Should new curtains be ironed or steamed to remove fold lines?
Updated
Ask your retailer before using either. New curtains are folded and packed for delivery, and the installer dresses the folds and takes out creases when the curtain is hung. Many fold lines also drop out as the curtain hangs. Some fabrics take steam well and some mark or shrink, so the care instructions decide.
At Speedy Blinds, every curtain is pressed and finished before it is packed. Curtains are then folded or compressed for transport, so fold lines and creases can show when you unpack one. They come from packing and transport, which is a normal result of handling textiles.
Who takes the creases out
The installer does. After hanging the curtain, the installer dresses the folds so they fall smoothly and evenly, and steams out creases as required with a portable steamer. That is part of finishing the job on site. Many fold lines also drop out as the curtain hangs. If you are not sure whether your curtain has been dressed yet, ask your retailer.
What you can do when it arrives
- Unpack the curtain and have it installed soon after delivery. The fabric relaxes and the folds recover naturally once it is hanging.
- Leave the dressing to the installer. Dressing the folds and steaming out creases is part of the installer's job.
- Handle the curtain by its wand or its leading edge, with clean hands.
- A curtain left packed for a long time can crease more, and may need extra time after installation to settle.
Before you use steam or an iron yourself
Ask your retailer first. Every curtain fabric comes from a supplier with its own care instructions, covering whether it can be steamed, ironed, washed or dry cleaned. Your retailer can give you these for the fabric you chose, and they overrule any general advice, including this page.
- Steam. Some fabrics take steam well and some mark or shrink.
- Iron. Never iron a coated blockout on the coated side. The coating can crack or stick.
- Creases that stay. If creases remain after installation, tell your retailer early, before anyone tries to fix them.
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Fold lines when you unpack | Have the curtain hung. Many drop out as it hangs. |
| Creases after the installer has finished | Tell your retailer and ask what they advise for that fabric. |
| Any fabric, before steam or an iron | Ask your retailer for the care instructions. |
| Coated blockout | Never iron on the coated side. |
Speedy Blinds makes curtains for retailers, and your retailer can tell you what suits the fabric you chose. Ask for its care instructions before you reach for a steamer or an iron.
Other ways people ask this
Will fold lines disappear on their own once a curtain is hanging?
Many drop out as the curtain hangs. If lines remain after installation, tell your retailer.
Can I use a handheld steamer on new curtains?
Ask your retailer first. Some fabrics take steam well and some mark or shrink.
Is it safe to iron curtains?
Ask your retailer before using an iron. Never iron a coated blockout on the coated side, because the coating can crack or stick.
Who removes the creases when curtains are installed?
The installer dresses the folds and steams out creases after hanging the curtain.
This answer is general information. For your own windows, your retailer's advice and your order with them come first.