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.

I’ve got a daschund that likes to cock it’s leg against a curtain so I can confirm
about a 75% success rate on washing without shrinkage to date.

I’ve got thick, heavy, long Dunelm curtains in our living room and they say dry clean only. I put them on a gentle cycle and low spin speed in the summer then put them back up to dry. They came out lovely. My machine is an 11kg one though and I did one curtain at a time.

Wash but don’t tumble dry!

Ooh, that’s promising!

Oh, the dreaded "hoover" word. Why am I not surprised that people don't wash their curtains, after reading people don't clean their windows or car.. and dog wees on them! I change my living room curtains, usually when the clocks go back, I have lightweight light coloured ones in the warmer months, change to floor length wool mix in winter. They get washed before going in vacuum bags, and up in the loft.I kept the walls white so I can quickly change the look. They're all marked dry clean only. I think they do that to safeguard themselves.

The Dry Cleaners charge a ridiculous price for dry cleaning curtains (£90 for my two pairs in the living room!). I bought myself a fabric steamer from Amazon - works a treat!

£90 for two pairs and people wonder why others don't wash them.

I have 3 pairs up in my living room. The cost of getting them professionally cleaned or having to replace them is wild.

I wouldn't. They might shrink unevenly.

I bought some from a second-hand curtain shop (yes, there used to be one here!) and the woman told me that curtains should never need washing! Just shake out the dust outside every five years now and then!

No, I've only washed one pair in my life and only because we had damp in the walls in that particular room, which put mould onto the curtains.

As a non-smoking household, it will never be necessary to do it again.

They get grimy anyway. If they're in an open plan area that includes a kitchen they'll be grimy. @AgentPidge .

Could you wash them on cold?

You should line dry though so you might have missed the weather a bit.

An update: success! Washed them on a delicate wash with a 400 spin, and they have come out lovely. No shrinkage or anything. Hurrah!

If they are lined with cotton or are all cotton I wouldn’t, the lining may shrink and they will be wonky

See my update above…

They are polyester.