This winter, more than any other, we are being asked about cleaning mould off curtains and drapes. Here is some advice from the industry professionals.
“Mould, mould, go away, Leave this space, this disarray. No longer shall you thrive, in corners where you survive”.
PRE-CLEANING
Vacuum your curtains to remove dust then take your curtains down, removing all hooks and rings.
Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Check for colour fastness by testing a small inconspicuous area.
DURING CLEANING
Due to the amount of fabric, a bathtub is ideal for hand washing. Using a mild detergent and gently wash the fabric without soaking, rubbing or wringing.
Bleach is a no-no and should not be used at any stage. Bleach will breakdown the fabric and can remove colour.
AFTER CLEANING
To dry your curtains, best practice is to hang them by their hooks in the shade on a robust line.
At no point should you put your curtains in the dryer, use pegs or hang them over anything, as you will get marks on the fabric.
Once dry hang them back in place. The weight of the curtains will help any creases to naturally come out.
First vacuum your curtains
Then remove from the rail
Remove the hooks
Re hang to dry
CLEANING DIFFERENT CURTAIN TYPES
Unlined curtains
Gently hand wash in cold water with a mild detergent (if approved by the manufacturer). 
Lined curtains
We recommend dry-cleaning lined curtains with a specialist curtain cleaner.
Voile curtains
Voile curtains are often made of lighter fabrics, so they are easier to take down and hand-wash in cold water.
Once dry, you can give voile curtains a warm iron (if approved by the manufacturer). 
Thermal coated curtains
Hand-wash thermal coated curtains in cold water (if approved by the manufacturer), taking care not to let the thermal coating stick to itself during drying. Don’t rub or wring the curtains as you wash them and never apply heat to the backing, as it will melt.
PREVENTION is the key to long term satisfaction.
- Make your home as dry as possible with air movement so there is a minimum of moisture on your window coverings.
- Keep dust at bay by regularly vacuuming your window dressings. Get in behind your curtains as well as the face side and vacuum up into the pleats.
- Do this regularly and you will rarely need to do anything else as mould only grows when there is moisture and dust.
We hope this helps you keep your window furnishings looking fantastic for many years to come.
“So, let the sun’s rays now shine, In every room, this home of mine. Mould, mould, you have no sway, For I have banished you away.”
With complements from Tracey and the team at Frazerhurst.
