Would you machine-wash ‘dry clean only’ curtains?

[BellissimoGecko]

Polyester curtains and lining. Worth risking it?

I’ll pop them on a delicate cool wash.

There's only one way to find out...

Yes I’d definitely put them in the washer, I’d also be mad a myself after when they are ruined. I’d definitely give it a go though

Depends how expensive they are.

I've accidentally machine washed loads of dry clean only items over the years and only a couple of times has it not turned out okay.

Only if they're too long, too wide and you really wanted faded as though they've been there for 50 years cafe style curtains that don't meet in the middle.

Yes, DP, I am side eyeing you as I type...

Hmm, mixed opinions!! They are cheap ish ones from Dunelm, but I like them a lot.

I’d deffo give it a go on the hand wash cycle. I’m very gung ho about all things laundry though. My husband would have them at the dry cleaners as he’s very risk averse!

I did it before we moved house when I wasn’t too bothered if anything bad happened. They came out absolutely fine. I did the first pair on a low temperature delicates cycle, but after that just shoved the rest in a normal 30 wash and they came out exactly the same.

Mine were cheap ones from Dunelm, like yours.

I washed john lewis floor to ceiling curtains in the machine. The outer was cotton, and the lining and trim was synthetic. I did one curtain at a time on a 30 degree wash, and they were absolutely fine. They're hanging in the spare room as we speak.

I machine wash everything.

Years ago when I bought my first house I machine washed some curtains as they were lovely but needed a freshen up (can't remember if they were in the house when I moved in or I was given them).
Result was some lovely clean curtains which were a few inches shorter than the sewn-in lining................😖

I did. They were fine.

No. I did this once and the curtains shrank but the lining didn't, so they looked ridiculous afterwards.

We’ve got a thermal dunelm door curtain that I chuck in on a wool wash every now and again, does it no harm. Stick to a low temp and low spin

😂
(You have my sympathies. My first 3 months living with DH were painful. After he shrank a second load of my good work clothes on a hot wash despite me talking him through laundry stuff I insisted he replace them like for like.)

And now for my response to the question: it depends whether you can afford to replace them if it goes wrong.

I would.

Done this lots of times,no issues. The only thing I did find once,it was a white bomber jacket, I got pood on by a bird,I washed the jacket, THEN I had it dry cleaned THEN it shrank.

Please don't. You risk ra-ra curtains, the outer material scooped up and tucked under when the lining shrinks disproportionately.

I have washed ones that are all polyester with good results, polyester doesn't generally shrink. The ones that haven't been a success are generally different materials for linings and curtains and the curtains have shrunk but not the linings.

I wouldn't. I tried it once, and the linings shrunk. A lot. Luckily the curtains weren't expensive.

Cool wash but don't tumble dry. I still use mine but on a smaller window in a different room.

Don't do cotton ones. They shrink.
(No points for guessing how I know)

I tried, cool wash, low spin…they shrank. Mine were cotton.

Yes, it's absolutely fine to wash them. "Dry clean" isn't dry cleaning, the "dry cleaners" will launder them too!

It costs so much to have them dry cleaned that unless they are really expensive made to measure ones I always try a gentle wash and hope for the best.