{"id":3602,"date":"2026-01-18T17:34:41","date_gmt":"2026-01-18T17:34:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hamletlaundry.com\/blog\/?p=3602"},"modified":"2026-01-14T17:48:33","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T17:48:33","slug":"wash-curtains-in-washing-machin-by-type","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hamletlaundry.com\/blog\/wash-curtains-in-washing-machin-by-type","title":{"rendered":"How to Wash Curtains in the Washing Machine (By Fabric Type: Sheer, Cotton, Blackout, Velvet)"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"3602\" class=\"elementor elementor-3602\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-67b703ee e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"67b703ee\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2698b396 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2698b396\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 05-08-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<h1>Can curtains be washed in washing machine?<\/h1><p><strong>Yes\u2014many curtains can be washed in a washing machine<\/strong> <em>if<\/em> the care label allows it. The safest default is: <strong>remove all hooks\/rings<\/strong>, wash <strong>one set at a time<\/strong> on a <strong>gentle\/delicate cycle<\/strong> with <strong>cold\/cool water<\/strong> and <strong>mild detergent<\/strong>, then <strong>air-dry or line-dry<\/strong> (especially for lined\/blackout curtains).<\/p><h2>Why curtain-washing is different from washing clothes<\/h2><p>Curtains aren\u2019t \u201cjust big shirts.\u201d They\u2019re often:<\/p><ul><li><strong>Wider panels<\/strong> that twist and strain seams in a drum<\/li><li><strong>Lined, coated, pleated, or weighted<\/strong><\/li><li>Exposed to <strong>dust, cooking vapour, moisture, and city pollution<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p>At Hamlet <a href=\"https:\/\/hamletlaundry.com\/blog\/best-laundry-service-and-dry-cleaning-in-berrylands\">Laundry<\/a>, we see the same problems again and again: <strong>shrinkage<\/strong>, <strong>rippling hems<\/strong>, <strong>creased blackout linings<\/strong>, and <strong>snagged sheers<\/strong>\u2014usually because the wash cycle was too aggressive or the curtain went into the machine with hardware still attached.<\/p><p>If you live in <a href=\"https:\/\/hamletlaundry.com\/blog\/travel-guide-to-london\">London<\/a>, this matters even more\u2014homes near busy roads and construction zones tend to collect dust faster. And if you\u2019d rather skip the hassle, Hamlet Laundry Ltd provides <strong>FREE pickup &amp; delivery<\/strong> across many London postcodes, including <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/hamletlaundry.com\/services\/laundry-ironing-dry-cleaning-services-in-camden-town\">Camden Town<\/a> (NW1)<\/strong>, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/hamletlaundry.com\/services\/laundry-ironing-dry-cleaning-services-in-canary-wharf\">Canary Wharf<\/a> (E14)<\/strong>, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/hamletlaundry.com\/services\/laundry-ironing-dry-cleaning-services-in-south-wimbledon\">Greenwich<\/a> (SE10)<\/strong> and <strong>Wimbledon (SW19\/SW20)<\/strong>.<\/p><h2>Step 1: Check the label (this saves curtains)<\/h2><p>Before anything else, check the care label for:<\/p><ul><li><strong>Machine washable<\/strong> vs <strong>dry <a href=\"https:\/\/hamletlaundry.com\/blog\/best-laundry-service-and-dry-cleaning-in-canary-wharf\">clean<\/a> only<\/strong><\/li><li>Water temperature limits (cold\/cool\/warm)<\/li><li>Drying instructions (air dry \/ tumble dry low \/ do not tumble dry)<\/li><li>Iron\/steam guidance<\/li><\/ul><p>Many reliable curtain-care guides lead with exactly this, because the label is the <a href=\"https:\/\/hamletlaundry.com\/blog\/how-to-choose-the-best-dry-cleaning-service-in-london\">best<\/a> clue to whether the curtain has a delicate weave, coating, or finish that will react poorly to water or heat.<\/p><p><strong>No label?<\/strong> Treat it as \u201cdelicate until proven otherwise.\u201d<\/p><h2>Step 2: Use the \u201cCurtain Safety Checklist\u201d (do this every time)<\/h2><p>This checklist is here because it prevents the most common real-life disasters.<\/p><p>\u2705 <strong>Remove<\/strong> hooks, rings, pins, tiebacks, and detachable weights<br \/>\u2705 <strong>Shake outdoors<\/strong> or vacuum with an upholstery brush to remove surface dust<br \/>\u2705 <strong>Spot-treat<\/strong> visible marks before the full wash (especially along the bottom hem)<br \/>\u2705 <strong>Test colourfastness<\/strong> (dab a hidden seam with water + a drop of detergent, blot with a white cloth)<br \/>\u2705 <strong>Wash one set at a time<\/strong> (overloading increases twisting and wrinkles)<\/p><h2>The science of shrinkage (why gentle + cool matters)<\/h2><p>Shrinkage is not random. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.iso.org\/standard\/75934.html?\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Textile testing standards<\/a> exist specifically because washing and drying can cause <strong>dimensional change<\/strong>\u2014length\/width changes from heat, moisture, agitation, and drying method. ISO\u2019s home-laundering testing standard (ISO 6330) outlines controlled domestic wash\/dry procedures to measure these changes.<br \/>Similarly, AATCC\u2019s test method focuses on <strong>dimensional changes after home laundering<\/strong>, using different wash temperatures and agitation levels to represent common home-care options.<\/p><p><strong>Translation for real life:<\/strong><br \/>The hotter and rougher the cycle, the more likely your curtain is to come out shorter, tighter, or misshapen\u2014especially if it\u2019s cotton or has linings.<\/p><h2>Best washing-machine settings for curtains (safe defaults)<\/h2><p>Most expert-style guides converge on a similar approach: <strong>cool\/cold water<\/strong>, <strong>gentle\/delicate cycle<\/strong>, and avoiding harsh chemicals (like bleach).<\/p><p>Here\u2019s a practical default setup:<\/p><table><thead><tr><td><strong>Setting<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Best default<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Why it works<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Cycle<\/td><td>Delicate \/ Gentle<\/td><td>Less agitation = less stretching, fraying, distortion<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Water temp<\/td><td>Cold \/ Cool<\/td><td>Lower shrink + colour-fade risk<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Spin<\/td><td>Low<\/td><td>Less creasing + less stress on seams<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Detergent<\/td><td>Mild, colour-safe<\/td><td>Helps protect dyes and fibres<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Load<\/td><td>1 curtain set only<\/td><td>Reduces tangling and uneven cleaning<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Extras<\/td><td>Mesh laundry bag for sheers<\/td><td>Prevents snags and tearing<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><h2>By fabric type: exactly how to wash your curtains<\/h2><h3>1) Sheer \/ Net \/ Voile curtains<\/h3><p><strong>Best goal:<\/strong> clean gently without snagging or pulling the weave.<\/p><p><strong>Do this<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Put panels in a <strong>mesh laundry bag<\/strong> (or pillowcase tied loosely)<\/li><li>Use <strong>cold water<\/strong> + <strong>delicate cycle<\/strong><\/li><li>Use <strong>low spin<\/strong><\/li><li>Hang to dry while slightly damp (gravity helps release wrinkles)<\/li><\/ul><p>Many how-to resources recommend treating sheers as delicate items and minimizing mechanical stress.<\/p><p><strong>Avoid<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Washing with towels\/jeans (abrasion)<\/li><li>High spin (can stretch the weave)<\/li><\/ul><h3>2) Cotton curtains (and cotton blends)<\/h3><p>Cotton is often machine-washable, but it\u2019s also more prone to dimensional change than synthetics\u2014especially with heat.<\/p><p><strong>Do this<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Cool\/cold wash on gentle<\/li><li>Mild detergent<\/li><li>Low spin<\/li><li><strong>Air dry<\/strong> or tumble dry <strong>low<\/strong> only if label allows<\/li><\/ul><p>Textile test standards and laundering methods exist specifically because cotton and other fabrics can change in size after typical home washing and drying.<\/p><p><strong>Pro tip (for \u201cno shrinking\u201d goals):<\/strong> If your curtains are borderline, <strong>air drying<\/strong> is often the safer move.<\/p><h3>3) Polyester curtains (and most poly blends)<\/h3><p>Polyester tends to be more dimensionally stable than cotton, but you can still damage stitching, pleats, and finishes with aggressive cycles.<\/p><p><strong>Do this<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Cool\/cold wash<\/li><li>Gentle cycle<\/li><li>Low heat dry if allowed; otherwise air dry<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Optional modern-care note:<\/strong> Researchers have found laundering conditions influence fibre shedding from synthetics (microfibres). Gentler cycles can reduce wear and shedding over time.<\/p><h3>4) Blackout \/ thermal curtains<\/h3><p>This is where people get caught out.<\/p><p>Many blackout curtains include <strong>coatings or bonded backing layers<\/strong> that can be damaged by heat\u2014especially in a tumble dryer. One brand guide specifically warns against drying coated blackout curtains in the dryer because heat can damage the coating.<\/p><p><strong>Do this (if the label allows machine washing)<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Cold water, gentle cycle<\/li><li>Mild detergent<\/li><li>Low spin<\/li><li><strong>Air dry only<\/strong> (hang evenly so the lining doesn\u2019t crease)<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Avoid<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Hot water<\/li><li>Bleach (can weaken coatings and dyes)<\/li><li>High heat drying (highest risk for backing damage)<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>If your blackout curtains are heavy, lined, or expensive:<\/strong> this is where professional cleaning makes sense\u2014less risk, better finish, and you avoid wrestling a huge wet panel back onto the rail.<\/p><h3>5) Velvet curtains<\/h3><p>Velvet is tricky because the \u201cpile\u201d (the soft surface) can crush, distort, or mark.<\/p><p><strong>Rule of thumb:<\/strong> If it\u2019s velvet and you\u2019re not 100% sure, don\u2019t 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.<\/p><p><strong>Do this<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Follow label strictly<\/li><li>If machine-washable: cold water, delicate cycle, minimal spin<\/li><li>Air dry, no high heat<\/li><li>Steam carefully (if allowed) to lift pile<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Avoid<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>High heat<\/li><li>Wringing\/twisting (pile damage)<\/li><\/ul><h2>Drying curtains without ruining them (the make-or-break step)<\/h2><p>Most curtain disasters happen in the dryer.<\/p><h3>The safest drying method<\/h3><ul><li><strong>Rehang while slightly damp<\/strong>, or hang over a drying rack<\/li><li>Smooth seams and hems with your hands while damp<\/li><li>Let gravity do the de-wrinkling<\/li><\/ul><h3>When (and how) to tumble dry<\/h3><p>Only tumble dry if the label allows it, and then:<\/p><ul><li>Use <strong>low heat<\/strong><\/li><li>Remove early (still slightly damp) and hang to finish<\/li><\/ul><h2>How often should you wash curtains?<\/h2><p>Cleaning experts commonly recommend washing curtains roughly <strong>every 3\u20136 months<\/strong>, with more frequent cleaning in higher-dust or higher-odour environments (pets, cooking grease, smokers).<\/p><p>A good \u201creal-life\u201d routine:<\/p><ul><li>Weekly\/fortnightly: quick vacuum or shake-out (especially sheers)<\/li><li>Every 3\u20136 months: full wash (or professional clean for delicate\/heavy fabrics)<\/li><\/ul><h2>People Also Ask<\/h2><p><strong>Can you wash curtains without taking them down?<\/strong><\/p><p>You can remove dust <strong>without<\/strong> taking them down (vacuuming\/steaming), but a proper wash requires taking them down.<\/p><p><strong>Can you wash curtains with hooks or rings attached?<\/strong><\/p><p>It\u2019s strongly recommended to remove them first\u2014hardware can snag fabric and damage the machine drum.<\/p><p><strong>Do curtains shrink in the washing machine?<\/strong><\/p><p>They <em>can<\/em>, especially cotton and curtains exposed to hot washes or high-heat drying. That\u2019s why textile standards measure dimensional change under different wash and dry conditions.<\/p><p><strong>Can you wash blackout curtains in the washing machine?<\/strong><\/p><p>Sometimes\u2014<strong>only if the label allows it<\/strong>. Use gentle\/cold and <strong>avoid tumble drying<\/strong> if there\u2019s a coating or bonded lining (heat can damage the coating).<\/p><h3>When it\u2019s smarter to use a professional curtain cleaner<\/h3><p>Consider professional cleaning if your curtains are:<\/p><ul><li>Heavy, pleated, interlined, or very long<\/li><li>Velvet, silk, wool blends, or \u201cdry clean only\u201d<\/li><li>Blackout\/thermal with coated backing<\/li><li>Heavily soiled (grease, smoke, mould)<\/li><\/ul><p>This isn\u2019t about upselling\u2014it\u2019s about risk management. One wrong cycle can permanently distort a premium curtain panel.<\/p><h3>London note: the easy option (FREE pickup &amp; delivery)<\/h3><p>If you\u2019re in London and thinking, \u201cI can do this\u2026 but I\u2019d rather not,\u201d that\u2019s exactly where Hamlet Laundry Ltd fits in.<\/p><p>We offer <strong>FREE pickup and delivery<\/strong> across many London areas\u2014including:<\/p><ul><li><strong>Camden Town (NW1)<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Canary Wharf (E14)<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Greenwich (SE10)<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Wimbledon (SW19\/SW20)<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p>So you can keep the knowledge (and use it anywhere in the world)\u2026 while London locals can also choose the convenience.<\/p><h3>\ud83d\ude80 Want spotless curtains without the stress?<\/h3><p>If you\u2019re worried about <strong>shrinkage<\/strong>, <strong>blackout lining damage<\/strong>, or just don\u2019t want to wrestle a huge wet curtain back onto the rail\u2014let Hamlet Laundry Ltd handle it.<\/p><h4>\u2728 Why London customers choose Hamlet Laundry Ltd:<\/h4><ul><li>\ud83d\ude9a <a href=\"https:\/\/hamletlaundry.com\/order\"><strong>FREE pickup &amp; delivery<\/strong> <\/a>across London<\/li><li>\ud83e\uddf5 Fabric-aware cleaning (sheers, cotton, blackout, velvet &amp; more)<\/li><li>\ud83c\udfe1 Ideal for busy households, renters, and high-rise living<\/li><li>\u2705 Less risk than trial-and-error home washing<\/li><li>\u23f1\ufe0f Saves you time, effort, and \u201coops, I ruined it\u201d moments<\/li><\/ul><p>\ud83d\udccd Serving areas including <strong>NW1 (Camden Town)<\/strong>, <strong>E14 (Canary Wharf)<\/strong>, <strong>SE10 (Greenwich)<\/strong> and <strong>SW19\/SW20 (Wimbledon)<\/strong>.<\/p><p>\ud83d\udc49 <strong>Ready to <a href=\"https:\/\/hamletlaundry.com\/service\/laundry-service\">make curtain cleaning effortless?<\/a><\/strong><br \/>Book a pickup with <strong>Hamlet Laundry Ltd<\/strong> and get beautifully cleaned curtains\u2014without the guesswork.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Can curtains be washed in washing machine? Yes&mdash;many curtains can be washed in a washing<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":3603,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[419,1,510,620,19],"tags":[438,213,42,39,439],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hamletlaundry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3602"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hamletlaundry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hamletlaundry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hamletlaundry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hamletlaundry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3602"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/hamletlaundry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3602\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3610,"href":"https:\/\/hamletlaundry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3602\/revisions\/3610"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hamletlaundry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3603"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hamletlaundry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3602"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hamletlaundry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3602"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hamletlaundry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3602"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}