Can I wash dry clean curtains?

[Speckledeggy]

The label on my Marks and Sparks curtains says dry clean only. They really need a freshen up. Do you think I'd be okay to wash them?

The material is:-
Curtain - 100% cotton
Lining - 50% cotton / 50% polyester

Any advice appreciated!

I did it once and they looked ok when they came out, but shrunk a fair bit.

I would possibly do it if they weren't desperately expensive and it wouldn't be a disaster if they shrunk.

Also it's not just the washing...it's the ironing that can be very tricky on lined items. (that's also why some jackets/suits are dry clean I think)

I bet you can - what material are they?
And as for ironing - they're curtains, hang them damp and the creases will fall out :o

opol I washed silk curtains once and they shrank hugely, which was fine because they started too long and were trailing on the floor - when they shrank they were the perfect length :o

My mum washed hers, they were the same fabric make up as yours and they shrank about a cm or two nothing major. Id only do it if they wernt mega expensive though just incase.

Sometimes they do need ironing Stealth. I got round this once by taking a pair of horribly creased curtains (but fresh and clean) to be shortened. The lady ironed them as well. Absolute bargain for £15.

If the curtains were very expensive then i wouldn't risk it.

Most of ours are from cheap places so imo it is a false economy to pay more on dry cleaning that the original cost of the curtains.

The silk ones probably should have been ironed, I told everyone they were crinkle effect after that :o
Heavyish cotton ones should be OK though.

Hmm...

Thanks for the input. I bought them in the charity shop today for £15 so not expensive by any means but they fit the window perfectly so I don't want them to shrink!

They're just a stop gap for the mo as DH keeps moaning that it's draughty without any curtains. I may just put them up as they are. I should imagine they would cost quite a bit to dry clean (patio door size).