rehang! I still haven’t rehung some I took down months ago!
    Thanks for the opportunity to win and good luck to everyone!

  76. Lillace Christianson says

    September 29, 2014 at 3:00 pm

    Normally, I take them down and launder, then press. I would LOVE to be able to steam them!

  77. Betty B. says

    September 30, 2014 at 12:43 am

    I usually vacuum them and throw them in the wash.

  78. Christa Marchant says

    September 30, 2014 at 1:40 pm

    I vacuum my curtains, but definitely not as often as I should!!

  79. Bobbie Smith says

    September 30, 2014 at 4:01 pm

    I clean my curtains by putting them in cold water to wash in the washer. Then when they are done, I take them and put them in the dryer for just a few minutes about 5 minutes to be exact, to try and take some of the wrinkles out. Then when that is done, I take and spray just a little starch and put the iron on them to get the rest of the wrinkles out. I think this would be so GREAT to be able to hang them and steam them! This would make my life so much easier!

  80. Leslie says

    September 30, 2014 at 4:14 pm

    I usually just toss them in the washer but I really like the idea of steam cleaning them.

  81. Ilene says

    September 30, 2014 at 5:20 pm

    Most of my curtains are machine washable, however I like easiness of just steam cleaning them. Thanks so much for the great giveaway!

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About Makely

Lindsay Ballard is a former college mascot turned political geek turned roller derby playing, DIY fanatic.

Lindsay chronicles her projects, design ideas, and lifestyle tips here at Makely, where she shares tutorials and inspiration. Her DIY designs are bold and graphic, while her spirit is fun and full of color.

Lindsay lives outside of Austin, Texas with her husband (Tom), children (Zack and Emma), and dogs (Duke and Jill). She plays roller derby for the Rockin' City Rollergirls out of Round Rock, Texas.


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