Fire-Retardant Treatment for Bed Linen and Curtains
A simple alum solution treatment to make bed linens and curtains flame-resistant. This historical fire safety method was especially recommended for children's rooms and sick chambers.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce Alum (potassium aluminum sulfate) (Available at pharmacies or in the spice section of grocery stores)
- 1 gallon Water for final rinse (Adjust quantity based on amount of fabric being treated)
- 1 batch Bed linen or curtains, clean (Freshly washed and ready for final rinse)
Instructions
- 1Dissolve 1 ounce of alum in a gallon of water (or proportionally more for larger batches). Stir until the alum is completely dissolved.
- 2After washing your bed linen or curtains as usual, immerse them in the alum solution as the final rinse. Ensure all fabric is thoroughly saturated with the solution.
- 3Gently wring out the excess alum solution from the fabric. Do not rinse with plain water afterward, as this would remove the fire-retardant treatment.
- 4Hang the fabric to air dry or dry in a dryer on low heat. Once dry, the fabric will be flame-resistant and will take fire very slowly, if at all.
