Curtains - Dry clean or wash them myself?

ageandjo

My front room curtains could do with a wash being cream they start to look yellowy! I called the dry cleaners and they will charge £65 to dry clean them :eek: I was amazed as you can buy a new pair for that. Is there any way I can wash them? The tag does say dry clean only, there not lined but they are quite thick cotton I think.

fizzel81

mine stated the same, i have a delicate programe on my washing machine, i used that with a small amount of soap powder and they came out fine (minor creasing which soon dropped out)

frugalfairy_3

If they're thick cotton they may shrink if you wash them. If they have large hems on and you're prepared to let them down if necessary, I would wash them either in the bath with cool water, or on a gentle wash as fizzel81 suggests.

Good luck. FF

KraftyKate_2

Can't you get something from the supermarket to "dry clean" things at home in your tumble dryer? I remember doing it a couple of years ago with delicate clothes. Depends on the size of your curtains tho'. I washed some curtains and they shrunk but the lining didn't, making them look kind of interesting.........
It's a nice day today, how about giving them a good beating on the washing line and leaving the sun to do the rest??
Good luck!!

nuttyrockeress

You could take them to the launderette. Most of them have a dry cleaning machine that the public can use for a fraction of the price!

pol

Sometimes they will say dry clean only if they are quite heavy fabric and unsuitable when wet for a domestic machine, or if they will be very difficult to iron.
Depending on the size of them I would try washing in the machine one at a time on a delicate wash.

Isn't it crazy that you can buy something new, cheaper than you can have it cleaned for?
pol

laughing_cow

My living room curtains are looking a bit grubby but I'm trying to rein in my dry cleaning spending. The label says 'Dry Clean Only' but they are 100% cotton (unlined, quite heavy cotton), so they're not a 'special' fabric - would I be able to chuck them in the washing machine?

Ta.

cattie

I've washed heavy double lined curtains that came with drycleaning advice in the washing machine in the past, so should think yours would be ok in the washing machine too. Use a low temperature & only a token spin to be on the safe side.

hardpressed

Cotton curtains can shrink so be warned.

laughing_cow

Thank you - will give it a go. Not too worried about them shrinking - they're too long anyway and I've never got round to having them shortened :rolleyes:

emilyt

cattie wrote:

I've washed heavy double lined curtains that came with drycleaning advice in the washing machine in the past, so should think yours would be ok in the washing machine too. Use a low temperature & only a token spin to be on the safe side.

Yes i agree i washed my curtains that were 100% cotton. Put them on a wool wash and they came out fine. It wasn't worth having them dry cleaned as i could have bought some new ones for the same price. Hope they come out ok for you.