Can I wash curtains? How often, and how do I stop them shrinking?

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 It stays unpublished until legal review and source verification are complete.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.

How often, and how

Steps

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).

Notes by fabric and finish

• Hooks: remove adjuster hooks and wash them in detergent solution to shift the dust. Watch for rust on metal hooks.
• Clean the rail: while the curtains are down, wipe the condensation mould off the rail and window frame.
• Tobacco and cooking smells: soak for 30 minutes in baking-soda (重曹, jūsō) water → wash, to reduce them.
• Curtain lifespan: 5–10 years. The back deteriorates in the sun and tears, and blackout weakens — signs to replace. UV damages the window-facing side, so lace curtains especially.
• When replacing, buy for washability: a "washable" label, all-polyester fabric, hooks that come off easily, and 2–3 cm of spare length (for shrinkage).
• Renting: curtains belong to the tenant, and you take them with you when you move out (the rail is a fixture).

[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.

Misunderstanding 1｜Curtains don't need washing

They are large cloths that have soaked up pollen, exhaust fumes, mould and odour. Lace 2–3 times a year, heavy once a year.

Misunderstanding 2｜They'll shrink, so they can't be washed

Polyester hardly shrinks, and most curtains can be washed at home. For cotton, linen and rayon, judge by the label and the spare length.

Misunderstanding 3｜The tumble dryer is quicker

It causes shrinkage, creases and damage to finishes. Hanging back on the rail wet is the easiest way and gives the best finish.

Misunderstanding 4｜Blast the mould with chlorine bleach

It yellows polyester and strips colour. Soak in oxygen bleach instead.

Misunderstanding 5｜Blackout curtains work just as well however often you wash them

Some finishes weaken gradually with washing. Check the label for "effect after washing" and wash less often.

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Sources

• Consumer Affairs Agency, "The new care labels (JIS L0001)" [新しい洗濯表示]

https://www.caa.go.jp/policies/policy/representation/household_goods/laundry_symbols/

• Nippon Interior Fabrics Association, "Curtain care and washing" [カーテンのお手入れ・洗濯方法]

https://www.nif.or.jp/

• Japan Soap and Detergent Association, "Washing large items (curtains, blankets)" [大物（カーテン・毛布）の洗い方]

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.

About this article

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.

Sources

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