Drapes may stretch. Fabric is made of threads woven together, and there is no glue holding these threads in place. Knowing how the fabric may react after hanging will help you choose fabrics that should not stretch.
Generally, your curtains should stretch 5-7 centimetres wider than the width of your window. A similar rule applies to where they sit on your wall. If your curtains are too short, your home ends up looking like a poorly built doll house.
Curtains and drapes are typically hung 1/2" from the floor. Of coarse there are exceptions (such as curtains over a bath tub or sink), but in most cases 1/2" from the floor is perfect - especially since curtains can stretch a bit over time and might eventually touch the floor.
This is actually why most manufacturers will include a few folds of extra fabric at the base of the curtains to handle any possible “shrinkage”, but not at the sides. Unfortunately, once the curtains are made without fabric pre-shrinking, there is no way to reverse the situation.
Step 1: Put hair conditioner in your vessel. Use enough to make the water feel slick – an oz or two if you're stretching a shirt in the sink. I used about 6 – 8 oz for my curtains in this plastic bucket. Make sure the conditioner dissolves completely.
Curtains naturally attract dust and absorb odours over time. And as easy as it is to overlook the fact that they need attention – after all, they just hang there! – curtain cleaning on a regular basis is a good idea to keep your house clean and fresh – every 3-6 months is recommended.
It depends on factors such as window length, but more often than not, curtains look best when touching the floor. However, how low you want your curtains to hang will determine what you want to achieve. In reality, different decorating styles employ varying curtain lengths.
Getting Started: Iron or Steam to Remove Creases
If in doubt, lay a clean towel over your drapery fabric and iron over the towel on low. However, just ironing your curtains will cause your drapes to spread out at the bottom rather than hanging uniformly along with the built-in pleats.
New curtains can be stiff and may have a strong starch smell. Washing new curtains before hanging can help them hang better, can get rid of odor, and can help your new curtains look more vibrant. Washing them before hanging is an excellent idea.
If you purchase curtains that are washable it is very important to wash them prior to hanging. They normally shrink the most the first time they are washed. I washed mine in hot before hanging them the first time to get all of the shrinking behind me.
Keep an eye on proportion—the length should just touch the floor. “The mistake done most often are drapes that are cut too short by a handful of inches,” says Rothblum, “and it doesn't look like it fits.” Make sure the fabric just hits the floor or ends under an inch above.
We recommend leaving your drapes tied for at least 2 weeks. After that period, untie them and poof – the flaring bottom is gone!
Most curtains are 'dry-clean only', but there is still the danger that they could shrink during the cleaning process. Believe it or not, dry cleaners have an acceptable level of 'shrinkage'. This is between 3-4% of the material, so don't be too alarmed if they are returned to you slightly smaller than before.
Hang the curtains on the rod and spread them out so that the air can circulate around them and they will dry evenly. It may take 1 to 2 days for the curtains to dry completely depending on how thick they are.
Making Your Room Look Larger or Smaller with Curtains
High-hanging curtains with long vertical stripes create the illusion of height, which is excellent for low ceilings. However, short curtains and horizontal stripes shorten your wall height and make the room appear smaller.
To do it, you cut the toilet paper rolls to about three inches in length. Next, remove your curtains from the rod. As you rethread them on the rod, insert a toilet paper roll between every other opening. Rehang your curtains, and they'll look both pleated and fuller.
Your best move is to hang curtains within 8 inches of the top of the window frame. For very tall windows, which are popular in many modern homes, that means placing the rod as close to the ceiling as possible—in fact, you might want to install rods designed to actually hang from the ceiling.
Most people should wash their sheets once per week. If you don't sleep on your mattress every day, you may be able to stretch this to once every two weeks or so. Some people should wash their sheets even more often than once a week.
Yes, as long as the hooks, rings, or pins are removed.
They're what helps hold the curtains onto the curtain rods. It's totally fine to wash curtains with grommets in the washing machine, as long as you set your machine to the delicate wash cycle, which will help prevent potential damage.
Interior windows should be wiped down every three to four months. However, keep in mind that if you live in a location with above-average rainfall, high wind conditions, or lots of pollen, you may need to give those exterior windows a clean more often.
Yes, 100% cotton can shrink if you don't wash it properly. Pre-shrunk cotton can shrink up to 2-5% or more and if it is not pre-shrunk it can shrink up to 20%. If you want to shrink 100% cotton, wash it in hot water, if not, wash with cold water.