Curtains - Dry clean or wash them myself?

slash69

years ago i had two sofas with removable covers they were dry cleaning only one day when hanging out washing dd got hold of a bottle of cooking oil (shouldnt have left it on worktop) she spilt it all over one of my sofas:eek: i cried buckets then rang sil who said bung em in the washing machine on a wool wash. so i did they came out perfectly clean and with no shrinkage or damage :Tand everytime they got grubby after that i just washed them i must have saved a fortune on dry cleaning.personally i think i'd risk the washing machine on a wool wash

maypole

I have 3 windows in my sitting room, so 3 pairs of curtains, all dry clean, they were quite expensive so I have no intention of washing and they will cost a fortune to dry clean. I do hoover them once in a while. They are nowhere near any grease or grime but they will get dusty probably, so I plan to just hang them on the washing line in the summer and give them a beating and airing.;) Maybe once in a blue moon I will send them to the dry cleaners.

I usually like washable curtains but these were the only ones that would go with my furniture!

lil_me

Way I see it, £40 at dry cleaners would buy a new pair if I had them cleaned, if I wash them (one pair) and something happened (which I haven't had a problem yet) I'll just get a new pair with the money I'd saved on not getting them dry cleaned :rotfl:

fishing-girl

i have some m&s curtains with a bonded blackout lining (dry clean only) i have washed these about 4 times over the last few years.
the only problem is that the bonded lining is starting to look a bit patchy in places.
i washed them on a hand wash cycle and tumble dryed,

i have to say that i didnt realise that they were dry clean only when i first washed them, it was only when i was ironing them to put back up that i read the care label .

DanceInThe_Dark

I've machine washed dry clean curtains with mixed results.....
Some came out fantastic and others came out like dish rags. However, with a good iron and hanging in a dampish room the creases came out and they were good as new.
Worst case was when a pair of patio curtains lost two inches but as they were a bit long originally it wasn't a problem. Now I don't cut curtains shorter just do a big hem just in case.

I'd wash on a wool cycle and line dry - but then I've had problems with stuff coming back from the dry cleaners non-too-clean - and think it is worth the risk.

Poggie123

OK I think i'll give them a good hoover and if they really need it i'll be brave and wash one set on a cool wool wash and hang them on the line. I'll do the back ones so if they shrink it won't be too drastic. I don't want to pay the dry cleaning if I can help it, especially as the results don't sound great!

Thank you for all your help

Nicifer_noonoo

You could always hang them over a bath filled with hot water to freshen them up

DrFluffy

How much did they cost and what would you have to pay now to replace them? If they were cheap, wash em - nothing to lose... If not, play it safe and get em dry cleaned...

Clutterfree

I washed some a few years ago and they shrank by about 3 inches, only trouble was, the lining didn't shrink so was longer than the curtains!
I was only washing them to sell so it wasn't a problem.

kippers

I need the help of you wonderful oldstylers ......i normally wash anything that says 'dry clean only' in my washing machine (as the things i wash aren't expensive, usually my husbands work trousers. However, i need to clean my curtains as they have been up for ages without a clean.

I bought them five years ago (i know thats disgusting not washing them for five years but i really never gave them another thought). I got them for £30 in a sale, down from £160...what a bargain!

Anyway, should i actually take them to the dry cleaners as the label says or risk washing them at 40 degrees in my washing machine....i need your advice.

The label states they are:70% cotton, 30% polyester and the lining is 50/50 polyester/cotton

What do you all think?