Can You Dry Clean Linen Curtains?
Doing laundry is one of the most mundane and relentless jobs in the house and often items such as curtains, sofa covers or cushion covers get forgotten about. In addition to getting through the ominous laundry pile looming over you in the corner, and remembering to wash the extra bits around the house, you need to have the knowledge and expertise to wash everything without ruining it.
It’s no wonder people find laundry difficult and time-consuming. When it comes to linen, you have to be extra careful not to ruin this delicate fabric. In this post, we delve into how to wash linen curtains, if they can be dry cleaned and other useful information about this versatile fabric.
What Is Linen?
Linen is a fabric derived from the flax plant. The process of making linen comes from the flax plant’s natural fibres are extracted from the stem, which are then spun and woven to become linen fabric.
Lots of everyday household objects are made from linen, including clothes, aprons, curtains, cushion covers, bedding sets, tablecloths, napkins and handkerchiefs.
Linen comes in natural colours such as ivory, grey and beige, but also in other colours including dyed white, blue and black. The fabric is also incredibly breathable and hypoallergenic, so it is hugely skin-friendly and a perfect bedding choice for people with asthma and allergies.
Linen is both a winter fabric and a summer fabric. If you wear linen clothing, it will keep you warm during the bitterly cold season, while the fabric is lightweight and breathable enough to cool you down when temperatures soar.
The characteristics of linen fabric are:
- soft
- strong and durable
- breathable
- naturally hypoallergenic
- more lustrous than cotton
- low maintenance
- moisture-wicking
- dries very quickly
- wrinkles easily
Linen is a versatile fabric used for a range of purposes but when it comes to keeping the fabric clean, most people don’t know where to start. Linen is a sensitive, fragile fabric that needs the proper care and attention to keep it fresh and new-looking for longer.
What Is Dry Cleaning?
Before delving into how to keep your linen clean and fresh, you need to know what options are available to you and one is dry cleaning. Most people have heard of a professional dry cleaning service but they don’t actually know what it entails.
Despite the name, dry cleaning isn’t a completely dry process but it is free from using water to clean materials like conventional laundering. Rather than using water and detergent in a washing machine, the dry cleaning process uses a special solvent that contains little or no water. Typically, professional dry cleaners use big industrial computerised machines to wash fabrics in special dry cleaning settings.
There are several reasons why people choose dry cleaning instead of conventional laundry methods. These are just some of the benefits it has to offer:
- Preserves the fibres in delicate fabrics
- Professional dry cleaners can remove tough stains that would otherwise be very difficult to remove
- Dry cleaning improves the life span of your clothes and keeps them fresher and new-looking for longer
- Professional dry cleaners have the knowledge and skills and clean your fabrics properly and they give the proper care and attention to your clothes
- Using professional services saves you time.
Can I Dry Clean at Home?
Not really. There are home dry-cleaning kits and methods you can use to try and replicate a professional dry cleaning service but nothing beats the professional finish of a properly dry-cleaned garment.
If you want your linen and other fabrics to last longer, stay fresher and be stain-free, choosing a reliable and professional dry cleaning service will save you time, money and the stress of trying to do it yourself.
How to Wash and Care For Your Linen
Now for the part you’ve been waiting for, how to wash linen, and in this case, linen curtains.
Should you dry clean or launder linen? Should you hand wash them or put them in the washing machine? Here we have steps on how you can properly wash your linen curtains without ruining the fabric.
How to Machine Wash Linen
Linen curtains can be washed in the washing machine as long as they are not lined. Linen must be washed in the washing machine at a low temperature and on a gentle cycle using a gentle detergent. For best results, wash them on their own as other fabrics can bleed or zip and other features can ruin the delicate fibres of linen fabric.
How to Hand Wash Linen
To be on the safe side, you might choose to hand wash your linen curtains only. If they are lined, this will be a better option than putting them in the washing machine. Lined curtains are best hand-washed because the lining can become distorted in the washing machine.
To hand was your linen curtains, soak them in cold or lukewarm water in the bath or somewhere similar. Remember to use a gentle detergent and handle the curtains in the water solution to get rid of dust and dirt. For stains, use a soft sponge and gently scrub the area.
How to Dry and De-wrinkle Your Linen
Linen is a very wrinkly fabric and these creases can be very difficult to get out. One of the main factors of decreases the amount of wrinkles in the fabric is the way you dry it. Can linen be put in the dryer? Some linen can be put in the dryer but always check the label first as too much heat can cause linen to crease.
To be on the safe side, it’s best to air-dry linen away from direct sunlight in a well-ventilated area. Try not to wring out your linen curtains as this can cause them to crease when drying. Allow the excess water to drip off them and then shake them before hanging them out to dry. The best way to avoid creases is to try them flat.
Linen can be ironed to get rid of the creases but always check the label first. If linen hasn’t been dried in the right way, even ironing the fabric may not completely get rid of the creases. Even better, steam your linen curtains as this is far gentler on the fabric and usually has better results at flattening out stubborn creases.
Why Getting Your Linen Professionally Dry Cleaned Is the Best Option
Linen is a fragile fabric and can be quite temperamental, particularly when it comes to drying and de-wrinkling. The best option for your linen curtains is to get them professionally dry-cleaned. Yes, dry cleaning linen is safe and in fact, is probably the best option for your linen to make sure it is done properly and with the right care.
Because of the care and resources that dry cleaners provide for your clothes, they are perfect for linen materials that may be at greater risk of harm than other materials like cloth and felt. The specialised cleaning agents provide a delicate clean to the fabric which prevents fading or stretching whilst still providing the in-depth cleanse that not even your washing machine can provide.
Dry cleaning linen is one of the best ways to look after the fabric to ensure its softness.
Love2Laundry
Love2laundry is a highly trusted dry cleaning service and laundrette in Manchester and London. Love2laundry is a professional company that prides itself on your satisfaction, ensuring that your life is made easier. We are efficient and punctual because we respect your time.
Why are we relevant? We are one of the best linen services around so you can trust us with your delicate linen fabrics, including linen curtains and we’ll know exactly what to do to get them looking and smelling fresh again.
Can you dry clean linen curtains? Absolutely! And we’re the people with the knowledge and expertise to do it for you. Simply book a time and date, and we will collect your linen, work our magic and return it at a time that is convenient for you. Simple!
