Natural solutions for reviving your curtains

Dirt, dust, dust mites, cigarette smoke, and even smog settle on curtains, causing the fabric to turn yellow after a few months. Unfortunately, regular laundry detergent often fails to remove these discolourations. So, how can we return the whiteness to our curtains?

All you need is to prepare a homemade curtain bleach using natural, readily available ingredients. It will not only restore the fabric's original look but also eliminate any unpleasant odours.

Curtains can completely transform a room's ambience. They lend an incredible cosiness—provided they are clean and snow-white. Unfortunately, various pollutants such as grease, dust, and tobacco smoke settle on curtains, causing them to yellow over time. How can we restore their former whiteness?

There are several methods to try. Many people resort to using bleach. Although it's extremely effective, it can irreversibly harm the delicate fabric. Fortunately, there's an alternative solution that's equally effective but safer.

To prepare a homemade bleach for curtains, you only need water and baking soda. Baking soda has whitening and disinfecting properties and also neutralizes bad smells.

How to prepare the homemade bleach? Pour approximately 2 litres of water into a large bowl and add 10 tablespoons of baking soda. Stir the mixture well. Soak the curtains in this solution for several hours, or ideally overnight. The next day, launder the curtains as usual in your washing machine. They will appear as good as new.

If baking soda isn’t available, don't worry. You can use vinegar as a substitute. There’s no need to prepare a special solution. Simply pour half a pint of vinegar into the detergent compartment of your washing machine, then start the wash cycle. Vinegar, like baking soda, possesses whitening and disinfecting properties. After washing, your curtains will be snow-white. The distinctive smell of vinegar will vanish once they're dry.