How to Store Curtains and Drapes Without Creasing Them
Store curtains rolled, not folded, in a breathable cotton bag, somewhere dry and dark. Folding presses permanent creases into lined and heavy fabrics; plastic bins trap moisture and cause mildew; sunlight fades a stored panel just as fast as a hung one. Wash or dry-clean them first. Storing a curtain with body oils and dust in it is what attracts moths and sets stains.
What is the right way to store curtains long term?
Three practical methods, in order of how well they protect the fabric.
| Method | Best for | Creases? |
|---|---|---|
| Hang on a spare rod or in a closet | Lined drapes, velvet, anything heavy | None |
| Roll around a cardboard tube, cover in cotton | Sheers, voile, printed panels | Minimal |
| Fold loosely along existing pleats | Light cotton, short café curtains | Some, drop out when rehung |
If you fold, fold along the lines the fabric already has from hanging rather than making new ones, and refold every few months so the same crease is not held for a year.
What should curtains be stored in?
Cotton or canvas. Never plastic. A sealed plastic bin holds whatever humidity was in the room when you closed it, and fabric stored damp in the dark mildews. A cotton bag or an old pillowcase lets the fabric breathe while keeping dust off.
Add a cedar block rather than mothballs if you are storing wool or wool-blend drapes. Label the bag with the room, the panel size and the number of panels. The reason people never rehang stored curtains is that they cannot remember what fits where.
How do I get creases out when I rehang them?
Hang them first and let gravity do most of the work for 48 hours. Most creases in polyester and cotton blends drop out on their own. Only steam what is left.
Steam rather than iron, and work from the back of the fabric. A direct hot iron on polyester sheers will glaze them, and the shine does not come out. For lined drapes, steam the lining side.
Where do you store curtains if you have no closet space?
Use the rod you already own. A spare tension rod inside a closet, mounted above the existing clothes rail, holds a full set of drapes flat and takes up space that was empty anyway.
An adjustable 16–23 in. tension rod set ($29.99 for two) fits inside most closets with no tools and no drilling. For longer spans, our café and sash rods adjust from 12 in. up to 32 in. and start at $13.99.
Do I need to take curtains down at all?
Often not. A tieback solves the seasonal problem without storage. Most people take panels down because they want more light in spring, not because the panels need to be put away. Holding them open permanently costs less than storing them and there is nothing to unfold in autumn.
Options, all under $30:
- Magnetic tiebacks: no installation at all, they clip around the fabric and hold with a magnet. The Water Lily resin tieback is $15.99, and the set of 2 wooden heart magnetic tiebacks is $26.99. Best for sheers and lightweight panels.
- Flexible tiebacks with wooden tips: the Intense Black faux-leather tieback ($16.99) bends around a heavy drape and holds without a wall hook.
- Rope and braided tiebacks: jute rope holdback ($15.99) or 19 in. braided tieback with a magnetic closure ($23.99).
- Adhesive wall hooks: leaf-design adhesive holdbacks, set of 2 ($10.99), for when you want the drape pulled fully to the wall and cannot drill.
- Decorative metal clips: the Helios sun clip set ($15.99) or whitewash leaf tiebacks ($13.99).
Full range in curtain tiebacks and magnets: 117 in stock, from $10.99.
What should I do with the rod and hardware?
Tape the brackets, screws and finials to the rod itself. The rod is easy to store and impossible to reinstall without the small parts, which are the things that get lost.
If you are taking a rod down for good, the wall holes are worth patching before you forget the height. Write the bracket height on the back of the baseboard in pencil. It takes ten seconds and saves measuring next time.
Common questions
Should curtains be washed before storing? Yes. Dust, cooking residue and body oils set into fabric over months and attract insects. Check the care label. Many lined drapes are dry clean only, and washing the face fabric shrinks it differently from the lining.
How long can curtains stay in storage? A year or two is fine if they are clean, dry, in cotton and out of sunlight. Beyond that, take them out, shake them, and refold along different lines.
Can I vacuum-bag curtains to save space? Not for anything lined or heavy. Vacuum compression crushes pleats and lining into creases that never fully recover. It is acceptable for lightweight cotton panels you do not mind steaming.
What about the draft the curtains were covering? If you take winter drapes down and the window feels cold at floor level, a 32 in. draft stopper ($21.99) handles the gap under a door or a sash without rehanging anything.
