Curtains falling off the track?
Heavy curtains that keep coming off usually have one of four faults. Worn gliders, usually the first part to fail, are a quick fix for an installer.
Worn or broken gliders
What you see: Snapped gliders on the floor or in the hem, a hard pull, or the curtain hanging unevenly.
What fixes it: Plastic gliders go brittle in the sun. New gliders are the usual, cheap fix.
A track too light for the curtain
What you see: The track bends, or the gliders pull out of it when the curtain is drawn.
What fixes it: Plastic bendable tracks are sold for between 10 and 13.6 kg, and lined curtains across a 6 m door can weigh about 15 kg. A heavier track, with gliders on rollers.
Too few brackets, or loose fixings
What you see: The track sags between brackets, or a bracket is pulling out of the wall or ceiling.
What fixes it: More brackets, closer together for heavy curtains, fixed into the joists or the wall, not plasterboard alone.
Gliders or hooks that don't fit
What you see: Gliders that stick or jump out, or hooks that open under the weight.
What fixes it: Gliders made for that track's shape, and metal hooks for blockout or double curtains.
Washing them first?
Many blockout curtains have a coating that isn't made for a washing machine. Hand wash or dry-clean them as the label says.
Curtains can shrink a little when cleaned, and the lining may then hang below the hem. Ask your installer before re-hanging them.