Without curtains and tulle it is difficult to imagine a complete and cozy interior of any room. Therefore, when decorating a house or apartment, special attention is paid to their choice. In addition to choosing and purchasing curtains, there is also the problem of caring for them. If they are massive and have multi-level lambrequins, then removing them for washing is extremely difficult.
In this case, it is recommended to clean the curtains directly on the curtain rod. The choice of the optimal method depends on the material used, design and type of curtains. Let's look at the simplest and most effective ways to clean curtains without removing them from the curtain rod.
Recommendations
Textiles can be cleaned at home without taking them to the dry cleaner or removing them from their loops. The economical and fast method is the most popular.
You can resort to professional care. And those who like to use their own strength should take into account a few tips so that their efforts give maximum benefit.
In the washing machine
Using an automatic machine to clean curtains is much easier and more effective. But it is important to choose the right special means and the appropriate regimen.
General rules
To avoid damaging the curtains, you need to follow simple recommendations:
- The fabric must be folded carefully before being loaded into the drum.
- If the product is decorated with beads, beads and other elements, then it must be folded with the decorations inside and washed in a special protective case.
- It is preferable to use liquid cleaning products (gels), because... The loose powder dissolves slowly and is difficult to wash out of the fabric.
- You need to choose the right mode and add at least 1 rinse.
Cleaning
Putting items in order without removing them from the cornice is the easiest way. Many people know how much effort it takes to remove and hang. Working with dense, heavy fabric is especially labor-intensive.
You can clean hanging curtains in several stages:
- Remove dust from textiles. To do this, use a delicate cleaning brush that is not capable of damaging the material. And thanks to a vacuum cleaner with a furniture attachment, the procedure is even faster.
- Fighting stains. Areas with dirt are treated with foamed detergent. You can use a stain remover that matches the curtains. Many of them have whitening properties, this should be taken into account before use and the packaging should be carefully examined.
- Studying the properties of the product. Please read the care label before dry cleaning. If the textiles are made to order, you should ask the tailor for information.
Removing common types of contaminants
Most often, stains appear on curtains from cafes, wine, tea and other drinks, grease, dust and insects. To remove stains, you can use professional detergents, which should be selected depending on the material. In addition, it is also effective to use folk remedies:
- Salt. Effectively removes wine and grease stains. Maximum effect can be achieved if applied to a fresh stain.
- Laundry soap. Effectively fights most types of stains. It is enough to apply a small amount of product on it, rub a little and rinse.
- Alcohol. Can be used against greasy stains.
- Petrol. Helps against paint and grease stains.
- Ammonia. You can also remove oil marks on a curtain using a mixture of ammonia and vinegar.
Attention! Regardless of the method used, a test should be performed on a small area of tissue in an inconspicuous place before using it.
Hot steam
Mostly steam reading is carried out by professional companies. Steam is able to push out fresh stains, and often copes with old dirt. The fabric, freed from plaque, takes on a fresh look and the color becomes richer.
High temperatures above 100 degrees destroy dust mites. Along with all the properties, the steam cleaner smoothes the curtains. But steam only dissolves dirt, pushing it to the surface. Therefore, after treatment, you should walk over the surface with a brush.
For delicate fabrics made of velvet and pleated curtains, steam is not allowed. But for most fabrics this type of cleaning is suitable.
Cleaning curtains
Roman
They can be made from fabric, bamboo and other materials. In the first case, all of the above methods will be suitable, in the second it will be enough to occasionally clean the curtains with a vacuum cleaner (with a thin narrow attachment, at low power) and periodically carry out wet cleaning.
Roller blinds
Most often they are coated with special dirt-repellent compounds, so you should not get carried away with wet cleaning and especially washing (if the fabric allows it): over time, the impregnation can be destroyed by excessive exposure to water and high temperatures. For the same reason, roller blinds cannot be treated with steam.
Optimal care for roller blinds:
- remove dust with a vacuum cleaner,
- Wipe the fabric with a slightly damp cloth.
Most modern roller blinds are made of synthetic materials, for which such care will be sufficient. Stains can be easily removed from them with an eraser or melamine sponge.
Cleaning products
The cleaning solution must be suitable for the material. It is advisable to choose a universal option, suitable for white and colored textiles. The composition should be colorless, not capable of leaving streaks on white material.
The foam has worked well. It deals with stains without making the fabric wet, but only slightly moisturizes it. After the moisture evaporates, the dirt comes to the surface and can be easily removed with a brush or vacuum cleaner.
Tricks that will help you spend less time cleaning curtains in the future
- When choosing curtains, try to give preference to textiles with a minimum number of folds, frills and other decor - minimalism is now in trend and makes caring for the products much easier.
- Save the instructions or labels from the curtains - they indicate the recommended care and its frequency, you will need to focus on this information.
- Clean curtains can be treated with an antistatic agent to prevent excessive dust settling.
- If possible, roll, move or raise curtains in the kitchen while cooking.
- Don't be lazy about cleaning your curtains regularly. It is better to vacuum heavy curtains once a week, especially in the summer, when a lot of dust from the street flies in through an open window.
- Try to remove all stains immediately after they appear.
Dry cleaning
If working with curtains at home is so simple, then why do you need dry cleaning for curtains from professional companies? The main feature is saving time and effort.
The workshop uses dry cleaning, only with organic compounds. The products must comply with GOST standards so that the material in the house does not cause allergies and is not toxic.
Preparatory stage
Before washing we recommend:
- Remove decorative elements and metal fasteners (if possible).
- Shake the fabric several times to remove dust.
- Inspect the material for stains. If there are stains, they can be washed off using stain removers.
- Soak the curtain in soapy water (if there is too much dust, the procedure can be repeated several times).
Drying and ironing
The following rules for drying and ironing products will help extend the life of curtains:
- curtains are dried flat, avoiding exposure to sunlight;
- It is prohibited to dry curtains on heaters, radiators and other heating devices;
- iron the curtains from the wrong side, while the fabric should be damp;
- It is much faster and easier to iron semi-dry fabric than overdried fabric;
- The seams are straightened with the tip of the iron, otherwise they will be printed on the front side of the curtains.
It is important to know! To ensure that no iron marks remain on the material, you need to iron it at the temperature indicated on the product label.
Here are some more useful tips to help you properly care for your curtains:
Author:
Zakharova Nina Afanasyevna
I hope you like my article! If you find any shortcomings, just write to me about it! I am always ready for a conversation and will answer any questions you have, ask them!
