How Often Should You Wash Curtains? A Hidden Hotspot for Dust Mites

Just How Dirty Are Your Curtains?

Hanging by the window, curtains filter incoming dust, pollen and traffic fumes every day, while indoor dust mites, pet hair and cooking grease cling to them too. Pat a curtain that has hung for a year and you’ll see a cloud of dust burst out.

In Hong Kong’s humidity, damp curtains easily harbour mould. If allergy or asthma sufferers sneeze heavily every morning, the curtain beside the bed is often the culprit.

How to Wash Different Curtain Fabrics

Standard fabric curtains: most are machine-washable at 30°C with mild detergent on a gentle cycle. Rehang them while slightly damp to air-dry on the track — no ironing needed.

Blackout and velvet curtains: their coating and pile cannot take heavy scrubbing — dry cleaning or steam cleaning is safer and prevents the coating from peeling.

Roller blinds and venetian blinds: wipe slat by slat with a slightly damp cloth, or vacuum with a soft brush attachment.

Everyday care: vacuum along the fabric grain once a week to greatly reduce dust build-up.

How Often Do Curtains Need a Deep Clean?

Deep clean curtains every 6 to 12 months — every six months if you have allergy sufferers, pets, or a dusty roadside location.

Full-height curtains are heavy and awkward — DIY removal wastes hours and risks pulling down the track. Professional on-site curtain cleaning can steam-sanitise them in place without removal, or handle take-down, washing and rehanging for you — saving time with no risk of damage.