Value Village ／ Clothing
This answer is a draft. It stays unpublished until legal review and source verification are complete.
Curtains are one of the household items people rarely think of as washable, and many homes go years without washing them. Yet a curtain is a large piece of cloth that soaks up dust, pollen, exhaust fumes, mould from window condensation and cigarette smoke. In Japan the curtains in a rented flat are usually yours, not the landlord's, so their care is yours too. Here is how, and how often, to wash them.
| Curtain | Frequency | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Lace (sheer) curtains | 2–3 times a year (after pollen season, after the rainy season, at year end) | Nearest the window, so they catch the most pollen, exhaust fumes and condensation mould |
| Heavy (drape) curtains | Once a year (year end or spring) | Dust and odour build-up |
| Kitchen, smokers' rooms | More often | Grease and smoke odours |
| Mould has appeared | Straight away | Left alone it roots into the fibres |
1. Check the care label. Do-not-wash, silk, velvet and lined curtains go to the cleaner. 2. Remove the hooks (or, if that is too much trouble, fold the hook tape inward and hold it with rubber bands; removing is safer). Shake off the dust (a light shake outside, or the vacuum brush). 3. Fold into a large laundry net (accordion folds reduce uneven washing). One panel at a time. 4. Gentle or delicates ("dry") cycle, neutral delicates detergent. Water below 30°C (86°F). 5. Spin for 30 seconds to 1 minute. 6. Hang back on the original rail while wet to dry. The weight pulls out the creases, and you avoid the shrinkage a dryer or the sun would cause. Open the window for air. Put towels or newspaper under heavy curtains (drips). 7. Leave until fully dry (half a day to a day).
| Fabric / finish | Notes |
|---|---|
| Polyester | Hardly shrinks; easy to wash. Most curtains are polyester |
| Cotton, linen | Shrinks (2–5%). If the length has no spare, dry clean or adjust the hem for shrinkage before washing |
| Rayon, acetate | Weak in water; shrinks and creases. Dry cleaning recommended |
| Blackout, heat-insulating, flame-retardant finishes | Some products lose their effect gradually with washing. Check for "effect retained after washing" on the label. Flame-retardant labels may state a limit on the number of washes |
| Shape-memory (wave) finish | The waves may weaken with washing. Hanging without spinning helps preserve them |
| Embroidery, fine lace | Net essential; hand-wash cycle |
| Mould | Dissolve oxygen bleach (酸素系漂白剤, sanso-kei hyōhakuzai) in 40°C (104°F) water and soak for 30 minutes to 1 hour (after a colour test) → wash. Chlorine bleach yellows polyester and strips colour, so use it only on white lace, and briefly |
[Verify] Follow the maker's label for shrinkage rates and the wash durability of flame-retardant and blackout finishes. Check how to read care labels against Consumer Affairs Agency materials.
They are large cloths that have soaked up pollen, exhaust fumes, mould and odour. Lace 2–3 times a year, heavy once a year.
Polyester hardly shrinks, and most curtains can be washed at home. For cotton, linen and rayon, judge by the label and the spare length.
It causes shrinkage, creases and damage to finishes. Hanging back on the rail wet is the easiest way and gives the best finish.
It yellows polyester and strips colour. Soak in oxygen bleach instead.
Some finishes weaken gradually with washing. Check the label for "effect after washing" and wash less often.
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https://www.caa.go.jp/policies/policy/representation/household_goods/laundry_symbols/
https://www.nif.or.jp/
https://jsda.org/w/03_shiki/
⚠️ Editorial note: the source URLs above were identified by search. Our working environment cannot reach go.jp domains, so the contents have not been checked against the text. Verify every source before publication and record who checked it and when.
What we share here are ideas and everyday practices passed down among people living in Japan, together with general information drawn from public sources. They are not official recommendations, and they are not professional instruction. Practices vary between households and regions.
This is general information. Results vary from person to person and depend on your own conditions and surroundings.
Please decide for yourself, using your own judgement, whether any of this suits your situation. We cannot accept responsibility for any damage, loss or injury arising from following this article.
Follow the care label and the maker's instructions for any garment, shoe or bag. For expensive or sentimental items, ask a specialist cleaner or repairer.
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