Imagine you can’t wait to unwrap your brand new curtain and hang them up but then notice some annoying wrinkles. That’s when you need to know how to get wrinkles out of curtains without any damage.
While there are many tips and tricks to help you get creases out of new curtains, we find that using iron and fabric steamer are the two safest and most effective approaches.
Wrinkle removal doesn’t need to be a challenging job as long as you apply a few strategies to keep your curtain intact, especially when you’re dealing with more delicate fabrics such as silk or polyester.
It’s wise to take a look at the curtain’s label to know what it is made of and all the fabric details, then learn to remove creases with the fitting methods for the fabric.
How to Iron Curtains for Removing Wrinkles
One of the best ways to get creases out of curtains is ironing them. Before getting any tips on how to iron curtains, you may want to check the label on the curtain and make sure whether it’s safe with a home wrinkle remover like iron or cloth steamer or not.
Some curtain types are made for dry cleaning only, and you’ll need to take them to the dry cleaner for appropriate wrinkle treatment.
Using an iron to unwrinkle curtains will be easy and risk-free if you know the right setup, strategic ironing, and some tips to deal with delicate fabric materials.
1. Set-Up
It’s ideal to place the ironing board as close to the curtain rods as possible. Since it’s advisable to hang your curtains immediately after ironing, the short distance between the board and rod will reduce the possibility of your curtains getting some new wrinkles in preparation for hanging.
Also, setting the ironing board at its maximum height will assist in an easier and faster transfer.
Check the fabric care label on the curtain to have an idea of what type of material you’re going to iron. Then, twist the iron’s dial to choose the proper fabric setting. Common materials that are compatible with iron are linen, cotton, and synthetic fabrics.
Beware that while waiting for the iron to heat up or adjusting the curtains in the ironing process, you should place the soleplate stand vertically.
Otherwise, it can burn the ironing surface or even the fabric if laid on the board surface.
2. Iron The Curtain
Ironing dry fabrics is one of the mistakes you should avoid. You can take advantage of your iron’s spray feature to dampen and relax the fabrics. If yours doesn’t have the feature, a spray bottle will do just fine.
Move the iron across the width of the curtain panel until you get all the wrinkles and creases out of the way, then walk your way downward. As you cannot press the entire fabric surface at once, you’ll need to readjust it several times during the process.
Hang the already ironed areas loosely off the edge of the board and avoid them lying on the floor. In doing so, you can prevent these treated portions from re-wrinkling while tackling the rest of the curtain.
3. Post Ironing
Chances are, there remain some wrinkles that you’ve missed. There’s no need for a second ironing attempt. Simply spray some water on these spots, then straighten them with your hand, and wait for it to dry and be wrinkle-free.
4. Ironing Curtain Tips
Delicate Types Of Fabric
For delicate sorts of fabrics that are prone to burning, such as silk or satin, a pillowcase or piece of cloth can act as a buffer to protect them against the heat. Simply place it between the curtain and iron, and you can proceed as with ordinary curtains.
How to Unwrinkle Polyester Curtains
Beautiful polyester curtains need some extra care from the owners. Polyester fabrics, or synthetic fibers, are highly heat-sensitive. This fabric type has the higher tendency to burn and melt under heat exposure.
We recommend using a piece of clothing as a protective layer when ironing these materials. Use lower heat settings, or even the lowest, for synthetic fibers to ensure their pristine conditions.
As most iron’s dial has the setting for synthetic or polyester materials, you will easily set it up. Like with other fragile fabrics, adding water to polyester fabric with a spray bottle will make the ironing process easier and further avoid burning.
Deal With Wrinkled Blackout Curtains
Some heavy blackout curtains are iron-friendly, but their foam backing renders them more vulnerable to melting than ordinary curtains, requiring a more special method of care.
You need to cover the ironing surface with aluminum foil, then place the curtain on top of it. You will need a bed sheet or a piece of cloth to cover the curtain for extra protection.
How to Get Wrinkles Out of Curtains Without Ironing
For those who are not a fan of ironing, there’s another way to remove wrinkles from curtains without ironing. Steaming your curtains is arguably less taxing as it requires less setup, and you can avoid severe scorch to your curtains.
There’s no need to take the curtains down; just let them stay on the rod and steam them while hanging. The process is straightforward; you only need a fabric steamer and some sort of support, let’s say a chair or a ladder, allowing you to reach up all the curtain length.
First off, close the curtains and evenly distribute the fullness of the curtains along the rods. Fill your cloth steamer with water and allow it a moment to heat up. Then, put the steam nozzle against the fabric as you go.
It’s worth noting that you may want to avoid pressing the steamer nozzle directly on the fabric surface for delicate materials like silk or velvet. The direct contact between the heat coming from the nozzle and these fragile textiles can ruin the curtain itself.
The best approach is to steam the front of the curtain panel (the side faces inwards) since some wall paint is heat-sensitive, and you can risk damaging it if you decide to go the other way round.
It’s up to you to move from top to bottom or vice versa as the results are relatively identical. However, we find that the top-down approach is more convenient and somewhat easier to implement.
Delicate fabrics such as silk, velvet, or curtains with fragile prints or paints undoubtedly add more texture and style to the whole room but require extra care and gentler execution when it comes to steaming.
In such a case, you’ll need a buffer to prevent any potential damages to the fabric. We usually recommend a piece of cloth for the job.
Once finishing steaming, you will want to let the curtains dry before opening them again. If there are still creases on the surface, you can either spot-treat or repeat the steaming process if necessary.
You may notice some deep wrinkles that linger on the curtains even after two steaming sessions. For these stubborn wrinkles, soften the fabric by adding some water with a spray bottle. Then, it should be easier and faster to steam.
Steaming Tips
Check The Instructions
Before steaming your curtains, it pays to check the manufacturer’s recommended treatments to ensure that you won’t set off destroying your curtains in the first place.
Avoid Extra Heat When Spot Treating
Some panels have been packed improperly for a long period before arriving at your home. As a result, they come with some extremely deep creases that take time and patience to straighten.
Avoid spot treating with extra heat and steam under any circumstances as you might risk shrinking the fabric.
Be Patient
If you still get wrinkles and creases sporadically on the curtains even after the second steaming attempt, wait for a few days. The weight of the curtains can possibly pull the creases away over time.
Conclusion
You probably have an idea of getting wrinkles out of curtains after reading the thorough guide.
If you’re more of an iron person, pay extra attention to temperature settings and the positioning of the soleplate.
Otherwise, if the fabric steamer is your thing, you may want to exercise caution when climbing on the ladder or stool to execute the steaming.
Delicate fabrics require more care, but it’s worth it as you only need to take care of them once or twice a year to keep them in tip-top condition.
Extra accessories like a spray bottle or a piece of cloth will further protect your curtain against potential scorch and help you remove stubborn wrinkles more easily and safely.
Now you know all the hacks, we’re confident that the maintenance of these window treatments will be more fun and enjoyable.
You might also want to read:
- How to Choose The Right Curtains for Your Bedroom
- 10 Curtains That Can Reduce Noise
- What Can You Use Instead of Window Blinds?
