Is it necessary and how to properly wash blackout curtains by hand and in a typewriter?

Blackout curtains were recently considered an innovative novelty, but very quickly gained popularity.

Their feature is complete opacity, guaranteeing the creation of comfort for sleep and complete isolation from sunlight.

Like any textiles, blackouts need regular cleaning and washing. Is it possible and how to wash curtains blackout in the washing machine and by hand? Instructions and recommendations of specialists will help to cope with this task.

Washing features

Developed in Finland, the blackout fabric is a polyester laminate. It is able to block not only the passage of light, but also sound and cold. This makes these curtains convenient for home theaters, bedrooms, halls and other areas.

The popularity of the fabric is explained by the following advantages:

• hypoallergenic;
• long service life;
• strength;
• crease resistance;
• blocking light;
• ease of care;
• good sound insulation and thermal insulation.

Indoor textiles are cleaned regularly. The peculiarity of most blackout curtains is the ability to carry both manual and automatic washing. Subject to all the rules, the fabric will not lose its qualities after such processing.

Exact information about the possibility of washing in the washing machine and the temperature regime of processing can be obtained by examining the label for the product.

Is it possible in the washing machine?

The correct choice of detergent should take into account the composition of the material... Suitable for blackout are those that are designed for delicate processing or washing woolen and silk fabrics.

It is advisable to give preference to the gel form of the detergent, which dissolves better in water, does not form a residue and does not leave streaks on the material. Colored fabrics will not wash with bleach.

Washing instruction:

1. Remove the curtain.
2. Detach holders and fasteners. They must be washed separately in soapy water, rinsed and wiped dry.
3. Load the curtain into the drum.
4. Pour washing gel into the container of the washing machine, following the instructions on the package.
5. Set delicate mode.
6. Set the temperature to + 40 ° C or to the one recommended by the manufacturer.
7. Set the spin to the minimum number of revolutions. Start a wash cycle.
8. After washing, remove the curtain.
9. Hang the blackout in a permanent place.

When washing in a machine, the spin can be completely turned off, but in this case it is necessary to prepare containers where water will drain from the curtains. Despite such difficulties, a suspended wet curtain will straighten out under its own weight, and definitely will not require ironing.

Manually

The washing machine allows you to wash quickly and easily. But some housewives prefer the manual method. This option is also the only acceptable for blackout curtains, which contain inclusions that do not allow automatic washing.

Work order:

1. Pass the vacuum cleaner over the curtain from both sides directly on the cornice using a special soft nozzle.
2. Remove the curtains.
3. Detach the fasteners, wash them separately in soapy water and dry.
4. Prepare a large container to hold the curtain.
5. Fill it with water at a temperature not higher than + 40 ° C, unless otherwise specified by the manufacturer.
6. Dilute the detergent in water in the proportion indicated on the package.
7. Lower the curtain into the water.
8. Leave soaked for half an hour or an hour.
9. Wash without excessive rubbing.
10. Rinse with plenty of water. You can use a shower head for this.
11. Fasten hooks on a rope above the bathroom, on which the curtain will subsequently be located, until all the water drains from it.
12. Hang the curtain over the bathroom on the prepared hooks.
13. After draining the water, the curtains are re-hung to a permanent place.

How to clean without removing?

Most of the blackout models have a simple design, which allows you to remove the curtains from the eaves and wash in the traditional way by hand or in a typewriter. Scrubbing directly on the eaves can help freshen fabric or scrub local contamination if desired.

Without removing it from the eaves, you can clean the product in the following ways:

• vacuum cleaner;
• steam generator;
• soapy water and a sponge.

The first method provides only dry cleaning by removing dust from the fabric. The second one allows you to effectively wash and straighten the material.

If you first vacuum the material, then the subsequent treatment with a steam cleaner will be very effective.... This prevents dirt from remaining in the fibers of the fabric. Before using the steam cleaner for the first time, its effect on the fabric should be tested in an inconspicuous area.

Without removing from the usual place, you can clean the material with a weak solution of detergent. It is recommended to use a soft sponge for this.

Work order:

1. Collect 5 liters of warm water in a container.
2. Dissolve 1-2 tablespoons of washing gel in water.
3. Stir to avoid foaming.
4. Soak a sponge in the solution and squeeze out excess water.
5. Wipe the curtain with light movements with a sponge. They should go from top to bottom.

Drying

The synthetic composition of the blackout curtains allows you to dry the material either directly above the bathtub or on a permanent place. In the latter case, it should be provided for the presence of containers on the floor, where the water will drain.

Undesirable:

• speed up the process using heating devices;
• use open fire;
• throw the curtain over the rope during the drying process;
• dry in full sun.

The best option is natural drying.

Iron or not?

Ironing blackout curtains is optional. With proper washing and drying, the material takes the required shape and straightens even without additional ironing.

One of the methods will help to cope with jammed places:

• steam generator treatment;
• processing with a slightly warm iron through several layers of gauze or a special fabric designed for ironing delicate materials.

8 recommendations

Expert advice will help maintain an attractive appearance of curtains and maintain their performance for longer.

These include the following recommendations:

1. Dry cleaning your blackout regularly will help you wash your curtains less often. Vacuuming will help to eliminate dust, which is desirable to be carried out every 7-14 days.
2. Do not twist or wring out the material.
3. All curtain fasteners on the eaves should be washed separately from the fabric.
4. When choosing a washing method, do not ignore the manufacturer's recommendations.
5. For curtains that are difficult to remove, the steam generator will be a good assistant in cleaning.
6. If there is removable decor on curtains, it should be removed before washing. If the decor is complex and non-removable, then the processing should be as delicate as possible.
7. If you are not sure whether the curtain can be washed in an automatic machine (for example, if the label with processing instructions has been lost), it is advisable to give preference to hand washing.
8. Poor rinsing of the curtain can not only lead to ugly stains on the fabric, but also to the loss of the hypoallergenic quality of the material.

Conclusion

Despite the fact that blackout curtains are considered quite easy to clean, you must follow the instructions when washing and take into account the manufacturer's recommendations.

And when buying new products, study the label and get acquainted with the features of caring for the thing in advance. Blackout - practical curtains that can serve for many years.