Caring for curtains and sheers

Most curtain maintenance is just dust management. Run the vacuum's upholstery brush down them every month or so, top to bottom, and shake sheers out occasionally. That alone prevents the grey, tired look that curtains slowly acquire.

Opening windows and letting air move through the room does more for fabric than any product. In a humid Gold Coast summer, airflow is also what keeps mould from getting a foothold at the base of a curtain near a wet area.

Many modern sheers and curtain fabrics are machine washable on a gentle cycle in cool water with a mild detergent. That is a genuine change from a generation ago and one of the reasons curtains have come back into favour.

The important part is drying. Hang them back on the track slightly damp and let them dry in place — the weight of the fabric pulls the creases out, and you avoid ironing entirely. Do not put curtains in a hot dryer.

Lined and interlined curtains, blockout fabrics with a coated backing, silk, velvet and anything with a stiffened heading should be professionally cleaned. Washing these at home tends to shrink the layers at different rates, which distorts the drape permanently and cannot be corrected.

If you are unsure, the safe default is to ask before washing. A ruined pair of lined drapes costs considerably more than a professional clean.

In this climate UV does more long-term harm to curtain fabric than dirt ever will. A curtain on a west-facing window will fade and eventually weaken along the exposed edge.

Lining helps significantly, and it is the main reason to line curtains beyond the light-blocking benefit. External shading helps more. If you are investing in good fabric on a hot window, protecting it from the outside is worth the conversation.