As pretty as colored curtains can be, let’s admit that sometimes we all appreciate a fresh new look. Once you get to know how to bleach curtains, there’s a whole new world of fabric coloring that you’re going to want to explore.
Bleaching your curtains to color them a different hue or simply attempting to make them a lighter shade is an inexpensive way to revamp your home’s charm. It may be a tricky task, but the result makes it worth the extra effort.
Make the necessary fabric preparations such as washing and drying. Next, get your bleaching ingredients and soak your curtains in the heated solution. Let it simmer for about an hour while adding extra color removers now and then.
Some people find that bleaching darker colored curtains to make them a lighter shade is quite challenging. However, you will get those bright and gleaming curtains hanging in no time with this easy to follow tips and tricks.
Step 1: Preparation for colored fabric
As we have mentioned, you need to wash and dry your curtains to ensure that they are spotless before beginning the process. While you hang your curtains to dry, prepare your solution with water, some soda ash, dishwashing liquid, and a tablespoon of all-purpose color remover.
Step 2: Create the mixture
Mix these ingredients in a large pot on high heat and allow it to boil. Once the water is boiling, adjust the heat setting to bring the mixture to a low boil. The water and other liquid ingredients mainly depend on how much fabric you want to boil.
Place your curtains in the pot or tub with boiling water and let them soak for about an hour. If you are washing your curtains somewhere other than a pot, you have to make sure that the water stays hot enough to complete the process.
Step 3: Color remover treatments
While the fabric simmers in hot water, add an extra ¼ tablespoon of color remover to the solution every fifteen minutes. Use something to stir the mixture and allow it to penetrate the fabric evenly.
Step 4: Draining
Take the pot off the heat and drain the hot water from the curtains. Rinse it well. Be careful of the heat coming from the curtains when you try to wash off the mixture. You can always throw them in the washing machine for safe rinsing.
Step 5: Bleaching process
Now we move onto the actual bleaching procedure. Fill a tub or pot with four gallons of hot water and one cup of bleach. The more bleach you add, the lighter your colored curtains will be. Let your curtains soak for several hours.
Tip
Try to use oxygen bleach instead of chlorine-based bleach. Chlorine can damage particular types of material, and it may leave it dry and crisp or cause undesirable discolorations.
Step 6: Rinse the curtain.
After four to five hours of bleaching your curtains, you can now remove them from the mixture. Carefully put your draperies in the washing machine with mild detergent. Let it run on a gentle cycle and wring the curtains out to get rid of the excess water.
Let it dry in the sun by hanging them on a clothesline. Make sure to hang them flat and avoid gathering the fabric together. Otherwise, you might make unnecessary curtain wrinkles that can be challenging to remove.
Once you have dried the curtains, you should see a visible difference in color shading. The original color and any traces or streaking should have disappeared. If you have really dark-colored curtains, you may need to repeat the process before expecting a whiter result.
Bleaching white curtains
Another benefit of knowing how to bleach curtains is that we can use them to bring back the bright white color of our old grey or yellowish curtain. Everyone knows for a fact that even the best kinds of fabric can get a little yellowed over time.
Luckily, you can make them look good as new with one cup of bleach and some hydrogen peroxide. Mix hot water with a cup of bleach, just like in step five. You can add pure lemon juice and baking soda to strengthen the whitening effect.
Leave it for about sixty minutes only, instead of soaking them for several hours as initially indicated. Then, wash and hang your curtains dry. You can place them in the dryer to dry instead of hanging them in the sun.
Safety note
Since this process uses mainly hot water to get rid of stains and fabric coloring, you may want to check your curtain manufacturer’s instructions first. Also, some types of curtain fabric don’t do so well when washed with hot water.
In other cases, draperies have a specified dry-clean-only instruction. That means washing them with either hot or cold water may damage the sensitive fabric. So be careful when dealing with these kinds of cloth.
Overall, you should always know how to bleach curtains. It can help you refurbish your interior design by doing a DIY curtain coloring project. In other cases, you can use it to bring back that bright white glow from old and yellowed curtains.