MCM Drapes - Laundering?

[bugsyjones]

Hey!

Well...A couple weeks ago I was browsing my regular antique store. I came across some Mid-Century draperies. They were gorgeous. I thought they were a bit too much money, so I passed them by. Anyway, I kept thinking about them until I realized that I could no longer live one more day without those damned curtains! I know I paid too much for them, ($160 plus tax) but to find 5 matching panels in a half-way attractive print doesn't happen every day. (Also they're the right length for my windows!) I'm thinking there were six panels originally, but I could only find five and the tag said five drapes.

They're pretty nice and in decent shape. The only flaw I noticed was one panel has a tear in it.

Anyway, they are both dusty and a little dirty. How would you recommend I launder these? The design is printed on the curtain material. Not woven into it. I spent too much on them to ruin them.

THANKS!

~Tim

 

[yogitunes]

I would think a careful handwash, maybe in the tub, with woolite.....especially for the one that is ripped

Curtains are tricky, and fragile for their age as well as if they been exposed to excessive sun, they can shred easily

You could probably do them in a TL, on gentle speed, but stay there during the wash portion, you may want to turn it on and off allowing for soak periods, only washing 2 panels at a time...

What I do is place them in the dryer, medium heat, ONLY 1 panel at a time, just until its about half dry, pull this out and place another one in, then use heavy steam and lightly glide the iron over the panel, place on rod and then hang on window, still slightly damp......I know its a slow long process, but they seem to hang best and they don't wrinkle as bad.......and for some reason its also best to iron from the bottom to the top of the panel......

Your next choice may be to DRY CLEAN, but that can't be controlled, and your prize could be shredded and ruined, most cleaners here have you sign a waiver when it comes to curtains, because they know what will happen...

The are a beautiful materia and pattern, post pics when you get them hung

 

[qsd-dan]

I'd take them to a laundromat and throw them in a gigantic water hogging front loader, and wash it in luke warm water (most laundromats have dumbed down water temps, so stick your finger in the water stream and adjust accordingly).

 

[weed30]

Awesome drapes, and while you paid more than you WANTED to pay, you did not pay too much. To find 5 ***long*** panels in really good condition with a great pattern like that does not happen very often.

I would try to find a very reputable dry cleaner in your area or in the closest decent sized city that specializes in cleaning wedding dresses, and ask for their advice. Not that you need to treat these like an intricate wedding dress, but a cleaner that has a good reputation handling wedding dresses bases their reputation on the care and outcome of what they handle. They should be able to send you in the right direction.

Another option is to start searching on the net for vintage fabric forums...you gotta know they're out there.

Personally, I think they could be either hand washed or washed in a machine on the very gentlest cycle in lukewarm or cold water. The only question is if they are pleated at the top with that stiffening type fabric that was sometimes attached to make the pleats keep their shape. I'm unsure if that requires special handling.

I would be very nervous to have them dry cleaned - the chemicals they use nowadays are possibly not going to treat these vintage drapes well.

 

[ironrite]

Are you able to check the content of the material? Years ago, my sister, as a newlywed, washed her fiberglass curtains in their washer. Then she washed their regular clothes. She and her husband had to toss out the clothes because the fiberglass left glass fibers in their clothes. They were itching like crazy.

Beautiful curtains by the way!

 

[dustin92]

personally, I would wash the one with the tear in it first, that way if something happens to it, you will still have enough for 2 full windows... plus you wont lose as much.

 

[bugsyjones]

UPDATE

I did some research and found out that it's best to hand wash and line dry. It was mentioned that machine washing can leave fibers. It also said to use rubber gloves.

As far as repairs, I inspected the drapes more closely, mostly because I had to remove all of the hangers. They used the wrong kind. It needs the 'slip on' hangers, and they used the 'poke through' ones. I think they were causing more damage than good. I'll have to get some of the other kind tomorrow.

There were a couple places that needed repairs. One drapes hem had come loose, so I stitched that back up and the tear I was able to stitch closed and apply a patch to the back for added stablility.

I couldn't hang them today because it rained, so I will probably wash them tomorrow.

~Tim

 

[bugsyjones]

UPDATE

Well here they are!

Hung, drawn, and quartered.

I didn't realize how hard it was to find slip in drapery hooks. Only one place in town had them. Bed Bath & Beyond, which I rarely go to.

They are just long enough for the windows. I have way more material here than I need, but I wanted to display all of the drapes together.

Also, they would work great on a traverse rod, but I don't know if I want to bother. They're hanging on standard metal rods.

I hand-washed them and made a few necessary repairs.

~Tim

 

[mattl]

Looks like a great match for your room. Worth the effort and cost.

I much prefer having pleated draperies hung from rings on a pole type rod, or a decorative traverse rod. That way the fabric between the pleats can fold back giving a much cleaner, straighter look. Also that way the pleats don't get pushed forward. Something to consider if you replace the rods.

 

[westingman123]

Rosie!

The drapes are beautiful. A dear friend gave me 2 pairs of bark-cloth draperies from the late 40's, LOVE them. Where did you find Rosie the Robot? I've seen smaller ones, but never one that size. The Jetson's answer to Hazel, my personal fave.

 

[yogitunes]

OH!.......SNAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The drapes are beautiful......excellent choice

but how did I miss Rosie and Gazoo from the Flintstones