Washing & Ironing Large Curtains

[Misky]

I can't put it off any longer. The 90" x 90" curtains in my living room and dining room need washing. They're just cotton, lined. The last time I tried this they shrank and I had to buy new ones. I thought I would put these ones through on a cold wash, or maybe 30 degrees in the hope they'd be okay. But because the last ones shrank I didn't have to re-hang them. Is there a magic trick so I don't have to iron them, or an easy way of doing it, does anyone have any tips for me? Thanks in advance....

[B00]

Wait for a good 'blowy' day and don't spin them, hang them outside to drip dry. This should help with stopping creases, not sure if it'll help with shrinkage though.

[Ratty2E]

If these curtains are 100% cotton they are quite likely to shrink in the wash too. What do the washing instructions say? You might be better to get them dry cleaned. It's more expensive than bunging them in the machine but cheaper than new curtains if they shrink. If you do wash them and they are OK then hanging them whilst still damp should help the creases fall out.

[Misky]

I never hang clothes outside to dry coz of the layout of my garden. I suppose I could take them over my mam's and use her line, but she'd probably make herself ill ironing them to do me a favour. When I asked her for tips, she just said "bring them over here and I'll do them". Which is tempting, but I'd feel too guilty. I suppose if they're not too creased because they've not been spun, I could drap them over the clothes horse...

[naomi24]

I put some expensive 'dry clean only' curtains into the cleaners - it cost £100 - and they shrank. I'd have a go at washing them on a cool, mild, wash, with no spin, and as B00 says, hang them as straight as possible on the washing line to drip dry. Good luck.

[Misky]

There are no washing instructions! That was the first thing I looked for and can only imagine they were on the packaging.

[Misky]

and I'm definitely not paying £100 for them to be cleaned!! Blimey! Although if they were nice enough I can see why you might. These aren't worth that at all..

[pastafreak]

I washed some dry clean only curtains last week. They were quite heavy ones-and I did them on 'hand wash'. One curtain was hung over the stair rail on the landing-the other over a chair. Both were almost wrinkle free....one was 'kinked' a bit on one corner of the hem.

[emmie]

better off in the long term to get them cleaned professionally, it does cost but the time, effort, money, and more effort of washing large objects like duvets, curtains just isn't worth it.

[EDDIE51]

£100 to dry clean curtains !!!!!
£5 to£10 at our dry cleaners.

[B00]

I've also hung curtains up still damp too, that'll help to drop any creases left.

[Misky]

I think drip-dry is the answer. And I won't do all four curtains at once! Thanks everyone!

[naomi24]

Yes, Eddie - £100. And they couldn't be used again because they shrank!

[B00]

Yes they can, just pretend you're in a French Cafe naomi :P

[daffy654]

I wash mine on cool then hang them on an airer, once they are dry I put them back up then get the creases out of them with a steamer.

[EDDIE51]

If they are lined the lining may very well shrink more or less than the curtains themselves if they are washed either way they are going to be wrinkled.
Large curtains are often 'flame proofed' washing will destroy that , dry cleaners can re flame proof them as well as cleaning.

[naomi24]

B00, haaaaaaaaaa! Not sure that would work! :o)

[Wak]

Maybe the real answer is to buy curtains that are too big initially and then, after the first wash, they should be OK ever after.
Just a thought!

[Essell]

I know it isn't much use now, but next time buy fabric by the metre, and wash the lengths well before making the curtains up. Also wash the lining (or use a manmade fibre.) I have always done this and never had any problems with shrinkage afterwards.

[xstitcher]

I dry mine on the easy iron cycle. I've tried hanging them up still damp but they didn't look nice. What I would do is wash them myself and then take them to a laundry where you can get them ironed. That size is a killer to do at home.

[Misky]

Essell, I am never going to make my own curtains.... I use wonderweb when hems come down! But that is a good idea if I weren't so lazy. xstitcher, if I can find a laundry, I will ask if they will iron them. Otherwise, I might wait until I can buy spare ones before I wash them, just in case. Thanks you lot X