How to Clean the Curtains

[SueLuke]

I have removed the front curtains from a 2007 16ft International. They are white lined curtains. They need to be cleaned and the dry cleaner will not do it because of the plastic clips and the metal snaps. I am still trying to get a screw loose to remove the rear curtains.Ugh!

Has anyone hand washed their curtains. If yes, what type of soap did you use? Did you dry them in a dryer or did you air dry them?

Also, we are having trouble getting one of the screws that holds the curtain in the track loose. Any suggestions on what to put on the screw to loosen it? I do not want to strip the screw.

Thanks in advance for any information anyone can give me.

[CBWELL]

Soak in Oxyclean, then into the washing machine with cold water. Will even take out water stains!!

[PaulnGina]

On my 1987 Avion, I soaked the curtains in OxyClean (as mentioned), and also washed them in our front-load washer on delicate. Dried them on low. I ironed them and hung them up.... they looked great!

[SueLuke]

Thanks for the responses. I will try OxyClean.

[perryg114]

I would use something a little more gentle unless they are really soiled. Liquid dishwashing hand soap has worked well for me. I have used Shout on stains before with good results. The Oxy products have peroxide like chemicals in them that will eventually damage fabric. I still have the original curtains in my 81 and they turned the water brown but looks great now. I just soaked them in a laundry sink and kept rinsing them out.

Perry

[moosetags]

We had a 2005 Safari 25FB that had the type of curtains you describe. They would develop water stains from time to time. We always hand washed them in Woolite and allowed them to line dry. This always worked well, and the curtains remained in like-new conditions.

Brian

[Nomad518]

We washed our curtains as others described above. We used normal laundry detergent and the gentle cycle. We hung them to dry. Worked great, but unfortunately didn't tighten up any of the fabric that has stretched over the years. Our curtains sag in the middle where the two panels (left and right) come together. No good way to fix that, so I ordered a new set of drapes from JPA. Expensive, but very high quality. They went back for some adjustments but should be done soon.

As for the screw that's being difficult, you might try putting some WD-40 on a Q-Tip and rubbing it on the screw. Let it set for a while to penetrate then see if it will come out. Don't spray the WD-40 directly on the screw. You might get it on other surfaces and create another clean-up "opportunity."

[Jnimocks]

A little Carolina wren flew into the open door of our Flying Cloud 27 FB several evenings ago and had actually put its head under its wing to sleep while perching on a nice soft curtain in the galley. My wife frightened it and it promptly evacuated it’s little birdy bowls on a curtain before flying off. Not a lot of birdy poop (Carolina wrens are tiny) but now it’s wash time. Ideas anyone?
“Thistle Dew Too”