Why are new curtains not hanging straight?
Updated
New curtains often need time to hang properly. They are folded and compressed for transport, so the folds recover best once hung, and the fabric settles over the first weeks. Bent hooks, a track that is not true or a stiff fabric can also cause it. An installer can usually fix these.
A new made to order curtain can look uneven when it first goes up. Creases from packing, folds that are not yet even and a hem that sits unevenly are all common. Most of these improve in the first weeks. Some need an installer to adjust something.
Why it happens
- Packing. Curtains are folded and compressed for transport, and the folds recover best once the curtain is hung on the track.
- Settling. The fabric relaxes under its own weight after it is hung, so the curtain hangs slightly longer and the folds change. Heavy fabrics and long drops settle more.
- Storage. A curtain left folded in its packaging for a long time takes longer to recover and can crease.
- Tape memory. A heading tape remembers its curve. At the ends of an S Fold curtain there is no opposing fold to hold the last one, so the end can flick out. Wave Fold behaves differently at the edge.
- Hooks. On a pleated curtain, a bent hook can push the heading forward so the top leans.
- The track. A track that is not level or true shows up as an uneven hem or wave.
- The fabric. Natural fibres crease and move with temperature and humidity.
What can be done
| What you see | What usually helps |
|---|---|
| Creases from packing | Hang promptly. Many drop out as the curtain hangs. Ask before using steam or an iron. |
| Uneven folds | Time on the track, and the installer dressing the folds |
| Leaning pleats | Replace or straighten a bent hook |
| Flicking end on S Fold | Tag the tail to the next fold. If a straight side matters, ask your retailer about Wave Fold before you order |
| Uneven hem | Check the track is level |
New curtains are best unpacked and hung promptly. Folds recover best on the track, and extended storage in the packaging adds creasing.
If something looks wrong, take a photo and tell the retailer who supplied it as soon as you notice. They hold your order, can tell you what is normal for the fabric, can have an installer look at the hooks and the track, and can raise it with their workroom if it turns out to be a manufacturing question. Speedy Blinds makes curtains, tracks and roller blinds for retailers.
Other ways people ask this
Why do my new curtains have creases?
They were folded for transport. Many drop out as the curtain hangs. Ask before using steam or an iron.
How long do curtains take to settle?
Most settle over the first weeks, and how much depends on the fabric. If something looks wrong, tell your retailer as soon as you notice it.
Why are my curtain folds uneven?
Packing, settling and the track can all cause it. An installer can often dress the folds and check the hooks.
Should I iron new curtains?
Check the care instructions first, because some fabrics mark or shrink with heat.
This answer is general information. For your own windows, your retailer's advice and your order with them come first.