Ironing Curtains: Simple Guide

Ironing Curtains – Curtains can add a striking accent to any interior design. With the variety of fascinating designs, patterns, and colours, they can transform your home into a stunning interior that immediately draws the attention of your guests.

There are instances that your curtains may be wrinkled, creased, or heavily wrinkled, especially after they’ve come from the box. 

However, before we get started, be aware of these tips:

Are Your Curtains Suitable for Ironing?

Certain curtains cannot be ironed. If you’ve recently purchased new curtains, be sure to read the instructions on the label prior to attempting any type of steaming or ironing. The label will inform you whether the fabric is suitable for ironing or for steaming.

If the curtains aren’t suitable for ironing, then take them to a dry cleaning service to have a professional de-wrinkling treatment. 

The dry cleaner will adhere to the instructions of the manufacturer to ensure that your curtains won’t be damaged by the process of steaming. If you’re not sure whether your curtains are iron-friendly, the way you would like, it could ruin the fabric.

However, the majority of curtains can be steam-ironed without the risk of harm. Steam irons are handy when you have to straighten your curtains fast. 

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However, there are a few guidelines to follow before starting:

Tips for Ironing Curtains

Wash Them First

Clean curtains using an icy water cycle in the machine. To ensure they stay in great shape, don’t dry them. Ideally, you can hang them outdoors to dry them out or run them through the gentle cycle.

If your curtains are particularly dirty or you’ve recently removed them from storage, you’ll want to wash them with warm water, so long as the instructions on the label suggest doing this.

The majority of curtains need to be cleaned with cold water to stop shrinkage and fade. You can clean them in hot water when the instruction on their tags instruct you to do this.

For best results, use a mild detergent for delicate fabrics. If your curtains have dark or bright shades, it is possible to apply a specially formulated detergent that will prevent the colors from fading.

  • If there are any directions in your curtains, be sure to keep them. Certain fabrics might require special care, so it’s best to follow the instructions for care that came with your new curtains.
  • If there are no instructions for cleaning the packaging or on the curtain, make contact with the manufacturer for your final alternative. Many suppliers are in a position to contact the manufacturer for information on the cleaning procedure for the curtain.

After you’ve cleaned the curtains in a proper manner, It’s time to move to another step.

Set Up Your Iron – Ironing Curtains

The most crucial step of pressing the curtains. In most cases, it will take no longer than five or 10 mins to warm up your iron, based on its age and the brand. Be sure to select the correct dial on your iron in accordance with the setting for the fabric.

  • The majority of irons have an option dial that you can use to select the type of fabric you’d like to iron. The most commonly used fabrics that will be included in the iron are cotton, polyester, and linen.
  • Always look for the label on your curtain or instructions for care to ensure that the iron dial is in the correct setting. If you do not, you risk harming your curtain.
  • Before you begin the ironing process, make sure that you do not place the heated part of the iron onto the board. This could cause the ironing board to catch fire!

Apart from a traditional iron, you could also make use of a handheld steamer or a garment steamer. If you’re using ordinary steam iron for steaming, its power must be at a minimum of 1400 watts to perform the job right.

Another thing you’ll require with the iron will be a spray to de-wrinkle or even a mister for plants. However, before you use steam irons, it is necessary to wear an oversized top that is long-sleeved to ensure that you don’t get your arms burned from the machine.

Ironing Curtains on the Rod

The majority of people use an ironing board whenever they need to dry their drapes. The problem with one is the insufficient space to accommodate large curtains. When you begin the process of ironing one piece, it will be wrinkled as you progress towards the following section.

Use these instructions to iron curtains with rods instead of using an ironing board.

Then hang your curtain on the rod and then arrange the fabric in a uniform fashion on the rod so that the curtain is closed completely.

When you’re working with a Steam Iron to make steam, you must fill it up with water to reach the desired temperature. It should be at least 1400 watts to generate steam while you hold the iron in your hands horizontally. If your iron doesn’t have at least 1400 watts, you can use an electric clothing steamer that is handheld instead.

Start from the top of the curtain and steam it as you work the curtain down. The hot iron should be kept away from the material’s edge, and If you have someone else to help, ask them to support the bottom hem of the curtain while you are spraying the fabric.

After that, allow the steam to cover the entire iron prior to moving the iron in a lengthwise direction across the panel. Continue to steam when you iron to ensure the fabric isn’t dried out or get burned.

Then move the iron back towards the very top of your curtain and towards the left of the steam section. It is necessary to repeat the entire procedure.

After you’ve ironed your curtains onto the rod, let them air dry and cool before re-steaming them if required.

Tips on Spraying and Straightening Curtain

Use a plant mister gently mist the fabric. This is a crucial element of de-wrinkling all parts of the curtain from top to bottom. Smooth out the fabric using your hands, but don’t tug at it too much. You’ll be amazed by how the slightest splash of water to moisten the fabric can ease wrinkles on your curtain.

Tap water works great for this purpose. However, in the event that you’re dealing with hard water, think about using bottled water to stop discoloration or fade.

Certain irons come with a spray bottle, which is convenient for spraying wrinkles on curtains when ironing. Sometimes you don’t require any sprayers specifically designed to ease wrinkles. 

Simply a short warm water spritz with your fingers that are wet will do according to how wrinkled the curtains appear. If they’re slightly wrinkled, gently pull the bottom hem of the fabric to straighten the fabric.

If your curtains are heavily wrinkled, you should use clothes sprays or send the fabric to professionals who install draperies. It is also possible to purchase a small, handheld garment steamer. The devices are heated in 2 minutes or less. They can be bought from big retailers.

Iron one section at a Time

The steam machine or iron from the top to bottom of the section after spraying it using the warm or de-wrinkling spray. Once you’ve finished the first section, go on to the next to be sure to only iron one section at a single time while the curtain is hanging from the rod.

How to Iron Delicate Curtains

Check out the fabric of your curtains carefully to see if the fabric is made of a delicate fabric. The fabric that is embellished can be easily damaged due to the intense temperatures of an iron. This is particularly true for satin or silk curtains.

The curtains made of these fabrics are delicate and susceptible to being damaged when heated to high temperatures. When ironing these fabrics, be sure to make sure to spray them with water first.

To ensure the safety of your delicate curtain, put a sheet or pillowcase between the fabric and iron while ironing. To prevent extreme wrinkles, spray the fabric prior to placing your sheet or pillowcase on top. Then put the curtain in place and iron it. This will ensure that your beautiful or delicate curtain will not be damaged when heated in direct sunlight.

Pleated curtains can be ironed effectively to make them appear more prominent. This is done by bringing the pleats together prior to ironing them in accordance with the specific pattern of the fabric. The ironing process in this way will ensure that the pleat is clear and sharp.

How Often Should You Iron Your Curtains?

Ironing your curtains is required if you notice large wrinkles on the fabric. Otherwise, you don’t have to iron them in the first place. For example, sheer curtains aren’t required to be ironed since they don’t wrinkle at all.

If you see deep wrinkles within your curtains, it is sensible to iron them when hanging from the rod. To ensure that your curtains remain wrinkle-free, you should iron them at least once every six months. For fabrics that are delicate, it is only necessary to iron them once per year.

Home Base Project Team
Home Base Project Team
At The Home Base Project, we offer practical, real-life tips and inspiration about DIY, decorating and gardening. The Home Base Project provide the best information about home renovation and design, connecting home design enthusiasts and home professionals across the world.