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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wash my dry-clean only curtains?

27 replies

itsawildwildworld · 01/09/2023 16:31

Have an old pair of curtains, dont know what fabric, but think upholstery type fabric. Not velvet or silk or anything fancy. They are lined. Would I be unreasonable to take them to the launderette and give them a wash/dry? Professional dry cleaning prices seem to suggest it might otherwise be cheaper to buy new curtains...

OP posts:
amylou8 · 01/09/2023 16:34

I sell vintage clothing, and there's not much that can't be machine washed on a wool cycle at 30.

FooFighter99 · 01/09/2023 16:35

I'd risk it, what's the worst that can happen

Just choose a gentle cycle

Pfpppl · 01/09/2023 16:37

I did this once. The curtains shrank, the linings didn't!

DelilahBucket · 01/09/2023 16:37

Having had someone try and return a pair of dry clean only curtains to me after they had machine washed and ruined them, I would say proceed with extreme caution. Cool, handwash, yes, but even at 30 degrees, if you shrink the outer fabric and not the lining, or you have any bleaching agent in your washing powder, they will be wrecked.

GeraldTheGoodMouse · 01/09/2023 16:37

Very gentle cycle and use a non-bio detergent.

Ambleen · 01/09/2023 16:50

Like a previous poster, the curtains and linings shrank at different levels so they were ruined. Washed at 30 Deg

aloris · 01/09/2023 16:57

I have washed one "dry clean only" thing and as someone said above, the outer fabric shrank, and the lining did not. The result was that the item did not fit any more. Also, the outer fabric shrank in an asymmetric way so that it couldn't be hemmed and ironed. So, if they are cheap curtains that you could easily replace if they were ruined by hand washing, then, that is one thing. But if they are expensive curtains that you wouldn't be able to replace, then probably just spring for the dry cleaning. I would also say, if you decide to hand wash them, then don't dry them in a machine. Let them drip dry. Less likely to get weird shrinkage that way.

DuesToTheDirt · 01/09/2023 17:00

I've had shrinking curtains too.

MillWood85 · 01/09/2023 17:04

If the label says dry clean, then the fabric is dry clean only.

I work with fabrics (soft furnishings) and would be very wealthy if I had a £1 coin for everytime someone comes in moaning about shrinking their sofa cushions/curtains Hmm the fabrics are extensively tested before care labels are issued.

MintJulia · 01/09/2023 17:18

A lot of 'upholstery' polyester shrinks.

What's the difference in price between having to buy new ones and dry cleaning?

Anotherparkingthread · 01/09/2023 17:44

I've washed mine lots of times and nothing bad has ever happened. Also upholstery fabric.

Original poster
itsawildwildworld · 01/09/2023 19:14

Well, they are over twenty years old, but the quotes for dry cleaning are in the £200 quid range, which is not doable at the moment. It's just one pair. Think I am going to chance it in the launderette, taking all your advice about gentle cycle and no bleaching agents. Will report back as to what happens!

OP posts:
Nopenopenopenopenopenope · 01/09/2023 19:39

Depends how much you care about them. They might be fine or they might fall apart. I've had both outcomes!

Nopenopenopenopenopenope · 01/09/2023 19:40

Dry cleaning costing 200 quid is WILD though. Are they absolutely ridiculously enormous? I have had a decent sized pair of velvet curtains done for 50 quid recently.

Goldcircle · 01/09/2023 19:42

They can shrink up to 4 inches with dry cleaning anyway

NeverAloneNeverAgain · 01/09/2023 19:47

I view care labels as part suggestion part challenge!

If they needed a clean to be used and I couldn't afford the dry cleaning I'd risk it as the alternative is buying a new set regardless

FunkyMonks · 01/09/2023 19:47

I've washed curtains that say dry cleaning only and had no issues with mine was on a low temp delicate setting stick them outside to dry and no issues no shrinking etc.
Also as you said dry cleaning is more than what they cost me to buy new.

Fluffyowl00 · 01/09/2023 19:49

The shrinking/ not shrinking of the linings and curtains will happen at any temperature apart from cold. Wash them on a cold wash if you have one

GreyBlackBay · 01/09/2023 19:50

I've had mixed results.

Fair chance they'll shrink a little which is OK if not lined but the lining won't shrink if they are.

cocog · 01/09/2023 19:54

I always do now had some really lovely silk curtains came back from dry cleaning with chocolate hand print on (reason they went ) £72 still dirty they had 2 chances after this so washed in machines at home came out fine never used a dry cleaner for anything since! 🙈

isthismylifenow · 01/09/2023 19:55

I wash mine, they are also dry clean only. I don't put them in the machine though as they won't fit. So they go in the bath in cold water. It's a good PT day, and you get quite a shock to see the state of the water.

I squeeze the water out and try to get outside to the washing line as fast as possible and I leave them to drip dry. A big bucket and an extra person helps here.

Haven't had any shrinkage yet and mine are about same age as yours OP.

Mossstitch · 01/09/2023 20:01

As other have said the curtains shrink sometimes (mine were old velvet) and the linings don't but I found it quite a simple job to undo the bottom part of the lining and hem it shorter. They looked fine once back up. There's no way I would pay £200 for dry cleaning😯

DuesToTheDirt · 01/09/2023 21:05

I've had linings shrink too! These were home made, so I don't know if that makes any difference. And there was plenty of hem, so I could take them down, and as they're linings the fading didn't matter.

Original poster
itsawildwildworld · 02/09/2023 16:55

They came up a treat! No shrinkage as far as I can tell and an awful lot cleaner. Would definitely use the launderette again, if it's for curtains that are just pretty 'ordinary'. Thanks for all your advice.

OP posts:
Beamur · 02/09/2023 16:56

Pfpppl · 01/09/2023 16:37

I did this once. The curtains shrank, the linings didn't!

This happened to me too. Curtains were unusable.