Cleaning Chintz Curtains

suziewuzie

Hi. I have a pair of very long wide chintz curtains with pelmet - Laura Ashley fabric - that I want to clean. However I will not be hanging them again - may be selling them or storing. Don't want to take them to a specialist cleaner - sounds expensive. Should I risk trying a coolish wash in a big machine at the launderette? Don't want to ruin them - they are nice, honest even though chintz is not as popular as it once was thanks to Swedish flat pack importer! :rolleyes: Anyone any experience of cleaning any? All tips gratefully received.

comping_cat

Are they lined? the problem with lined curtains is that the fabrics are different, and shrink at varying rates, so a specialist might be your best option, especially if you are thinking of selling them. If you do decide to wash them yourself, use your bath, unless you go somewhere with a very big washer, big, heavy curtains can damage your WM!!!!
Also, is the chintz a glazed fabric? as washing in a washing machine can damage the glaze!!!!

MATH

Washing will remove the glaze/sheen from chintz and you end up with what looks like plain cotton curtains. If you don't mind that I would wash them on a coll cycle with minimum or no spin and drip dry.