How to Clean Your Velvet Curtains Yourself

Velvet curtains are not the easiest curtains to wash.  These curtains are incredibly durable and they can retain flamboyant coloring for decades.  The soft velvet feels and the luxury look is something no other fabric type can compete with. Velvet curtains have been the pristine curtain choice for centuries.  Kings and Queens once claimed these fabrics to be theirs and the fabric was always associated with wealth, nobility and even royalty. 

The last thing you want to do is to ruin your velvets by using the wrong washing methods.  The soft velvet fabric is durable and tough if handled correctly but the wrong washing procedures could result in thinning, off shades, staining and even spotting if you are not careful.

If dry cleaning isn’t an option or if your curtains are very old then you can successfully clean these luxury curtains yourself.  Here’s how.

Read the label

It is important to always read the label before you wash.  Velvet fabrics have developed a lot over the past few centuries and modern velvets are a lot tougher than they used to be.  Our curtains could be machine washable depending on the brand and quality.

Clean your curtains regularly

It is always better to clean luxury velvet curtains regularly rather than put your curtains through extensive cleaning rituals when you finally do clean them.  These curtains should be dry cleaned at least once every 12 months.

Never iron velvets

Velvet curtains are not iron friendly.  The heat and weight can crush the piles and damage your fabric fibers.

Only machine wash if the label says you can

Some velvet curtains are machine washable but even then you do need to be careful.  Set your machine on a gentle or hand-wash cycle and don’t use any extreme detergents.

Velvets are hand washable

It is much safer to hand wash your velvet curtains.  Hands are much gentler on your delicate fabrics than a machine that tumbles and twists.  Here are the five steps to hand washing your velvet curtains;

Vacuum – Vacuum the entire curtain before you remove it from the railing.  The more dust you get out before washing, the fewer chances there is of staining them.

Remove small stains – Dampen a cloth with warm water and rub small stains.  Don’t rub your velvets too vigorously.  Use gentle motions.

Use dishwasher detergents for tough stains – You can remove tougher stains with a mixture of dishwashing detergent and warm water.  Dip a cloth in the mixture and soak the stain.  You can also gently rub the stain and allow it to soak for a while.

Dry – Dry all excess moisture away by dabbing the wet spots with a dry towel. 

Brush – Once your curtains are dry you should brush the luxury curtains with a soft-bristled brush.  This will help your curtains look smooth and soft once again.

With these tips, you can get your velvet curtains cleaned properly at home or simply give them a quick clean if you cannot get to the dry cleaners just yet.  It is, however, always best to get your luxury curtains dry cleaned professionally.