Retractible pleated curtains

[efstewart]

My pleated curtains are getting old, and when I retract them, the motor works fine, but as the curtains fold back, many of the folds push outward and don't compress easily. Therefore I have to manually fold them in at the end.

I would like to keep them for a while, as I want to keep things original as much as possible. I think that I will eventually have to replace them.

Are these things washable and able to take an iron, so that they can be re creased?

What do you recommend for replacements?

[Winemaker2]

I went looking as I had these on a previous MH and liked them. A few yrs ago I was able to find plenty of sources when considering them for a boat we had purchased. Never pulled the trigger and decided to live with the wood blinds on the boat and just repaired them where needed.
I was indeed surprised when I could not find anything available except soft material replacements.
Here is one reply from another forum that may be of help. I'd say if in doubt testing a small area probably best. Mine were extra long and I often thought about cutting them back and eliminating the worn area and the leading edege / center of the windshield. Hope it helps.

"I have a Dutch Star with the pleated front shades and we cleaned our about 4 times befor replacing them this week. I used a solution of OxyClean water in the bathtub. I let them soak for a couple of hours during which I ocassionally swished them around. Then I rinsed them and washed again with Woolite. Rinsed and them soaked them with laundry starch to restiffen them. Compressed them to the folded state and tied them so they had to dry that way. Hung them up and let dry for a few days. Then rehung in MH."

[deandec]

Our pleated fabric windshield drapes have been washed many times over their 25 years.

But, they have never learned to move by just having their button pushed.

And yes, some of the pleats eventually go the wrong way when opened. Mostly due, I think, to how they are hung on the carrier.

However, the pictures seem to show that the drapes are lined. Ours are not.