The Kitchen Ingredient That Makes Cleaning Curtains A Breeze

Even if you know that your curtains have seen fresher days, it can be hard to work up the energy to do something about it. While it's nice to have clean and odor-free curtains, taking them down and cleaning them can seem like a monumental task. It's one of the things in your living room that you're probably forgetting to clean often enough but the reality is that, like carpets and upholstery, curtains can get dirty and smelly as time goes on. So, you need to give them some attention now and then.

Although you may be tempted to hire a professional to clean your drapes, you can also keep them in great shape on your own with the help of a simple kitchen ingredient that can help you keep curtains clean and fresh in a much simpler, easier, and faster way. Ready to learn the secret? It's baking soda! 

Also known as sodium bicarbonate, baking soda can help eliminate odors and debris and will keep your curtains fresh with less effort than you might have expected. In many cases, you won't even need to take your curtains down to clean them but can give them a quick refresh anytime you see fit.

If you're cleaning curtains in the washing machine, just add half a cup of baking soda to the load along with your normal detergent. Alternatively, sprinkle baking soda on top of your curtains after you've washed them and laid them out. Let them sit overnight to ensure that all odors are gone. You can also spot-clean a curtain and remove tough stains with baking soda. Create a paste by stirring a tablespoon of water with two tablespoons of baking soda. Apply the paste to the stain and scrub thoroughly to remove it.

The beauty of baking soda cleaning is that you don't necessarily need to take your curtains down. To clean your curtains with baking soda while they're still up, fill a heat-resistant spray bottle halfway with very hot water. Then, add two teaspoons of baking soda and a small amount of fabric softener to the mix. Finally, spray the curtains with the solution.

Before and after using any of these cleaning methods, remember to vacuum your drapes to remove debris and any remaining baking soda. Using a lint roller will make your curtains look even better after the job is done.