Wait… people iron curtains? Wrinkled curtains may not be one of those things you ever think about… until you hang them up and realise they look worse than when they were folded in the bag.
Whether they’re brand new or straight out of the wash, curtain creases are incredibly common. But thankfully, they’re usually easy to deal with.
Oh, and guess what – you don’t even always need an iron!
In many cases, the wrinkles will drop out on their own, or with a bit of steam and gravity doing the heavy lifting. It really depends on the fabric and how the curtains were treated before they ended up on your rail.
In this guide, I’ll show you how to get wrinkles out of curtains in the simplest ways possible, including how to smooth them without ironing, what works best for different fabrics, and how to stop them creasing again next time.
You might also like:
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- How To Iron Polyester: Tips For Getting The Wrinkles Out
- How To Wash Curtains Without Ruining Them
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Stop: Check the Curtain Fabric First
Before you try to remove wrinkles from your curtains, it’s worth taking a minute to check what they’re actually made from. Different fabrics react very differently to heat, steam and moisture, and using the wrong method can make creases worse or even damage the fabric.
Start by checking the care label. It’ll usually tell you whether the curtains can be ironed, steamed, machine-washed (yes, your curtains do need to be washed from time to time) or tumble-dried. If there’s no label (which is surprisingly common with older curtains), assume they need gentler treatment.
Here’s a quick guide:
- Cotton and linen wrinkle easily but respond well to steam and ironing
- Polyester and poly-cotton usually drop creases fairly quickly with steam or hanging while damp
- Velvet and heavy curtains should be steamed rather than ironed
- Blackout and thermal curtains need extra care — too much heat can damage the backing
- Sheer or voile curtains often smooth out just by hanging properly
If you’re unsure, always start with the least aggressive option first. Hang them, steam them, or try and let gravity do its thing, before moving onto ironing.
How to Get Wrinkles Out of Curtains Without Ironing
If the idea of ironing curtains makes you sigh heavily, I’m right with you. Luckily, ironing often isn’t necessary at all. In fact, for many fabrics, it’s not even the best option. Phew!
Hang Them While They’re Still Damp
One of the easiest ways to remove wrinkles from curtains is to hang them up while they’re slightly damp. The weight of the fabric helps pull the creases down as they dry. This works really well for cotton, polyester and lightweight blends.
Spread the curtains evenly along the rail so the weight is distributed properly, then sit back and let them air dry.
Use Steam from a Shower
This is a top trick for a reason. Close the bathroom door, hang the curtains, and run a hot shower for ten to fifteen minutes. The steam helps relax the fibres and soften creases.
This works best for light to medium fabrics. Heavier curtains may improve a little, but probably won’t fully smooth out using steam alone.
Use a Handheld Garment Steamer
If you own a garment steamer, this is one of the safest and quickest ways to deal with curtain wrinkles. You can steam them while they’re hanging, working from the top down and letting gravity do the rest.
Steamers are especially useful for delicate fabrics, velvet curtains, and blackout curtains where ironing could cause damage. Here’s my go to steamer if you don’t already have one.
Try the Tumble Dryer Method
If the care label allows tumble drying, pop the curtains in the dryer with a damp towel. Use a low heat setting and run it for ten to fifteen minutes. Take them out straight away and hang them while warm.
This method works well for polyester and poly-cotton curtains, but avoid like the plague for delicate or lined fabrics (unless the label says otherwise).
Let Gravity Do the Work
Sometimes, the simplest option really is to do nothing. Many curtain wrinkles will slowly drop out over a few days once they’re hanging properly. This is most definitely true for heavier curtains and lined styles.
If the creases aren’t deep, giving them time can be surprisingly effective.
How to Iron Curtains Properly
Sometimes, we have no other choice. Wrinkles are a bit too stubborn and ironing is the quickest way to sort them out.
Start by checking the care label and setting your iron to the right temperature. If in doubt, use a lower heat and increase it slowly. Curtains are much easier to iron when they’re slightly damp, so if they’re already dry, a light mist of water can help.
Lay the curtains flat on the ironing board, working in sections rather than trying to tackle the whole width at once. Move the iron smoothly and avoid leaving it sitting in one spot, especially on synthetic or lined curtains.
For lined or blackout curtains, iron from the fabric side only. Applying heat directly to the backing can cause it to bubble or peel. If the curtains are long, it can help to iron the top section first, hang them up, and then finish the lower half while it’s hanging straight.
Once ironed, hang the curtains right away so the fabric can cool and set while straight. Folding them after ironing just creates new wrinkles, and defeats the purpose entirely.
How to Get Creases Out of Curtains When Hung
If the curtains are already up and the thought of taking them down again makes you want to abandon the whole idea, this section is for you. Getting wrinkles out of hanging curtains is easier than you might think.
A handheld garment steamer is the most straightforward option. Start at the top of the curtain and work your way down slowly, letting the steam relax the fabric as gravity pulls it straight. Don’t rush it. A steady pass works far better than waving the steamer around like you’re fighting it.
Another simple trick is to lightly mist the curtains with water using a spray bottle, then smooth them down with your hands. Yet again, gravity does most of the work. This works best for minor creases and fabrics that respond well to moisture.
Whatever method you use, make sure the curtains are hanging evenly on the rail. If they’re bunched up or uneven, the wrinkles will just settle back in once everything dries.
How to Get Wrinkles Out of New Curtains
Ah the worst wrinkle offenders – new curtains! They’re usually tightly folded, packed flat, and left sitting in a box or bag for weeks, if not months. So when you hang them up, they look like they’ve been scrunched into a drawer. It’s not you, it’s them.
In many cases, the simplest fix is just time. Once new curtains are hung properly, a lot of the creases will soften and drop out on their own over a few days, especially with heavier fabrics.
If the wrinkles are more stubborn, hanging the curtains while slightly damp works very well. Some people like to give new curtains a gentle wash first, even if they don’t strictly need it, just to help relax the fibres. As long as the care label allows it, this can make a big difference.
Steam is another good option for new curtains. A handheld steamer lets you smooth them out while they’re hanging, without flattening the fabric or risking heat damage. This is particularly useful for lined, blackout or heavier curtains.
Ironing should really be the last step for new curtains, not the first. Usually, a combination of hanging, a bit of steam, and patience is enough to get them looking right without much effort at all.
Common Mistakes That Make Curtain Wrinkles Worse
Sometimes the problem isn’t the curtains themselves, but what happens before they ever go back on the rail. A few small mistakes can make wrinkles much harder to deal with.
One of the biggest issues is over-drying curtains. Leaving them in the tumble dryer until they’re completely dry, or worse, letting them sit there afterwards (we’ve all done that with our laundry), practically sets the creases in place.
Folding curtains straight after washing or ironing is another common one. Curtains are heavy, and when they’re folded, those fold lines tend to stick. Hanging them up as soon as possible gives them a much better chance of drying smooth.
Using too much heat can also backfire. High ironing temperatures can flatten fibres, leave shiny marks, or damage linings, especially on blackout curtains. More heat doesn’t mean better results.
And finally, skipping the care label often causes more problems than it solves. Even if curtains look sturdy, the lining or backing might not be, and treating them all the same can lead to stubborn wrinkles or damage.
How to Prevent Wrinkles in Curtains in the Future
A few simple habits can save you from dealing with wrinkled curtains again later on.
When washing curtains, avoid overcrowding the machine. Curtains need space to move, otherwise they come out twisted and creased. Also, a gentle cycle usually works best.
If tumble drying is allowed, take the curtains out while they’re still slightly damp and hang them straight away. Letting them finish drying on the rail helps gravity do its job naturally.
For storage, always hang spare or seasonal curtains if you can. If you must fold them, fold loosely and avoid sharp creases. Storing them flat for long periods is one of the fastest ways to end up with deep wrinkles.
Most importantly, hang curtains carefully. Make sure the pleats or eyelets are evenly spaced and the fabric isn’t bunched together. It sounds simple, but good hanging makes a bigger difference than most people realise.
Wrinkled curtains are annoying, but they’re rarely a big problem. In most cases, a bit of steam, moisture, patience, or simply hanging them properly is enough to sort things out without reaching for the iron.
The key is knowing your fabric and starting with the gentlest option first.
Once you get into the habit of hanging curtains while they’re still slightly damp and avoiding over-drying or folding, wrinkles become far less of an issue. And honestly, your future self will thank you for not ironing six metres of fabric unless you absolutely have to!
