Sheer curtains typically mean lightweight and near-transparent materials like polyester voile, cotton lace, net, muslin, lace, and many more. Unfortunately, just like all other curtain fabric, they are prone to wrinkles and unpleasant-looking folds. Luckily, we have some nifty tips and tricks that will teach you how to get wrinkles out of sheer curtains.
One of the easiest ways to get rid of wrinkles on curtains is through a hot iron. But unlike medium-weight fabric, homeowners are dubious when it comes to ironing sheer curtains. Well, they aren’t technically wrong for not wanting to hot iron those folds away.
Sheer curtains are delicate materials that can not withstand heat as well as other types of fabric. In other words, hot iron can quickly burn your curtains and cause irreversible damages. At the same time, harsh chemical detergents can also damage the fabric.
So the burning question is, how exactly can we get rid of those pesky curtain wrinkles without damaging the delicate fabric? Lucky for you, we have just the answer.
Step 1: Wash curtains
Using cold water and get yourself a bottle of mild detergent. These are readily available at any local store. You must wash sheer curtains using mild detergent because harsh chemicals can damage the fabric.
Fill a tub with cold water and your chosen mild detergent. Place the curtains in the water and gently wash the fabric. Avoid extreme twisting or fabric wringing, as this may create more unpleasant creases.
Hang the fabric in the bathroom or your yard to drip-dry on some rods. Make sure to space them out evenly so that the curtains hang straight while drying. The water should put weight on the curtains, so a gentle tug should allow it to straighten up on some areas.
In some cases, you can use a washing machine to wash your curtains. But always make sure that you are running it on a gentle cycle. When using a washing machine, you still have to take it out to air dry. Make sure to straighten the fabric while it is still wet.
Tip #1: Sometimes, guides are included in the curtain’s packaging on how to wash the drapery without damaging it. Check first if there are any specific instructions. For instance, some might need warm water instead of cold.
Tip #2: When using a washer, take the curtains out immediately. Leaving them crumpled and wet might create more unnecessary wrinkles. Make sure to hang and straighten them right away.
Step 2: Iron your fabric
Right after air-drying your curtains, take them to your ironing board and turn the iron on. Make sure that it is at its lowest setting. It would be good if you have an iron with a particular heat setting for different fabric types. Follow the fabric settings on the iron and allow it to heat.
Like we have mentioned, too much heat can damage sheer curtains. They are made from delicate materials, so you have to be cautious of the heat setting. Level out the wrinkles, ensure that you don’t hold the iron over one spot for more than three seconds.
Step 3: Finish with steam.
Take your fabric steamer and fill the water compartment based on the manufacturer’s instructions. With our already dry curtain, we can now hang it in any way we please. You may use any preferable curtain hardware and hang it across your windows.
Using your steam iron, adjust it to the lowest setting and turn it on. Please wait for a few minutes, then hold it against the curtain fabric at a six-inch distance. Please don’t hold it too close, and be careful when maintaining the distance before steaming the curtains.
Start at the top section going down in a left to the right direction. Release the steam to soften the fabric. You can go over some stubborn areas again, but don’t hold the iron over a particular place for too long. Keep it at three to five seconds maximum.
Note:
- If steaming doesn’t do the trick, you can always take them down and iron the folds again.
- Sometimes the washing gets rid of a significant amount of fabric wrinkles.
- If so, you can already proceed to step three, given that the folds are not too stubborn to remove.
Quick maintenance
Once you hang your curtains, several factors can make the wrinkles reappear. Fortunately, maintaining a smooth and level curtain fabric is not as time-consuming the first time around in learning how to get wrinkles out of sheer curtains. You can do this regularly or at least once a week.
Please take out a spray bottle and fill it with water and vinegar solution at a 1:1 ratio. This will significantly soften the fabric enough to get rid of reappearing wrinkles. If you are dealing with susceptible material, I suggest you use plain water.
Spray the curtain and use a handheld steamer to remove the wrinkles from the curtain. Please set it to low and steam over the curtains from top to bottom. For stubborn areas, don’t hold the steamer over the spot for longer than five seconds. Move on to another section first, then go back to the original crease.
Summary
Wrinkles and disheveled folds make the curtain appear rugged and uncared for. It makes any room look untailored, unprofessional, and quite unpleasant to look at. Fortunately, there are many ways on how to get wrinkles out of sheer curtains. Regardless of its delicate fabric, you can still maintain a beautiful and stylish curtain that suits your home.