How to Clean Net Curtains (and Get Them White Again)

To clean net curtains and get them white again, take them down and shake off the dust, then soak them for a few hours in warm water with bicarbonate of soda or soda crystals, and machine-wash on a cool, gentle cycle (30°C) with a mild detergent inside a pillowcase to protect them. Don’t use bleach — on nylon nets it turns them yellow, not white — and rehang them slightly damp so they dry crease-free. That routine lifts the grey and brings back the brightness.

Net curtains go grey and yellow because they quietly filter everything in the air — dust, cooking grease, condensation, cigarette smoke and sunlight — all day, every day. The good news is they respond well to gentle whitening, and you almost never need to buy new ones. This guide covers the full washing method, an honest comparison of every whitening trick (bicarb, soda crystals, white vinegar, denture tablets and net whitener), how to shift mould spots, and how to keep them bright for longer.

How to wash net curtains

Net curtains are delicate — usually thin polyester, nylon or cotton voile — so they need a gentle hand. Get this right and they come out bright and crease-free; get it wrong and you can shrink, tear or yellow them.

1. Take them down and shake them out outdoors or over the bath to remove loose dust — nets hold a surprising amount, and washing them dusty just makes grey water.
2. Soak first (optional but effective): a few hours in warm water with a couple of tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda or a cup of soda crystals loosens ingrained grime and starts the whitening before you even wash.
3. Put them in a pillowcase or mesh laundry bag. This stops the delicate net snagging, stretching or wrapping around the drum — the single best way to protect them in the machine.
4. Wash cool and gentle: 30°C on the delicates or hand-wash cycle with a mild (non-bio is kindest) detergent. Hot water can shrink and yellow nets, so keep it cool.
5. Skip or minimise the spin. A hard spin creases nets deeply; a short, slow spin (or none) leaves them damp and easier to rehang smooth.

Prefer to hand-wash? Delicate or antique nets are safest in the bath or sink: soak in cool soapy water, gently squeeze (never wring or scrub) the water through, rinse, and lift out supporting the whole weight so they don’t tear. It takes longer but it’s the gentlest option.

The rehang-damp trick: put nets back up while still slightly damp and let their own weight pull the creases out as they dry — this usually saves ironing entirely. It’s the same principle we use for full-size curtains and washable blinds. If they do need ironing, use a cool iron on the reverse while slightly damp.

How to whiten net curtains: every method compared

This is what most people actually want — nets that have gone grey or yellow back to white. Several methods work; here’s an honest ranking of the popular ones.

The one to remember: don’t use bleach on net curtains. It’s counter-intuitive because bleach whitens cotton, but on the synthetic nylon and polyester most nets are made from, chlorine bleach reacts and turns them a permanent yellow — the opposite of what you want. Bicarb, soda crystals and denture tablets are all safer and more effective on synthetic nets. For really grey nets, combine methods: a bicarb-and-soda-crystal soak, then a cool wash, repeated if needed. Patience beats harsh chemicals here.

How to clean mould off net curtains

Net curtains at windows that suffer condensation — bathrooms, kitchens, single-glazed bedrooms — often develop black mould spots along the bottom edge or wherever they touch a damp sill. Because bleach is off the table for synthetic nets, use a gentler approach:

1. Soak in bicarbonate of soda or white vinegar solution. Both tackle mould without bleaching the fibres — a few hours in warm water with a generous amount of either loosens and kills much of the mould.
2. Rub stubborn spots gently with a soft cloth or old toothbrush while wet — don’t scrub hard, which tears net.
3. Wash as normal (cool, gentle, in a pillowcase) and dry thoroughly, ideally outdoors where UV helps kill remaining spores.
4. For heavy mould, a stain remover safe for synthetics or an oxygen-based (not chlorine) whitener can help — patch-test first.

Fix the cause, or it returns. Mould on nets is a symptom of condensation and poor ventilation. Wiping down the window and sill, improving airflow, and not letting nets sit against a wet sill all stop it coming back — otherwise you’ll be doing this every few months. Our guide to cleaning mould covers tackling the source.

Can you wash net curtains in the washing machine?

Yes — most net curtains are machine-washable, and it’s the easiest method, as long as you protect them. The rules that keep them safe:

• Always use a pillowcase or mesh bag so the net can’t stretch, snag or tangle around the drum.
• Cool wash only — 30°C on delicates. Heat is what shrinks and yellows nets.
• Mild detergent, no bleach, and a gentle or no spin.
• Don’t overload — nets need room to move, and a packed drum creases them badly.

The exceptions: very old, fragile or delicate decorative nets are safer hand-washed, as the machine can tear perished fibres however gentle the cycle. If in doubt, hand-wash — it’s only a few minutes more.

Do denture tablets really clean net curtains?

Yes — this popular hack genuinely works. Denture-cleaning tablets contain mild whitening and effervescent agents designed to lift stains from a delicate surface, which is exactly what discoloured net needs. Dissolve three or four tablets in a bowl or sink of warm water, submerge the nets fully, and soak for a few hours (or overnight for badly greyed ones), then wash as normal. It’s a low-effort, gentle whitener — and unlike bleach, it won’t yellow synthetic nets. It’s not magic on the very worst discolouration, but for general grey it’s genuinely effective and worth the couple of quid.

How to keep net curtains white for longer

• Wash them every 3–6 months rather than waiting until they’re grey — regular light cleaning is far easier than rescuing badly discoloured nets.
• Shake or vacuum them (upholstery brush, low suction) between washes to stop dust settling in.
• Tackle condensation and ventilate, especially in kitchens and bathrooms, to slow grease and mould.
• Keep them off wet sills — a net sitting in condensation greys and moulds fastest at the bottom.
• A cupful of white vinegar in the rinse each wash helps keep them bright and soft.

Realistically, net curtains have a lifespan — sunlight gradually weakens and yellows the fibres over years, and eventually even the best whitening won’t fully restore them. When a net has gone brittle or permanently yellowed despite proper care, replacement is the honest answer. But most “past it” nets just need the patient bicarb-and-soak treatment above.

Net curtain mistakes to avoid

• Using bleach. Turns synthetic nets permanently yellow and weakens them. The number-one mistake.
• Hot washing. Shrinks and yellows nets — cool 30°C only.
• Washing them loose in the drum. They stretch, snag and tangle. Always use a pillowcase or mesh bag.
• A hard spin. Sets deep creases. Minimal or no spin, then rehang damp.
• Scrubbing hard. Tears delicate net. Gentle soaking and light dabbing only.
• Leaving them until they’re grey. Far harder to whiten than nets washed regularly.
• Ignoring condensation. Mould comes straight back if the damp isn’t fixed.

Frequently asked questions

How do you clean net curtains?

Take them down, shake off the dust, and optionally soak them in warm water with bicarbonate of soda or soda crystals. Then machine-wash at 30°C on a gentle cycle inside a pillowcase with mild detergent, use minimal spin, and rehang them slightly damp to dry crease-free. Avoid bleach and hot water, both of which yellow synthetic nets.

How do you whiten net curtains that have gone grey?

Soak them for a few hours in warm water with bicarbonate of soda, soda crystals or dissolved denture tablets, then wash cool and gentle. White vinegar in the rinse adds brightness. Never use bleach — it turns synthetic nets yellow. For badly greyed nets, combine a bicarb-and-soda-crystal soak with a cool wash and repeat if needed.

Can you use bleach on net curtains?

No. Most net curtains are nylon or polyester, and chlorine bleach reacts with these synthetic fibres to turn them permanently yellow — the opposite of whitening — while weakening the material. Use bicarbonate of soda, soda crystals, denture tablets or an oxygen-based whitener instead, all of which brighten synthetic nets safely.

Can you wash net curtains in the washing machine?

Yes, most are machine-washable. Put them in a pillowcase or mesh bag to stop them stretching and tangling, wash at 30°C on the delicates cycle with mild detergent, and use a gentle or no spin. Don’t overload the drum. Very old or fragile decorative nets are safer hand-washed, as the machine can tear perished fibres.

Do denture tablets clean net curtains?

Yes — it’s a hack that genuinely works. Denture tablets contain mild whitening and effervescent agents that lift stains gently, ideal for delicate net. Dissolve three or four in warm water, soak the nets for a few hours or overnight, then wash as normal. They won’t yellow synthetic nets the way bleach does, and they’re cheap and low-effort.

How do you get mould off net curtains?

Soak them in a bicarbonate of soda or white vinegar solution for a few hours, gently rub stubborn spots with a soft cloth, then wash cool and dry thoroughly (outdoors if possible, as UV kills spores). Avoid bleach on synthetic nets. Crucially, fix the condensation causing the mould — improve ventilation and keep nets off wet sills — or it returns.

Should you iron net curtains?

Usually you don’t need to — rehanging them slightly damp lets their weight pull the creases out as they dry. If they do need it, use a cool iron on the reverse while the net is still slightly damp, and never a hot iron, which can melt or scorch synthetic net. Minimal spinning in the wash reduces creasing in the first place.

How often should you wash net curtains?

Every 3–6 months, and more often in kitchens (grease), bathrooms (damp) or homes with smokers. Washing them regularly is far easier than rescuing nets that have gone deep grey. Shaking or lightly vacuuming them between washes removes dust and stretches the interval, keeping them bright with less effort.

Why do net curtains go yellow?

Mainly from sunlight gradually degrading the fibres over years, plus cooking grease, cigarette smoke and — ironically — bleach, which yellows synthetic nets. Regular cool washing with bicarb or soda crystals slows the greying and yellowing. Once fibres are UV-damaged and permanently yellow despite proper whitening, the nets have reached the end of their life and are best replaced.

Do soda crystals whiten net curtains?

Yes — soda crystals are one of the best UK whitening options. Dissolve a cup in warm water, soak the nets for a few hours to lift ingrained grime and grease, then wash cool and gentle. They’re slightly stronger than bicarbonate of soda on stubborn discolouration, cheap, and safe for synthetic nets, making them a popular choice for reviving grey nets.