Curtain Cleaning

[Paul57]

We have just purchased a CD 25D with original curtains, which are in great condition, but appear to have never been cleaned. The dry cleaners won't touch them. Does anyone know how we can clean them ourselves without damaging them?

[Joe Myerson]

n/m

[trapper]

Congrats on your new 25D. Mine had curtains but they were in really bad shape--extremely dirty and moldy. I washed them. Then they were in really horrible shape. I may have been able to save them had I not washed them in the washing machine. I don't know--its done now.

If I had nice ones, I would probably try woolite by hand or maybe Tough Stuff.

My cushions were very moldy, too. I did not have a lot of confidence that they would be usable. I cleaned them with Tuff Stuff (purchased at auto stores and sometimes at dollar general). My cushions came out great--almost like new. I wish I had been kinder to the curtains. At the time, I thought they were a total loss. I may have been wrong.

All the best with your new boat. Fran.

[TheSandPebbles]

I machine washed mine when I bought the boat, and a couple were damaged in this way. I'd suggest hand-washing. Just last week I removed all but 3 of them (in the v-berth and head) and threw them away. I'm in Grenada and they were pretty useless; it's so hot here you always want the portholes open, and the curtains can't close when the porthole's open anyway. Plus they were permanently damaged by mildew stains.

[BillyO]

This topic is the reason for our domestic help. The Butler usually has a solution.