AIBU for washing my Hillarys vertical blinds?

[Thump]

They came out of the machine in a ball of string where the thread on the sides of the slats just unravelled. I could cry.
They were bloody expensive to buy.
Does anyone know if you can buy the vertical slats from a cheaper company as I really can't afford Hillarys prices.

I'm such a dope.

I've made the hedgehog in the washer before. It's cheap to replace.
You have to put them in the bath with stardrops as my pal does and soak them.
Or just ditch blinds, anything that can't survive a machine wash is a boring chore.

I bought mine on eBay. Measured the window and sent the measurements off. £55 inc delivery for all the windows in the living room.