How to Stop Curtains from Curling
Learning how to stop curtains from curling will keep your room looking its best. Curtains can be frustrating to maintain – particularly when they curl up rather than staying where you want them! But, tugging them back into place a hundred times a day gets tiring. So, it’s a great idea to find a permanent solution – one that doesn’t involve getting rid of your curtains! There are many reasons why curtains curl up. Fortunately, you can use your creativity to set them straight and narrow once and for all! In this guide, I’ll take a look at some of the best ways to keep your curtains laying flat and looking their best.
Contents
- How to stop curtains from curling
- How can I make my curtains lay flat?
- Can I stop my curtain from flaring?
- Why do my curtains not hang straight?
How to Stop Curtains from Curling
Curtains that open and close often are prone to curling and getting wrinkled. This will apply to all of the curtains in your home, particularly those in the bedrooms and most social areas. There are a few different ways that you can stop your curtains from curling and minimise the curling your curtain does. Here are some methods you can try.
Wash and Iron Your Curtains
To stop them from curling, take your curtains down and hand or machine wash them. It’s a good idea to follow the manufacturer’s instructions here, since some materials will be more delicate than others.
Once they are clean and dry, shake them to remove any dirt that may have blown on them after drying. Set up your ironing board, lay the curtains on the wrong side, set the iron to the right temperature, and press your curtains. If your curtains are delicate or have a synthetic lining, lay a pillowcase or dish towel between them and the hot iron to avoid burning/tearing.
Attach Weights to Your Curtains
Just like female royals of old who wore sewn dresses with weights in their hems, you can keep curtains from curling by sewing weights at the bottom. Inserting small metal weights at both ends and in the middle of the curtains will pull them down, keep them in place, and stop them from curling.
Check Your Curtain Rod
Sometimes curtains don’t curl voluntarily; the curtain rod is the culprit. To rule out this issue, use a carpenter’s level atop of the curtain to get the level.
If it’s unlevel, check the brackets to tighten the loose ones. If they’re both tight, loosen the screws until the rod becomes level. Sometimes, you must use a mallet to tap the bracket lightly to level the curtain rod.
Don’t Wash Curtains Too Frequently
Although washing and ironing your curtains can help to straighten them out, too much cleanliness can cause your curtains to curl up. Frequent washing degrades and chips off the sizing that keeps the curtains crisp. The most affected types of curtains are lightweight sheers.
Thankfully, you can re-body the curtains using starch, cornstarch, and water. Soak the curtains in starchy water for a day, leave them to dry, and finally iron them before hanging them in place.
How Can I Make My Curtain Lay Flat?
Start by buying quality curtains. Unlined curtains are more affordable but lack the weight and drape required to hang them straight. Moreover, since unlined curtains are less thick, they crease and curl often. Lined curtains are a bit pricey, but they have the correct weight and drape to keep the folds in place.
After purchasing curtains, the next step should be to make them lay flat. You will need a few supplies, such as twine, a handheld steamer, and a step ladder (if you have tall windows). Start by hanging the drape on the rods, followed by steaming. The steamer will help you achieve a smoother finish than ironing the curtains.
Switch to the top panel to arrange the folds. Smoothen each fold with the steamer from top to bottom. Your folds would stay in place if you installed quality, lined curtains. Finalize this process by loosely tying some twine around the base folds, thus holding them in place. Leave your curtains tied for a week; the straight folds will remain in place after untying if you hang quality drapes.
How Do You Stop Curtains From Flaring?
Curling isn’t the only problem that can happen to curtains.Flaring is another issue that will most often happen at the bottom of your curtains. You can avoid this unattractiveness by hanging longer and wider curtains. Most shorter and less wide curtains flare at the bottom.
Hanging large curtains that touch the floor modernizes the room and makes it more stylish and easy to straighten. Wider curtains contain extra fabric, which gathers with some gaps, making them neat and straight.
What if You Don’t Want to Change the Curtains?
Choosing longer, heavier curtains is great if they suit your aesthetic and you have the money. But, you don’t need to suffer through flaring curtains if you aren’t able to, or just don’t want to, change up your curtain style.
You can also tie and iron the curtains. Use a fancy ribbon, and tie the folds at three or four positions to straighten them before ironing. Depending on the type of fabric, you can choose to steam or iron the curtains bi-weekly or once a month to keep the flaring at bay.
Weighing and Binding Curtains to Stop Flaring
You can purchase fabric bags of zinc in different weights and sizes to keep your blinds/drapes from flaring. Attach them to your curtains in different ways, such as:
- Stapling them in place
- Sewing them in place
- Placing the weight at the bottom and middle parts of the curtains.
You can also bind the drapes on both sides of the door frame or windows to eliminate flaring. Install a curtain holder on either side to attach the curtains after drawing. Adding weights to the bottom will ensure your curtains remain straight.
Why Do My Curtains Not Hang Straight?
Most curtains come folded in a package and are creased so they can’t hang straight. The most affected types are heavy weight and don’t respond well to ironing. But, if your curtains are too light, they can also be prone to curling and flaring. Short unlined drapes often flare and must be weighted down to keep them straight.
How to Stop Curtains from Curling: In Conclusion
Use a handheld steamer to remove creases and straighten every fold from top to bottom in your curtains. Steam the curtains after every seven or fourteen days to maintain the folds. You can also use weights at the bottom of the curtains to hold the folds in place and reduce curling.
Installing holders on either side of the windows/door frames to keep the curtains in place after drawing is another noble idea. The curtains will remain in place, and the breeze will not make them flare. If you have linen curtains, steam them often to remove creases and curling and to maintain the straight folds.
