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Short answer
Kitchens and bathrooms are hard on curtains: grease, steam and humidity. Choose washable polyester, keep curtains short (sill length or a cafe curtain) and well away from the hob, and wash them often. In bathrooms, a polyester sheer or dimout gives privacy and dries quickly; air the room to prevent mould. Where a window sits behind a sink or cooker, or gets splashed, a blind is usually more practical.
What these rooms do to fabric
| Room | Problem | What helps |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen | Grease and cooking smells settle on fabric | Washable polyester; wash every few months |
| Kitchen | Heat and flame near the hob | Short curtains, kept well away from the cooker |
| Bathroom | Steam and constant humidity | Polyester that absorbs little water and dries fast |
| Both | Mould where fabric stays damp | Air the room, wipe condensation, keep fabric off wet glass |
Kitchen curtains
- Length: sill length, about 1 cm above the sill, or a cafe curtain covering just the lower half for privacy with light above.
- Fabric: washable polyester sheers and dimouts; avoid velvet and linen, which hold grease and smells.
- Colour: mid-tones and small patterns hide marks; very pale plains show splashes.
- Heading: simple and easy to take down for washing, such as eyelet on a pole or a cafe rod.
Watch out
Never hang curtains where they can blow onto a hob, cooker or toaster. Keep fabric well clear of any flame or hot surface.
Bathroom curtains
- Privacy: a dimout gives privacy day and night; a sheer only by day.
- Fabric: 100% polyester resists humidity and dries fast. Avoid cotton and linen, which absorb moisture and can grow mildew.
- Length: sill length, so the hem stays out of splashes.
- Airflow: open the window or run the fan after showers so the curtain dries.
A window inside or next to the shower needs a waterproof blind, not a fabric curtain.
Washing and care
Wash kitchen curtains every few months, and bathroom curtains whenever they smell musty. Most polyester sheers and dimouts can be machine-washed cool on a gentle cycle if the label allows. See How to Wash Curtains and Mouldy Curtains.
When a blind is better
Over a sink, behind a cooker, next to a shower, or where the window is often splashed, a roller or wipe-clean blind is usually more practical than fabric curtains. Many homes use a blind for function and a short curtain or valance for softness. See Curtains vs Blinds.
Frequently asked questions
What curtains are best for a kitchen?
Short, washable polyester curtains, sill length or cafe style, kept well away from the hob. Over a sink or cooker, a blind is usually more practical.
What fabric is best for bathroom curtains?
100% polyester, which absorbs little water and dries quickly. Choose a dimout for privacy at night.
What is a cafe curtain?
A short curtain covering only the lower half of a window, giving privacy while letting light in above. It suits kitchens and bathrooms.
How do I stop bathroom curtains going mouldy?
Choose polyester, open the window or run the fan after showers, wipe condensation from the glass, and wash the curtain when it smells musty.
How often should kitchen curtains be washed?
Every few months, or more often near the cooker, because grease and smells build up in the fabric.
Curtain maker, upholsterer or designer?
Specifications are public on every collection page. JOTEX dealers can log in for live stock and pricing, and our team can send samples or open a dealer account.