How To Get Wrinkles Out Of Curtains (Quickly & Easily!)
Curtains are incredibly beautiful, but only when they have the right look to them. When you first get them right out of the packet, you probably will have wrinkles from them being folded in. This will usually cause them to hang in an awkward or bent manner. So, you’re going to have to get the wrinkles out of them, but how do you do that?
There are several easy ways to get wrinkles out of curtains. The most popular include:
- Using A Clothing Steamer
- Using Wrinkle Release Spray
- Drying Them With A Damp Towel
- Ironing Them
Obviously, wrinkles can and will go away on their own if you leave your curtains to hang for long enough. However, it’s not really cool to do so. Let’s talk about how we can make your curtains de-wrinkle.
4 Methods That Remove Wrinkles From Curtains
What method you use on your curtains should depend on two things: what you have available to you and what material your curtains are made of. If your curtains are made of a delicate material like silk, go for a gentle option like steaming. If your curtains are more durable, you can pick the dryer method.
Using A Clothing Steamer
A hand steamer is the easiest, gentlest and fastest way to remove your curtain’s wrinkles, and you can even do it while your curtains are hanging on the rod. In fact, it’s preferable for sheer and semi-sheer curtains. This is also the best choice for curtains that have rubber or foam backing. Here’s how:
- Start by hanging up the curtains on your rod, if you haven’t already.
- Grab your hand steamer and load it up with water. Let your steamer turn on and start its heating process.
- Then, grab the curtains that have wrinkles and give it a pass with the steam. Let the steam absorb into the curtain, then shake out the curtain.
- Continue to steam out the wrinkles until they are no more. This should take a total of 10 minutes.
Using A Wrinkle Release Spray
If you go down any shopping aisle with laundry sprays, you will see a bunch of wrinkle release sprays, including ones that are organic in nature. They’re great, and they can be used on brand-new curtains in a pinch. Most curtains will not get stained from them, which makes this a good choice for silks.
To use them, spray the wrinkle releaser all over your curtains while they rest on the hanger. Do it liberally, like you would spray down a person who has BO and needs some Axe. Then, shake out your curtains. You should see the wrinkles vanish.
Drying Them With A Damp Towel
If you somehow managed to get wrinkles in your curtains while they’ve been hung up for a while, chances are that you probably need to launder them. This way, you can kill two birds with one stone. Just make sure that your curtains are dryer-friendly, otherwise it’ll be like putting wax paper in the oven. Follow these steps to make the most of your laundry time.
- Start by laundering your curtains the way you normally would. If you aren’t sure how you should wash your curtains, check the label. Add gentle laundry detergent if you can. Also, drop a highly absorbent towel in your washer.
- Then, place them in the dryer. I suggest adding a little extra water to the towel. If you want to keep your curtains smelling fresh, pop a fabric softener with wrinkle releaser in there too.
- Turn on the dryer and dry your curtains at a low setting. Most curtains can’t handle high heat, which is why you don’t want to push your luck. If you want to get a little warmer, check your curtain settings before you make the big switch.
- Remove the curtains and place them back on the rod. If you have any wrinkles left in there, you should give them a good shake. The curtains will straighten out on their own after a little movement.
Ironing Your Curtains
Admittedly, this is not the most efficient way to get wrinkles out of your curtains. At times, it can be a fairly labor-intensive method that won’t even get good results. However, it’s old school and some people swear by it. Take that as you wish. To ensure that you do this the right way (and that your curtains can handle it), check your tags.
Curtains can usually get their wrinkles removed with a little steam treatment and ironing on the lowest heat setting. When ironing, make sure that you use the ironing board, since curtains are prone to burning. With that said, most people who use this method will have good results, though some mild fanning can occur.
One thing you do not want to do is try to iron curtains that have a rubber or foam backing. Rubber and foam are particularly temperature-sensitive, and are prone to melting, even when they are put on the lowest setting. This is a method that is best left for fabric-only materials.
What Should I Do If My Curtains Are Dry-Clean Only?
Most curtains are now built with regular use and easy cleaning in mind, there are still some curtains that are expected to be “dry clean only.” Unfortunately, if you see those dreaded instructions on your curtains, there is not much you can really do on your own. You will have to take them to the cleaners to ensure that you get the kind of wrinkle reduction that you want.
With that said, there are some DIY dry cleaning kits that you can use. If you want to give them a shot, you absolutely can. The reason why they aren’t always recommended is because some users have experienced less-than-stellar results. To ensure you don’t have that happen to you, leave it to the pros.
What’s The Best Way To Remove Wrinkles From Curtains?
Assuming that your curtains are not dry clean only, the best way to get rid of wrinkles in curtains is to go with the hand steaming technique. You cannot get a gentler way to release wrinkles than using water, and steam manages to do it in a lightning-fast way. Unlike ironing, which can burn curtains, steamed water will not harm your curtains.
When you aren’t sure what you should choose to smooth out your curtains, just stick to steam. It’s just that simple.
Related Questions
Can you wash blackout curtains?
Blackout curtains are unique because they involve tons of layers of fabric. which means that the intense washing motions of a machine may be too much for them to handle. While some blackout curtains are currently designed to be machine-washable, the vast majority of blackout curtains are not.If you want to wash your blackout curtains, you will need to do so by hand, using the gentlest laundry detergent that you possibly can. This is the only way to ensure that you won’t damage the layers and keep their ability to black out the sun.
How often should you wash curtains?
Much like any other part of your home, your curtains will need to be regularly washed in order to retain their color. It’s a matter of sanitation. How frequently they should be washed will vary. Most curtains that are in a non-smoking home should be washed every three to six months as a way to keep them clean.
Can you steam-iron silk?
Believe it or not, steam-ironing is a good choice if you have silk curtains that have too many wrinkles. While you need to keep a close eye on the temperature and how silk reacts to it, most curtains of this material do well with ironing. If you are not sure whether or not your curtains are silk, but know they have a silky texture, think twice.Curtains that are of unknown origin and unknown material are better served with a regular hand steamer. Of course, if you’re really worried about the quality of your curtains, you can just let them hand and let the natural environment around it help “iron things out.”
Ossiana Tepfenhart is an expert writer, focusing on interior design and general home tips. Writing is her life, and it's what she does best. Her interests include art and real estate investments.
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