Turn your curtains white and fresh again quickly and easily: find out how here
White curtains are among the most popular in homes: they create privacy without obscuring too much sunlight or weighing down the ambience with flashy colors. They can be made from a multitude of different materials, but they all tend to turn yellow or gray over time. The factors that contribute to the dirtying of curtains are the dust and dirt that comes in from the outside every time we open the windows, but also from the humidity that can accumulate in a room.
Furthermore, if someone smokes in the house, if fireplaces or wood stoves are lit in the winter, or if the curtains are in the kitchen they can become dirty from cooking vapors. Given this, it is inevitable that we have to wash our curtains regularly. So, how do we make sure that they return to being white and clean again and looking like new? Bleach or some other related remedy can be used - read on to find out more:
Bleach
Thi is the remedy that guarantees a great result, and is quick to do. But first, you need to make sure you can use it on your curtains, and that depends on the material they are made from. Bleach is no problem for cotton, polyester or linen, but it is absolutely contra-indicated if the curtains are made of silk, if they have lace trims, brocade fabrics, wool or if they are decorated with various items such as pearls and similar. In these cases, it is necessary to have them washed by laundry experts.
Depending on the situation, you can use normal bleach (with chlorine) or the so-called oxygen bleach (without chlorine). The latter, in fact, uses sodium percarbonate as an active agent, and is generally used when you want to wash a garment to remove stains and without affecting the color of the fabric.
Check the label to find out what the composition of the fabric is and, if this is not possible, you can try to use the method with bleach on just a tiny part of the curtain (a corner, for example). Dry well and check if your test area has been affected in any negative way.
How to use: bleach must always be diluted. Put 60 ml of bleach in a bucket or basin with 3.5 liters of water (or increase the amount proportionally).
- Mix the bleach in the water.
- Immerse the curtains (perhaps after having gone over them with a vacuum cleaner before unhooking them).
- Leave to soak for 10-15 minutes.
- Continue with a normal wash using hot water, detergent and 120 ml of bleach.
Alternatives to bleach
- The so-called "bluing liquid": a product based on Prussian Blue and water, which is added in small quantities - according to package indications - to white laundry (usually just before rinsing) to prevent them from yellowing.
- Hydrogen peroxide: add 230ml to the laundry along with hot water before starting the wash.
What's your secret to whitening your curtains?
