How to Wash Curtains in the Washing Machine (By Fabric Type: Sheer, Cotton, Blackout, Velvet)

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Can curtains be washed in washing machine?

Yes—many curtains can be washed in a washing machine if the care label allows it. The safest default is: remove all hooks/rings, wash one set at a time on a gentle/delicate cycle with cold/cool water and mild detergent, then air-dry or line-dry (especially for lined/blackout curtains).

Why curtain-washing is different from washing clothes

Curtains aren’t “just big shirts.” They’re often:

Wider panels that twist and strain seams in a drum
Lined, coated, pleated, or weighted
Exposed to dust, cooking vapour, moisture, and city pollution

At Hamlet Laundry, we see the same problems again and again: shrinkage, rippling hems, creased blackout linings, and snagged sheers—usually because the wash cycle was too aggressive or the curtain went into the machine with hardware still attached.

If you live in London, this matters even more—homes near busy roads and construction zones tend to collect dust faster. And if you’d rather skip the hassle, Hamlet Laundry Ltd provides FREE pickup & delivery across many London postcodes, including Camden Town (NW1), Canary Wharf (E14), Greenwich (SE10) and Wimbledon (SW19/SW20).

Step 1: Check the label (this saves curtains)

Before anything else, check the care label for:

Machine washable vs dry clean only
Water temperature limits (cold/cool/warm)
Drying instructions (air dry / tumble dry low / do not tumble dry)
Iron/steam guidance

Many reliable curtain-care guides lead with exactly this, because the label is the best clue to whether the curtain has a delicate weave, coating, or finish that will react poorly to water or heat.

No label? Treat it as “delicate until proven otherwise.”

Step 2: Use the “Curtain Safety Checklist” (do this every time)

This checklist is here because it prevents the most common real-life disasters.

✅ Remove hooks, rings, pins, tiebacks, and detachable weights
✅ Shake outdoors or vacuum with an upholstery brush to remove surface dust
✅ Spot-treat visible marks before the full wash (especially along the bottom hem)
✅ Test colourfastness (dab a hidden seam with water + a drop of detergent, blot with a white cloth)
✅ Wash one set at a time (overloading increases twisting and wrinkles)

The science of shrinkage (why gentle + cool matters)

Shrinkage is not random. Textile testing standards exist specifically because washing and drying can cause dimensional change—length/width changes from heat, moisture, agitation, and drying method. ISO’s home-laundering testing standard (ISO 6330) outlines controlled domestic wash/dry procedures to measure these changes.
Similarly, AATCC’s test method focuses on dimensional changes after home laundering, using different wash temperatures and agitation levels to represent common home-care options.

Translation for real life:
The hotter and rougher the cycle, the more likely your curtain is to come out shorter, tighter, or misshapen—especially if it’s cotton or has linings.

Best washing-machine settings for curtains (safe defaults)

Most expert-style guides converge on a similar approach: cool/cold water, gentle/delicate cycle, and avoiding harsh chemicals (like bleach).

Here’s a practical default setup:

Setting	Best default	Why it works
Cycle	Delicate / Gentle	Less agitation = less stretching, fraying, distortion
Water temp	Cold / Cool	Lower shrink + colour-fade risk
Spin	Low	Less creasing + less stress on seams
Detergent	Mild, colour-safe	Helps protect dyes and fibres
Load	1 curtain set only	Reduces tangling and uneven cleaning
Extras	Mesh laundry bag for sheers	Prevents snags and tearing

By fabric type: exactly how to wash your curtains

1) Sheer / Net / Voile curtains

Best goal: clean gently without snagging or pulling the weave.

Do this

Put panels in a mesh laundry bag (or pillowcase tied loosely)
Use cold water + delicate cycle
Use low spin
Hang to dry while slightly damp (gravity helps release wrinkles)

Many how-to resources recommend treating sheers as delicate items and minimizing mechanical stress.

Avoid

Washing with towels/jeans (abrasion)
High spin (can stretch the weave)

2) Cotton curtains (and cotton blends)

Cotton is often machine-washable, but it’s also more prone to dimensional change than synthetics—especially with heat.

Do this

Cool/cold wash on gentle
Mild detergent
Low spin
Air dry or tumble dry low only if label allows

Textile test standards and laundering methods exist specifically because cotton and other fabrics can change in size after typical home washing and drying.

Pro tip (for “no shrinking” goals): If your curtains are borderline, air drying is often the safer move.

3) Polyester curtains (and most poly blends)

Polyester tends to be more dimensionally stable than cotton, but you can still damage stitching, pleats, and finishes with aggressive cycles.

Do this

Cool/cold wash
Gentle cycle
Low heat dry if allowed; otherwise air dry

Optional modern-care note: Researchers have found laundering conditions influence fibre shedding from synthetics (microfibres). Gentler cycles can reduce wear and shedding over time.

4) Blackout / thermal curtains

This is where people get caught out.

Many blackout curtains include coatings or bonded backing layers that can be damaged by heat—especially in a tumble dryer. One brand guide specifically warns against drying coated blackout curtains in the dryer because heat can damage the coating.

Do this (if the label allows machine washing)

Cold water, gentle cycle
Mild detergent
Low spin
Air dry only (hang evenly so the lining doesn’t crease)

Avoid

Hot water
Bleach (can weaken coatings and dyes)
High heat drying (highest risk for backing damage)

If your blackout curtains are heavy, lined, or expensive: this is where professional cleaning makes sense—less risk, better finish, and you avoid wrestling a huge wet panel back onto the rail.

5) Velvet curtains

Velvet is tricky because the “pile” (the soft surface) can crush, distort, or mark.

Rule of thumb: If it’s velvet and you’re not 100% sure, don’t gamble. Many guides recommend extra caution with velvet, and even when machine-wash is possible (synthetic velvet + label allows), hand washing or professional cleaning is often gentler.

Do this

Follow label strictly
If machine-washable: cold water, delicate cycle, minimal spin
Air dry, no high heat
Steam carefully (if allowed) to lift pile

Avoid

High heat
Wringing/twisting (pile damage)

Drying curtains without ruining them (the make-or-break step)

Most curtain disasters happen in the dryer.

The safest drying method

Rehang while slightly damp, or hang over a drying rack
Smooth seams and hems with your hands while damp
Let gravity do the de-wrinkling

When (and how) to tumble dry

Only tumble dry if the label allows it, and then:

Use low heat
Remove early (still slightly damp) and hang to finish

How often should you wash curtains?

Cleaning experts commonly recommend washing curtains roughly every 3–6 months, with more frequent cleaning in higher-dust or higher-odour environments (pets, cooking grease, smokers).

A good “real-life” routine: