Laundry Pros Reveal Why You Should Always Wash Your Curtains in December – And How to Do It Right

During December, with attention firmly on festivities and hosting, getting your home ready for an influx of guests is important and certainly worth all the time and effort.

But, while you might think of sanitizing surfaces and refreshing the bedding in guest bedrooms, there's one task that you might not be on your checklist, but is just as essential, say our laundry pros.

Here, they reveal why December is the ideal month to wash and care for your curtains, and how to do it correctly, to avoid damage.

Why You Should Always Wash Your Curtains in December

While you're likely thinking of your curtains in terms of curtain hacks for a warmer home in winter at the moment, as our laundry experts warn, they're almost definitely things you're not washing enough, and now is the perfect time to tick off the task.

Rechelle Balanzat, founder and CEO of Juliette, explains that one of the main reasons for this is to negate the effects of seasonal dust and combat common allergens.

'Over months of windows open, your curtains collect allergens and particles that you don’t see,' she explains. 'Washing now helps clear them out before winter indoor air gets stagnant. Experts suggest fabrics trap dust, pollen, pet dander, and other airborne pollutants that can impact indoor air quality.'

This is which is why neglecting to clean your curtains is a mistake, compromising your home's air quality. This is particularly important as, in December, we run the heating with closed windows, and undoubtedly spend more time indoors with less ventilation than usual.

Additionally, advises Isabella Flores, cleaning expert and professional organizer at Sparkly Maid San Diego, doing so will also make areas appear brighter and more inviting, and there's still time to get this laundry chore done ahead of seasonal gatherings and Christmas next week.

'December provides an excellent opportunity to give your home a makeover before receiving guests or starting new habits in January,' she says.

And, in terms of how often you should wash your curtains, every six to 12 months is what the pros recommend, depending on use and environment. So, adds Rechelle,' If you washed them in spring or summer, December is a perfect follow-up.'

How to Wash Your Curtains This December

Luckily, refreshing your curtains needn't be time-consuming or tricky. Rechelle shares the essentials:

• Preparation: Check the laundry symbols, as some fabrics can go in the washer, and others are dry-clean only. Remove any hooks and rings, and shake or dust your curtains before laundering. A handheld, cordless vacuum, such as the BLACK+DECKER dustbuster AdvancedClean Handheld Vacuum available at Amazon, will work best for this.
• Machine wash (most cotton/polyester): Use a cold or warm water cycle on a delicate setting to protect the fibers, advises Rechelle, as high heat can shrink or damage some fabrics. 'Add a gentle detergent and optional rinse booster for freshness,' she says. We recommend the Tide Free & Gentle Liquid Laundry Detergent available at Amazon for this. If yours can go in the driver, dab a few drops of your favorite essential oil on a damp towel and pop that in for a gentle, natural scent. The towel must be damp; otherwise, it could cause a fire risk
• Handwash (delicate or sheer): For more delicate curtain ideas, soak them in cool water with a mild detergent, before gently agitating, rinsing, and pressing the water out carefully.
• Drying and rehanging: Once washed and clean, it's best to harness the benefits of air-drying your laundry, either flat or hanging, to avoid shrinkage. 'If machine drying, use low heat only,' says Rechelle. 'Then, smooth or steam out wrinkles before rehanging.'

Isabella adds, 'If you are unsure about how to wash specific types of curtains, like those that are delicate or large, or if you would like to spot clean, consider hiring a professional cleaner.​'

Calling in the pros, though expensive, will help you to avoid any possible laundry mistakes to avoid, which may cause irreparable damage. Velvet and lace cannot tolerate high heat, for example.

Curtain Washing Essentials

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Meet the Experts

Rechelle Balanzat

Since starting Juliette, Rechelle has impressively become the youngest female board member of the International Laundry & Drycleaning Institute, and is regarded as one of the most influential leaders in her category. She has also been featured in Inc. Magazine and graced the cover of American Drycleaner.

Isabella Flores

Isabella is a cleaning expert, professional organizer, and senior team member at Sparkly Maid San Diego, an award-winning home cleaning company serving families across San Diego.

There are also some cleaning tasks to refresh your bedroom for winter.