Dry cleaners shrank curtains

May2

I took a pair of curtains to the cleaners. They warned me they could shrink up to 1 1/2 inches but might not shrink at all. They have shrunk 6 3/4 in ,/17 cm. The curtains match another pair on the other window in the same room and were bought and made by Laura Ashley that also blend/match with the Laura Ashley wallpaper in the room. Laura Ashley no longer exist but used to sell ranges of curtains and wallpapers to go together. 

They are 11 years old and I have receipt showing length and price paid which was £521 . Together with the pair on the other window they were £871. The cleaners have taken the curtains back and are putting them on their 'stretching' machine. I can't see they are going to get them 17cm longer again. I paid £140 for the cleaning. I have read that I should be able to ask for compensation. They were in excellent condition but obviously 11 years old so what should I expect to receive given that if I have to replace these curtains they are part of a set for both window . The fabric is no longer available so to get replacements for both of similar quality it will be something around £1000.

The company I took them to are independent and are called Dry Cleaners but actually use Electrolux Advanced Care system which is a wet cleaning method but says online suitable for the most delicate fabrics including those that sau Dry Clean Only. They have used this system for many years without problems.

comeandgo

11 year old curtains, it’s what they are worth now or before the were shrunk, not replacement value so £50?  

Grumpy_chap

May2 said:

I took a pair of curtains to the cleaners. They warned me they could shrink up to 1 1/2 inches but might not shrink at all. They have shrunk 6 3/4 in ,/17 cm. The curtains match another pair on the other window in the same room and were bought and made by Laura Ashley that also blend/match with the Laura Ashley wallpaper in the room. Laura Ashley no longer exist but used to sell ranges of curtains and wallpapers to go together. 

They are 11 years old and I have receipt showing length and price paid which was £521 . Together with the pair on the other window they were £871. The cleaners have taken the curtains back and are putting them on their 'stretching' machine. I can't see they are going to get them 17cm longer again. I paid £140 for the cleaning. I have read that I should be able to ask for compensation. They were in excellent condition but obviously 11 years old so what should I expect to receive given that if I have to replace these curtains they are part of a set for both window . The fabric is no longer available so to get replacements for both of similar quality it will be something around £1000.

The company I took them to are independent and are called Dry Cleaners but actually use Electrolux Advanced Care system which is a wet cleaning method but says online suitable for the most delicate fabrics including those that sau Dry Clean Only. They have used this system for many years without problems.

Any compensation would be for the curtains that were damaged only - nothing for the other matching pair that were not cleaned / damaged.

Compensation would be based upon the expected life span of a pair of curtain and the remaining life that has been lost.  The value of the original curtains is then typically considered on a straight line over the whole life-span.

The trouble here is that the curtains are 11 years old.  What is the "life expectancy" of a pair of curtains?  You would probably not laugh if someone said 10 years.  That would leave the value at £NIL.
If you don't pay for the cleaning and receive any notional amount, that is probably as good as it will get.

Loanranger21

Next sell Laura Ashley furnishings curtains clothes etc. You might try EBay too. 

PHK

Because of the UV in sunlight, curtains can last as little as 5 years. A pair of lined curtains with a heavy fabric will last longer because you can have the linings replaced. Laura Ashley had a tendency for style over substance. Simply because you'd expect to update your decor every few years.  

So I would say eight to  ten years would be the maximum.  So, they are already beyond the point most people would have changed them. 

Personally, I would accept their offer of using the stretching machine and if that doesn't work perhaps they could offer a partial refund of the cleaning. 

Aylesbury_Duck

I agree with others.  Your best bet is to ask nicely for a gesture of goodwill, and use whatever sum they refund/give you towards buying a second-hand matching set on eBay or similar, if you can find one.  You're not entitled to the cost of replacing them, the matching pair and new wallpaper.

DullGreyGuy

Surprised you didnt get both curtains cleaned at the same time... cleaning can not only cause shrinkage but also colour changes, if nothing else from it removing 11 years of atmospheric pollution. At least by getting the matching set cleaned they are likely to remain matching post cleaning even if the cleaning does cause a problem. 

At most compensation would be whatever a 11 year old pair of curtains would sell for, in principle less whatever you can sell the shrunk ones for. Assuming they have shrunk evenly then it could well be £0 as the too short for your window could be perfect for someone else's window and at 11 years old an extra 17cm length makes no cost difference. 

IvanOpinion

Is there any scope let the hems down on the shrunk curtains and/or pull the hems up on the other curtains?