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You dust and you dust, but your curtains are still dirty! It may be time for a good washing to restore them back to their former glory. Don’t worry. It’s actually a lot easier than you may think, even if your curtains have metal hooks. To make the process even simpler for you, we’ve answered some of the most common questions you might have about how to do it.

Question 1 of 5:

Can you wash curtains with metal hooks in the washing machine?

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  1. Before you do anything, take a look at the tag on the curtain to see if they’re dry-clean only. Many curtains are made out of washable fabric, but you’ll need to remove any hooks attached to the grommets, which are the small eyelets or holes at the top of the curtains. Simply slide the hooks out of the grommets and set them aside so you can replace them when the curtains are clean. [1]
    • If the tag says dry clean only, well, the curtains need to be dry cleaned in order to avoid damaging the fabric! [2]
    • If the tag doesn’t say how you can wash the curtains, try looking them up online on the manufacturer’s site to see if they list any instructions.
    • Some curtains may have weights attached to the bottom to keep them hanging straight that also need to be removed.
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Question 3 of 5:

What settings should I machine-wash my curtains on?

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Question 5 of 5:

How do you freshen dry clean only curtains?

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  1. Curtains made out of specialty fabrics such as velvet are delicate, but you can still spruce them up in between dry cleanings. Take a chamois cloth, which is a special leather material, dip it in hot water, and wring it out really well so there isn’t any excess liquid. Gently wipe down the curtains to remove any dust and dirt from the material without risking any damage or discoloration. [6]
    • When the chamois cloth gets really dirty, submerge it in the hot water and wring it out again before you continue wiping down the curtains.
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      Tips

      • Use the soft brush attachment of your vacuum cleaner or a long-handled broom with synthetic fibers to dust your curtains regularly, which can help keep them clean between washes.
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      Warnings

      • If you aren’t sure if your curtains are safe to wash, take them to a dry cleaner to avoid potentially damaging or discoloring them, especially if they’re delicate antiques.
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      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about washing curtains, check out our in-depth interview with Arturo Perez .

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