I can't speak to your Ikea faux linen drapes specifically, but my current living room and office drapes are faux linen. i always use a handheld steamer on my drapes to help "train" them how to hang (and de-wrinkle from packaging) and have never had an issue. I'd try that next. and I'd try it first on the one you already shrunk since youll need to replace it anyways,

That's what I had planned to do. ;) I am going to steam them in the garage using PVC pipe over the garage door rails and use the clip hangars (for pants) to hold the curtains. If needed, ill use a ladder to get the very tops. My DH said he will keep watch.

Why not just hang them and then steam them?

Also, ironing won't (in my experience with other linen things) create wrinkles.

Because if I cannot get the creases and wrinkles out of this one panel, and without shrinking, the rest are going back. I don't want to hang them all and then have to take down. Plus, I don't want the mess of having steam water all over my bedroom.

My last resort will be ironing. Ugh! I know that they will not wrinkle with ironing. I was just worried about shrinkage there. ;)

I would think as long as you use a dry iron they wouldn't shrink (that's if you end up deciding to iron them. :D)

Bunny - That's a lot of work. I am trying to avoid all that. But I did contemplate buying the 118" and hemming them with tape in case the 98" were not long enough. I never did plan to wash them. I had read a couple of reviews where that takes some of the stiffness out of the panels and they don't hang as well. I had also read a review where a user popped the panels in the dryer with a wet rag and they came out beautifully. Obviously that did not happen for me. :( Did you iron all of yours after hemming?

The curtains are to brighten the bedroom up for a future resale. I didn't see the need to wash. We don't have cats, and do not close the curtains. They may get a little dusty, but we will be long gone by then. Or if we decide to take the curtains with us, I can shake them out. And then I will have to get the wrinkle out again.

I started the steaming in the garage this morning. Worked out a neat hanging system. However, I have a stinky, large model, handheld steamer. I have to be careful not to burn my hands. I wish it had a long wand. With some work, the wrinkles and creases are coming out...slowly.

I had read another review where someone sprayed cold water all over the hanging panels with a water bottle and the wrinkles came out from the weight. I am trying that on a couple of sections. Also sprayed one area with fabric wrinkle release. But the chemicals will kill me if I keep that up! So far, nothing is drying because it is a cool and damp day out. I think if it were warmer, and the sun was out, I could see quicker results. Anyway, the good news is that I have regained 2" so far in the length. That's enough to blend in with the other curtain panels. I will have two sets on two larger window openings, and a set each on either side of the bed that will be mostly hidden by bedside tables and bed post.

msmeow - With 100% cotton, I am afraid a dry iron would not make a dent. I may be wrong. I'd love to protect my dining room table and have it a make-shift ironing board.

nhb22, it really wasn't a lot of work at all, and this from someone whose sewing ability is pretty much limited to sewing a straight seam.

If you want to be able to wash your curtains at some point (people with pets will usually find that needs to happen sooner than later), you don't want to lose inches in length. Washing the panels was as easy as washing sheets. BTW, no ironing was necessary afterwards; gravity takes care of that. Remeasure the now-pre-shrunk panels and proceed.

Getting the curtain rod level without another set of eyes or hands was far more work than getting the panels the right length.

I know what your mean! I remember hanging those rods about 8 years ago. I did not want to have to do that again! As I said, we will be selling within the next year...2 at the most. If I leave the curtains, I'll be sure to tell the new owner that they will shrink. She/he will most likely repaint and can lower the rod! ;)

Just checked the curtain panel and all looks good. Going to Lowe's and buying a cheap lawn sprayer and then forge on in a couple of weeks after we return from a beach trip. I also purchased new bedding. I'll post Before and Afters of my bedroom on another thread when I am finished.

Why not take them to the cleaners and have them pressed?

Get the iron out. It will not shrink your curtains. You could have been done in a couple hours without ladders and potential burns.

Haha! I despise ironing! That darn cord, skinny ironing board, adjusting the fabric after each section is ironed, the heat. UGH! I don't have time to stand over the ironing board. Especially today. I helped my daughter and fiance' demo their kitchen. Lot's of fun!

Actually, hanging each curtain panel takes 5 seconds. The sprayer method has worked out great! The weight of the wet fabric, combined with a bit of steam on the bottom creases has done the trick. I spray, steam, and go. Took 5 minutes each panel. They are drying quicker today as the sun is out.

Hey Bunny - I washed mine and they’re now the perfect length, but I find the fabric now looks slightly wrinkled and the edges aren’t as flat. How did you get them back to looking the same as they did pre-wash? Iron?

If steaming the curtains does not work ok, the ironing with starch and steam would not cause any additional shrinkage, based on my sewing experience