Velvet curtains - dry clean only?

[AutumnshadesofGold]

I have a large door curtain that has been up year and is a bit fousty. cant really afford to get it dry-cleaned so was thinking I may stick it in the machine? Gentle wash / hand wash / cool wash? Or should I hadn wash it?

Or spray it with febreeze ]grin]

I wouldn't - especially not if it cotton and/or silk velvet; it could be a more expensive exercise than paying for drycleaning as it could be ruined and end up out of shape.

You could always hang it over the washing line on a sunny day and give it a few whacks to get dust out and leave it to get a good airing. Also try vacuuming with a brush attachment when hung up to get dust out.

This is what febreeze was made for!

Air it outside on a breezy day, it I wouldn't risk washing unless you don't really like the curtain and want a stealthy way to get rid.

I've washed many a pair of cotton velvet curtains in the machine and lived to tell the tale. Often have to do this with ones I've bought on ebay as they tend to stink of febreeze ;-)

I've done it on a 30 degree wash and they were fine.

When we moved in the previous owners had left all of the curtains very kindly. I colour stripped the cotton velvet ones then redyed them to a colour I liked. I had nothing to lose as quite prepared to buy new ones if it didn't work. They were cotton velvet & the dyeing etc worked a treat. I remember ringing Dylon for some advice & I think that Isent them a snippet from the hem to check for me. They then advised me which products & how much to use based on fabric makeup & total dry weight. Definitely worth a quick phonecall! And I have since re washed the curtains every two or three years; when they began to look a little drab, I simply redyed them.

Another one here happily washing cotton-velvet curtains - problem could be with ironing. I use a towel on ironing-board, then warm iron on wrong side to be safe.