How To Get Wrinkles Out Of Blackout Curtains

Because of heavy fabrics, blackout curtains get wrinkles during packaging, shipping, and washing. Even after you open their folds, your new drapes show creases that look awkward. It is essential to remove these wrinkles before use for a smooth, even, and stylish look and better performance. If you are scrolling to search for your query on how to get wrinkles out of blackout curtains, you are in the right place. In this blog post, we will explain all the easy methods & tips to keep your curtains flawless with no wrinkles. Let’s start the discussion.

Things to Know Before Removing Wrinkles

Whether you want to remove the wrinkles from your new drapes or after washing your blackout drapes, consider these things as a first preference.

Check the Care Label First

The crucial step is to check the care label given on the corner or side of your curtains by the company. This label carries the information regarding your drape’s fabric type and lining. It also tells the manufacturer’s heat and cleaning recommendations. Not every fabric is the same in its construction, which is why we need different cleaning methods for effective wrinkle removal. If you ignore them, your curtains might get permanent wrinkles or reduce their efficiency in blocking light.

Why Blackout Curtains Need Special Care

After you understand the label, you must think about the multi-layer construction of your blackout window curtains and drapes. Their lining is mostly treated to make them efficient in light blockage. These coated surfaces can be damaged by the use of intensive cleaning chemicals or prolonged exposure to high temperatures. So, to reduce the risk of heat damage to the blackout lining, while getting rid of wrinkles from the heavy drapes, keep reading the best methods below.

Best Methods to Get Wrinkles Out of Blackout Curtains

If you’re a newbie, here we present the easiest and most effective methods of removing creases, lines, or ridges. After adopting these methods, you can easily remove stubborn wrinkles.

1. Use a Handheld or Garment Steamer (Safest Method)

Steaming the curtains is the simplest way to smooth out the creases. Follow the step-by-step steaming process for hassle-free, quick wrinkle removal.

• Fill your steamer with clean water.
• Hang your heavy drapes in a hanger that can bear their weight or steam them while hanging on the cloth wire.
• Turn on the steamer and start steaming from the upper side of the drapes, holding the steamer in your hand.
• Moving vertically from upward to downward will improve wrinkle removal.
• When the entire curtain is wrinkle-free, then switch off the steamer and let it cool your drapes for 10-15 minutes.

During steaming, make sure you keep the proper distance between the fabric and the steamer. It depends on the type of your blackout drapes. For velvet curtains, the ideal distance from the fabric is 6-10 inches to avoid any damage. Overheating may lead to discolouration or warping of blackout lining.

Steaming is better than ironing your heavy drapes. It is a quick and easy way to de-wrinkle the drapes. With steam, you set and relax the curtains while in the ironing process, a pressure is built to flatten the fibres. Moreover, a steamer is flexible in removing wrinkles from any type of curtains with variable pleats or decorative embellishments.

2. Hang Curtains and Let Gravity Work

Another easy method to remove wrinkles naturally from your living room curtains is hanging them and allowing gravity to work on them. This is an efficient method of removing light wrinkles while the curtains are hanging on rods. It will take 24-48 hours to several weeks, depending on the weight of your drapes. Usually, all the blackout window treatments are heavy, but still, there are many differences based on their fabric.

When you hang the velvet curtains with lining, their fibres get time to relax and release all the crumps with their weight. The heavier the curtain, the less time to get out of the wrinkles.

Gravity acts fast in rooms with warm and humid air. Moisture softens the wrinkles after penetrating the curtain fibres. The gravity acts to smooth out these wrinkles.

3. Steam Them in the Bathroom

You can use another easy way to wrinkle out your dense home curtains using the shower steam effectively. Position your drapes on the shower curtain rod. Adjust the shower so that it faces your blackout drapes and open the hot water. Shut the door and let the hot water run for the next 15 minutes. The steam produced in this result will help you get rid of all wrinkles. This is very useful for the removal of light wrinkles. You can use steaming as an independent method or follow it with ironing for more effective results.

4. Ironing Blackout Curtains (Use With Caution)

One of the effective ways to smooth out the drapes is to iron them on a low heat setting. It is essential to protect them from heat damage or water spots. Ironing is appropriate when you have durable curtains, and you want to make crisp creases for a smooth and polished look. For example, cotton and linen curtains need direct ironing as they get creases very fast compared to other blackout drapes.

Sometimes your drapes get deep and stubborn wrinkles, usually after packaging, storing, or washing. This is common in drapes with thermal backing or velvet curtains. To straighten them effectively, ironing will be a suitable method. But avoid direct contact as it may reduce the shine of the fabric. For blended fabrics like polyester, steaming is suitable, as pressing them with an iron may cause melting. Before you start ironing, remove curtain panels, pins, hooks, and decorative accessories. Lie them on the straight surface or on the iron board. Using low heat settings, iron these drapes from the fabric side only, and use a pressing cloth between the iron and the curtain for protection.

5. Tumble Dryer Method (If Care Label Allows)

This method is allowed only when your curtain label allows you. This is very effective for cotton and linen curtains. In this process, take one wrinkled curtain panel and put it in a dryer. Then dampen a clean towel and add it to the dryer with the curtain panel.

Set the dryer to low heat or air-fluff. Low temperature will help protect the curtain’s shine. Start the dryer and let it run for 5-10 minutes. The moisture in a damp towel will create steam that helps the curtain fibre relax and get out of wrinkles.

You can use ice cubes (2-3) instead of a damp towel as an alternative. As the cubes melt, the steam will be produced in the dryer. The steam works well in the de-wrinkling process. As the cycle is completed, immediately take out the curtain panel and hang it directly on the rod. If you do not do this, the curtain panel will get new wrinkles on cooling. Let gravity work on the wrinkles to push them out due to their weight.

How to Remove Wrinkles After Washing Blackout Curtains

Washing is also helpful in removing wrinkles from your window curtains. If you want 100% results, follow the steps below.

• Do not overcrowd the curtains in the washing machine; this is a common mistake that can cause wrinkles.
• Adjust the low-speed cycle and use cold water
• Immediately remove the drapes when the cycle is completed
• Dry them properly; air drying is more efficient
• Hang the damp panels on the wire, and their weight will move out all the creases or crumps.
• After using the dryer, re-hang the panels while slightly damp and allow their wrinkles to relax and smooth out.

Mistakes to Avoid When Removing Wrinkles

Even though you take care of every step, sometimes it fails to remove all wrinkles. There might be several mistakes you make during the process. Here is the list of errors to avoid when removing wrinkles.

• Using high heat
• Ironing the blackout lining directly
• Over-drying in the dryer
• Ignoring care instructions

How to Prevent Wrinkles in Blackout Curtains

Here are the expert tips if you want to keep your curtains in good condition with no wrinkles.

• Follow proper washing and drying techniques
• Correct hanging after washing and storage in a dry place
• Before storing, fold them very softly and do not make tight layers. For better results, make alternate folds to avoid sharp wrinkles.
• Rolling is better than folding the curtains because it prevents harsh wrinkles and maintains the appearance.
• After gentle rolling, store curtains without sharp creases.

Conclusion

So, after reading this article, you must understand that steaming is the safest and most effective method for making your heavy drapes wrinkle-free. You can hang them on the rods for gravity action to remove wrinkles. Showering, ironing, and tumble drying are also other ways to smooth out the drapes. Whatever the method you choose, gentle care is necessary. After washing, let your drapes air-dry and wrinkles settle out on their own by their own weight. Also, use your hands to relax the folds for long-lasting, wrinkle-free blackout curtains.