Dry Cleaning Curtains

stargirl73

Probably not the right place to post this - but I know some of you wonderful Ol' Stylee types will probably know answer in a flash!

I've been donated a lovely pair of curtains, for no good reason, by my neighbour. Whilst I really like them - the smell of cigarette smoke bothers me, being a non-smoker.

If I'd got them from a charity shop or whatever - I would bung em in the washing machine on a delicates cycle even though the label says dry clean only and suffer the consequences.

But if I do that with these and it ruins them, my neighbour would wonder what had happened to them and would be mortified if I said they smelled of smoke as she is such a house proud lady.

So I figure I'll take them to the dry cleaners - a place I've never been in my life so should be quite exciting, no?!

But I have this preconception in my head that dry cleaning costs a fortune and is only for the most well off - like the queen.

But what should I expect to pay for a pair of curtains to be cleaned? It's probably a fairly arbitrary question as I'm sure size will matter, but just as a really rough guide.

Thanking you all in advance

whatatwit

Some dry cleaners work on a square footage price others go by weight....so, maybe have a ring round and ask your local cleaners how they price them.

Have a measure and maybe try hopping onto your bathroom scales whilst holding the curtains to calculate both weight and size.

Crazychik

Good idea what a twit -

I was given a lovely pair of heavy duty (dry clean only curtains) from MIL. They was wide so, I managed to find a friend with a good sewing machine, who cut them in half & made 2 pairs for me (as I have 2 windows) it worked out really well. Any how, after paying her for her time etc, I too couldn't afford the dry cleaners (never thought about ringing around- like OP I too think they are for the highly paid/well off folk) so I risked putting them in the wash on a cool wash, and they turned out brilliantly.

Is it worth asking your neighbour, if she ever washed them herself! I changed my curtains twice a yr, sadly MIL never does this, and these curtains was up for 4yrs before I washed them! Have you tried steaming them with an iron and then fabreze them?

If it was me, I would risk the low wash!

tanith

I really wouldn't risk it... I did this with a beautiful pair of cream curtains in my bedroom , thought they were a cotton mix when it clearly said Dry Clean only.... well they came out like old dishcloths so creased and no matter what I tried those creases were for life.... I had to put them back up as I had no others and they looked awful ... eventually had to replace... so if it says Dry Clean then I really wouldn't risk it...

stargirl73

Thanks for your replies - I have ruined things before in the washing machine cos I'm so tight I won't pay for dry cleaning!

The description of old dishrags was rather accurate!

The curtains are actually new but they've been stored in her cupboard for godknowshowmanyyears and as they're fairly heavy smokers it has permeated everything.

If they go on weight, I may shorten them as they're too long anyway - and then that might save me a few ?pennies ?pounds!

Thanks again

welsh_worrier

I put a pair of fairly expensive curtains into dry cleaners.I had to sign a peice of paper accepting that they could possibly shrink and they would not take responsibility if it happened.Guess what,yes they shrunk and i had lengthen them.Now I only machine wash on delicate. :mad:

tanith

Had you considered the laundrette? One near us has a huge drycleaning machine and I don't think its that expensive.. might be worth having a look around your area.... usually the laundrette attendant will help you with weight etc........

Churchmouse

tanith wrote: »

Had you considered the laundrette? One near us has a huge drycleaning machine and I don't think its that expensive.. might be worth having a look around your area.... usually the laundrette attendant will help you with weight etc........

Just reading this thread, this was exactly what I was going to suggest:D

Haven't used one of these machines for years, but they used to be way cheaper than paying for individual items at the dry cleaners.

Whatever, if you decide to dry clean or wash, I'd do it before you shorten the curtains, you know what will happen otherwise:rotfl:

champys

my mother has always washed all curtains very carefully - in the bath. she had no other transport than her bicycle, and taking them to the cleaners was too cumbersome. i do the same now, unless the fabric looks robust enough to withstand the washing machine.