The Best Way To Clean Velvet Curtains For A Fresh, Long-Lasting Look

Velvet curtains add luxurious style to your home, but their unique material comes with its fair share of challenges. The lustrous fabric is a magnet for dust, pet hair, dirt, and other particles floating around the space. For this reason, velvet curtains should be washed once or twice a year to preserve their lavish appearance and smooth texture, or more frequently if they are in a high-traffic area. However, simply putting them in the washing machine is one of the biggest mistakes to avoid when cleaning velvet, as not all velvet fabrics can withstand a regular laundry cycle. Doing so could cause the material to shrink or become irreversibly damaged. Velvet made from synthetic materials may be safe for the machine, but even if your window coverings are labeled as machine washable, the best ways to clean velvet is by hand.

Hand washing is a gentle and precise cleaning technique that will ensure long lasting freshness for your velvet drapes. By submerging the curtains in water and mild detergent, you can focus on the areas where dirt and grime is most prevalent. Washing the curtains manually also allows you to have control over the process and repeat the steps as needed until the fabric is completely clean. Most importantly, preserving the condition of your window coverings comes down to how well you take care of them on an ongoing basis. Let's dive into the steps of safely cleaning your velvet curtains to maintain their elegant beauty.

It's important to mention that genuine velvet curtains must be professionally dry cleaned and cannot be washed by hand or in the laundry machine. However, depending on the material they're made of, the care instructions may specify that your curtains are machine washable or can be hand washed. Hand washing may be more time consuming, but it will protect your curtains from any potential damage caused by the machine and target stains more effectively. The first step is always to remove any surface particles from the curtains with the soft-bristle attachment on a handheld vacuum or a lint roller, a laundry room staple that will keep your curtains dust free. Fill a bathtub or large basin with lukewarm water, then add a modest amount of gentle laundry detergent. Before you start hand washing, test the detergent and water solution on a small area of the fabric to ensure that the dye does not fade.

Once you've established that it's safe to proceed, remove the hooks and tiebacks from the curtains and submerge them fully in the soapy water. Work the detergent into the fabric with your hands, focusing on the bottoms of the curtains or any areas that need extra TLC. Depending on how soiled the curtains are, you may need to drain the basin and repeat the process again. Once the water in the tub is clear, remove the curtains and gently shake them out before hanging them up to dry naturally. To prevent creasing, avoid wringing out the curtains and be sure to use padded clothespins for drying. Most importantly, ongoing care such as weekly vacuuming and spot cleaning as needed will keep your velvet curtains clean for longer.