Just like anything else in your home, curtains collect dust, dirt, and the occasional stain over time, so regular cleaning keeps them looking fresh and helps them last. The good news: cleaning curtains is easier than it looks once you know the method for your fabric. This guide walks through how to clean curtains by material, how often to do it, when to dry clean, and how to reshape them afterward.
Quick answer: Vacuum curtains with an upholstery tool every week or two, and give them a full wash every 3 to 6 months. Machine wash most cottons, linens, polyesters, and sheers on cold, delicate, low-spin, then air dry. Hand wash or steam velvet. Dry clean silk, lined, or embellished curtains. Always check the care label first, and keep heat low to avoid shrinking.
How often should you clean curtains?
Wash curtains every three to six months to clear out dust, dirt, and allergens before they build up and need heavier cleaning. In between, vacuum weekly or monthly, ideally with a HEPA-filtered vacuum and a soft upholstery or motorized brush head, which agitates the fibers and lifts more dust. No upholstery attachment? Brush the fabric with a medium-stiff brush, then run a plain vacuum wand over it. Slipping a piece of hosiery over the wand keeps the fabric from being sucked in.
How to clean curtains by fabric type
The single most important rule is gentle is best, from the cycle to the detergent, because sun exposure already weakens curtain fabric over time. Here is the quick reference, with the details below.
| Fabric | Best method | Water & heat | Drying |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheer | Machine, delicate (pre-soak) | Cold, diluted detergent | No-heat, remove slightly damp |
| Cotton | Machine, delicate | Cold, low spin | Low or air dry |
| Linen | Machine, delicate | Cold only (heat shrinks it) | Air dry, iron while damp |
| Velvet | Hand wash or steam | Cool, mild soap | Air dry, steam against the nap |
| Silk / lined / embellished | Dry clean | — | — |
Sheer curtains
Sheer curtains show dust quickly, so wash them often. Pre-soak them in cold water for about five minutes in the machine with diluted detergent, drain that water, then wash on delicate. To keep their shape while drying, add a few dry terry-cloth towels to stop them from balling up, dry on a no-heat setting, and take them out while still slightly damp.
Cotton curtains
Cotton is low-maintenance but can still shrink, so use the delicate cycle. Cotton handles regular household detergent well, just stick to cold water and a low spin.
Linen curtains
Linen's main risk is shrinkage from heat, so only use cold water on a delicate, low-spin cycle, and always follow the care label. Air drying is safest, though some linens can go in the dryer on a no-heat air setting. Linen wrinkles in the wash, so iron it while still slightly damp, or spritz dry curtains with distilled water before ironing.
Velvet curtains
If your velvet curtains are not labeled dry-clean-only, you can clean them at home, by hand, not in the machine. Use a mild dish detergent, and test an inconspicuous spot for colorfastness first; if the color shifts, switch to a lemon-juice-and-baking-soda solution. To refresh velvet, run a handheld steamer on low against the direction of the nap to lift and revive the pile.
Should you dry clean curtains?
Some fabrics are safest at the dry cleaner: silk, linen with delicate finishes, and anything lined, embellished, or made of tapestry, rayon, taffeta, or suede. These are often finely woven, intricately designed, or not colorfast, so water and detergent can make them bleed, fade, or distort. Dry cleaning uses a gentle solvent process that lifts dirt and odors while preserving texture, shape, and color, just choose a cleaner experienced with drapery.
How to clean shower curtains
Shower curtains stay damp and soapy, so they need more frequent care. For weekly upkeep without taking the curtain down, spray with vinegar and rinse. Treat stubborn mold with a spray of two parts hydrogen peroxide to one part water, let it sit, then rinse. Wash liners monthly with detergent; if mildew keeps returning, add a half cup of baking soda and a quarter cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle. Fabric shower curtains can go in the machine with a few soft towels in warm water on the highest water level, then hang back up to air dry.
After washing: reshape and remove wrinkles
Freshly washed curtains hang best when you reshape them. To keep even, pronounced folds, "train" your curtains after each wash. Our guide to training curtains for perfect pleats shows how with a handheld steamer, and if creases are the issue, see how to get wrinkles out of curtains.
Best care tips for great-looking curtains
- Add blinds or shades on very sunny windows to slow color fading and fabric wear.
- Always wash curtains separately from other laundry.
- In a pinch, a dry microfiber cloth works like a vacuum for quick dust and pet-hair removal.
- Consider low-maintenance no-fuss fold curtains that resist wrinkling in the first place.
Frequently asked questions
How often should you wash curtains?
Give curtains a full wash every 3 to 6 months, and vacuum them weekly or monthly with an upholstery tool to keep dust and allergens from building up.
Can you machine wash curtains?
Many can: cotton, linen, polyester, and most sheers do well on a cold, delicate, low-spin cycle. Wash velvet by hand or steam it, and dry clean silk, lined, or embellished curtains. Always check the care label first.
How do you clean curtains without taking them down?
Vacuum them in place with an upholstery attachment, or run a handheld steamer over them. For shower curtains, spray with vinegar and rinse without removing them from the rings.
Which curtains need to be dry cleaned?
Silk, delicate linens, and anything lined, embellished, or made of tapestry, rayon, taffeta, or suede. These can bleed, fade, or distort in water, so a drapery-experienced dry cleaner is safest.
How do you get wrinkles out of curtains after washing?
Iron them on a low setting while still slightly damp, or spritz dry curtains with distilled water first. A handheld steamer also works well and is gentler on delicate fabrics.
Keep reading
Cleaning is easier when your curtains are made from quality, care-friendly fabric to begin with. Explore Curtarra's made-to-measure curtains, many machine washable, with free swatches so you can check the care and feel before you buy.
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