Caring for blackout, thermal and lined curtains

01Why curtains are lined

Most curtains in London homes are lined in some way. The lining is the plain layer on the back that faces the window. It does several jobs at once. It protects the face fabric from sunlight, which fades colours and weakens fibres over time. It adds weight, so curtains hang in fuller, more even folds. It cuts draughts and helps keep heat in during winter. It reduces the light that comes through, from a little with a plain lining to almost none with blackout. And it gives the outside of the house a neat, uniform look from the street.

Those benefits come with responsibilities. A lined curtain is really two or three layers sewn together, and each layer may react differently to cleaning, sunlight and damp. Coated blackout linings are especially sensitive. Understanding what your curtains are made of, and treating each layer with care, keeps them working and looking good for many years.

02Lining fabrics in more detail

Not all standard linings are the same.

03Blackout coatings in detail

Coated blackout linings have a layer of foam or acrylic applied to the back of the fabric, which blocks light. The coating is what makes them so effective, and it is also what makes them delicate.

04Thermal linings and energy

Thermal linings are designed to slow the flow of heat through the window. In winter, closed thermal curtains help keep warmth in the room; in summer, closed during the hottest part of the day, they can help keep heat out.

To get the most from them:

• Close thermal curtains at dusk in winter to keep heat in.
• Make sure they reach the sill or the floor and overlap in the middle, so warm air does not escape around the edges.
• Avoid hanging them over radiators, which pushes heat behind the curtain and towards the cold glass.
• Keep them clean; dust and dirt reduce their effectiveness slightly and make them look tired.

Thermal linings often have a brushed or coated surface. Treat coated thermal linings with the same care as blackout coatings: no high heat, no sharp folding.

05Detachable linings in detail

Detachable linings hang from the same hooks or track as the curtain, but are separate pieces of fabric. They have their own heading tape and hook onto the curtain's hooks or a separate track.

Their big advantage is that the face fabric and the lining can be cleaned separately, each in the way that suits it. They can also be swapped, for example a blackout lining in winter and a lighter one in summer, or replaced when worn without remaking the whole curtain.

When taking down curtains with detachable linings, unhook the lining from the curtain and label both. When rehanging, hook the lining onto the curtain hooks first, then hang them together.

06Interlined curtains in detail

Interlined curtains are the most luxurious and the most demanding. The interlining is a soft, thick layer, often brushed cotton or a synthetic fleece, sewn between the face fabric and the lining. It gives curtains a full, heavy drape and excellent insulation.

Interlined curtains are heavy and bulky. They are usually hand-sewn, with the layers locked together with loose stitches so they move as one. Washing them at home would almost certainly cause the layers to shrink differently and the interlining to lump. They need professional cleaning by someone experienced with interlined curtains, and careful handling when they come down and go up.

Between cleans, vacuum them regularly, keep them clear of damp and protect them from strong sun. Interlined curtains can last for decades with care.

07Velvet, silk and special face fabrics

When the face fabric is velvet or silk, lined curtains need even more care.

Velvet curtains are heavy and have a pile that crushes and marks easily. They are usually lined, sometimes interlined, and almost always need professional cleaning. Never press velvet flat; steam it from a distance and brush the pile gently in the direction it naturally lies.

Silk curtains are beautiful but very vulnerable to sunlight, which can weaken them within a few years in a sunny window. A good lining, and often an interlining, protects them. Silk curtains should be cleaned professionally, and the cleaner should be told the fabric is silk.

Both fabrics benefit from regular gentle vacuuming with a soft brush and from protection against strong sun.

08How to vacuum lined curtains properly

Regular vacuuming is the single most useful thing you can do for lined curtains, and doing it well takes only a few minutes per window.

Use the soft brush attachment and a low suction setting, so the curtain is not pulled into the nozzle. Start at the top of the heading, where dust settles in the pleats, and work down in slow vertical strips. Do the front first, then reach behind to do the lining, paying attention to the bottom edge, which collects dust from the sill and floor. For heavy or interlined curtains, hold the hem gently with your free hand to stop the fabric swinging. Do not forget the top of the pole or track and any pelmet. Once a month is enough for most rooms; more often near busy roads, in homes with pets and in kitchens.

09Sunlight and linings

Sunlight is the biggest enemy of curtains, and the lining takes most of it. Over years, sun weakens lining fabric, especially along the leading edges and in south-facing windows. A lining that looks fine can become brittle and tear easily, sometimes during cleaning.

Signs that a lining is suffering from sun include fading, a dry or papery feel, small splits along folds and fabric that tears when gently pulled. If the lining is weak but the face fabric is still good, re-lining the curtains can give them a new life.

10Condensation and mould

Many London windows, especially older ones and those in bedrooms and kitchens, collect condensation in cold weather. Curtains that hang against wet glass or sit on wet sills soak up moisture, and linings can develop mould spots, usually near the bottom.

• Open curtains in the morning to let the window and curtains dry.
• Wipe condensation from windows and sills daily in winter.
• Keep curtains a little away from the glass where possible.
• Ventilate rooms well, especially bedrooms.
• Check the bottom of linings regularly for spots.

Mould on linings can often be improved by cleaning, but it may leave marks, and badly affected linings may need replacing.

11Lined curtains in London homes

London's housing stock makes lined curtains particularly useful and particularly vulnerable.

In older homes with single glazing or draughty sash windows, lined and thermal curtains make a real difference to warmth in winter. They also face the most condensation, so damp sills and mould on linings are common. Opening curtains in the morning, wiping windows and keeping curtains off the sills is especially important in these homes.

In new-build flats, windows are often large and well insulated, and blackout curtains are popular to block street lights and long summer evenings. Sun damage is the main risk in large south-facing windows.

In busy streets and near main roads, curtains collect traffic dust and grime faster, especially on windows that are often open. Regular vacuuming and more frequent cleaning help.

12Blackout in bedrooms and nurseries

Blackout curtains are popular in London bedrooms, where street lights, early summer sunrises and late sunsets can disturb sleep. They are especially common in children's rooms and for shift workers who sleep during the day.

Because bedroom curtains are opened and closed every day and often handled by children, they see more wear than curtains elsewhere. Check them regularly for cracks in the coating, especially along fold lines and at the leading edges where they are pulled. Make sure cords and tie-backs are safely out of reach of young children.

13Kitchens and bathrooms

Curtains in kitchens and bathrooms face steam, grease and condensation daily. Lined curtains in these rooms pick up cooking smells and grease, and linings can develop mould quickly.

• Choose washable, unlined or lightly lined curtains for kitchens and bathrooms where possible.
• Use extractor fans and open windows to reduce steam.
• Clean kitchen curtains more often, as grease attracts dust.
• Check bathroom curtain linings regularly for mould spots.
• Consider blinds instead of curtains where steam is constant.

14Pets and lined curtains

Cats like to climb curtains and sleep behind them; dogs brush past them and leave hair on the lining. Claws can pull threads and puncture blackout coatings. Vacuum pet hair regularly, keep scratching posts away from curtains and check coatings for punctures. Curtains in homes with pets may need cleaning more often.

15Washing or dry cleaning

Whether lined curtains should be washed or dry cleaned depends on the face fabric, the lining and how they are made.

16Shrinkage in more detail

Shrinkage is the main worry with lined curtains, so it is worth understanding.

Most fabrics shrink a little the first time they are washed or cleaned, especially natural fibres like cotton and linen. When a curtain has a face fabric and a lining sewn together at the sides and top, any difference in shrinkage shows. If the lining shrinks more, it pulls the face fabric into puckers and draws up the hem. If the face fabric shrinks more, the lining droops below the hem.

Professional cleaners reduce the risk by choosing gentle methods, controlling temperature and finishing curtains carefully, sometimes stretching them back to size during pressing. Even so, some movement is possible, particularly with older curtains or fabrics that have never been cleaned before.

Measuring curtains before cleaning gives you a record to compare afterwards. Small changes often settle once curtains have hung for a few days.

17Drying lined curtains

If lined curtains are washable, drying is as important as washing. Tumble drying on high heat can shrink fabrics and damage coatings. Many lined curtains are best dried hanging, or rehung slightly damp so their own weight helps them drop to length, if the label allows. Coated blackout linings should never be tumble dried on high heat.

18Spot cleaning lined curtains

Small marks on lined curtains do not always justify a full clean.

• Blot fresh spills immediately with a clean, white cloth.
• Test any cleaning on a hidden area first, such as the inside of a side hem.
• Dab the mark with a cloth dampened with cool water and a little mild detergent.
• Rinse by dabbing with a clean damp cloth.
• Blot dry and let the area dry naturally, curtains open.
• Do not rub, which can spread the stain and damage the fabric.
• Do not use water on silk or velvet face fabrics; take them to a professional.

Water can leave tide marks on some fabrics, especially if only a small area is wetted. If in doubt, leave spot cleaning to a professional.

19What professional cleaning involves

Professional curtain cleaning usually starts with an inspection: checking the face fabric, lining, heading, condition and care label. The cleaner chooses a method to suit the whole curtain, not just the face fabric. Some curtains are dry cleaned, some wet cleaned with controlled processes, and coated linings may be treated with particular care. After cleaning, curtains are dried and finished, often pressed and sometimes stretched to their correct size. Good cleaners will warn you before cleaning if a lining is fragile or a coating is already cracking.

20Helping lined curtains hang well

Lined curtains should fall in even, generous folds from the heading to the hem. When they do not, the cause is usually something simple.

21A yearly lining check

Once a year, ideally in spring, take a few minutes to check each pair of lined curtains properly.

Draw them closed and stand outside the room, or look from the street, to see the lining as the window sees it. Look for fading, especially along the leading edges and in sunny windows. Then look closely at the back of each curtain in daylight. Gently feel the lining along the folds: it should feel supple, not papery. Check the bottom few centimetres for mould spots. For blackout curtains, close them on a sunny morning and look for pinpricks of light, which show cracks in the coating. Check the heading tape for loose stitching and the hems for dropped corners or missing weights.

Write down what you find. Small problems can be repaired before they grow, and a lining that is starting to fail can be replaced before it tears during cleaning.

22Re-lining curtains

When the lining wears out but the face fabric is still in good condition, re-lining can be a good alternative to new curtains.

23Storing lined curtains

If lined curtains need storing, for a house move or a seasonal swap, clean them first. Fold them loosely, with tissue paper between folds, keeping coated blackout linings folded gently with the coating inside. Avoid tight rolls and heavy weights on top. Store them in breathable cotton bags in a dry place, away from damp outside walls and lofts with big temperature swings. Check them every few months. Before rehanging, let them hang for a few days to drop out storage creases, or have them pressed.