Can i chance machine washing dry clean curtains?

[Rosarollo]

I bought some blackout curtains for my baby's room. Took me 2 months to figure that the funky burning plastic smell is from the curtains. Google is making me more certain. I want to wash them in the machine as i dont want to dry clean them. Also i dont think dry cleaning has a particularly fresh smell like machine washing.

Can i chance it. Any tips to help me get this smell out?

Were they expensive? I'm not a dry cleaning fan, I shove everything in the washing machine and only have rare disasters! I'd give it a go

It’s usually the lining that shrinks and causes problems if you machine wash dry clean only curtains
The lining will shrink but maybe not the curtains
I’ve done it and had to throw them away

Ive had the opposite problem with shrinkage - the curtain itself shrank only by half an inch or so but the lining was then visible behind it. Easily fixed by sewing/glueing the lining to fit, but other curtains clearly behave differently. If its the plastic lining do you think you could lay them out on a table or something and sponge them?

I wouldn't recommend. I did it and the actual curtain shrank but the lining didn't.... I also had to throw them away.

I would on a cold or silk wash and dont spin them. Let them drip dry on the line. I never dry clean anything, haven't killed anything yet

I probably would try it on a delicate or handwash setting.

I have just washed some black out linings form an old pair of curtains, the linings were in excellent condition, but grubby.

I washed them on 40 I think (possible it may have been hotter) and the coating on the linings has pulled away, like peeling skin after sunburn.

So, if you do it, that is a possibility, and I would only do it on a cold wash

Does your machine do a delicate wash?? I have avoided many trips to dry cleaners using this function

I never go to the dry cleaners unless absolutely necessary (can't remember last time). Hate the thought of the chemicals. I machine wash everything but I do have a hand wash option on my machine. Failing that put it on cool wash (30 degrees or less)

I would risk it on a cold or very cool short wash.

I never have anything dry cleaned, just wash on a delicates or hand wash setting. No disasters (yet)

I'd give it a go. I always do.

My 25 y/o silk dupion wedding dress came out of the wash and into the washing machine, it was fine.

I personally wouldnt chance it. They are very likely to shrink (usually the lining) and so dont sit right .

What is the material of the curtains?

I wash lots of dry clean only clothes on a cold wool cycle and they come out fine. I wouldn't wash blackout curtains though. They will shrink.

They're polycotton. Wtf is that?

I do have a wool delicates wash. These are the curtains. Cost 50 quid

www.dunelm.com/product/space-navy-blackout-eyelet-curtains-1000109494?skuId=30425276&branchCode=345&cm_mmc=pla_google--PLA%20-%20GS%20-%20Curtains%20-%20PSB%20-%20LIA--All%20Ready%20Made%20Curtains%20-%20New-_-keyword&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5b3WwoDA3AIV4ZXtCh0vWQg1EAQYASABEgKb-PD_BwE

Currently have a pair of Dry Clean only curtains in the wash...20' wash extra water gentle spin Bio washing powder and Zoflora I've so far washed 4 pairs of curtains this way in the last week and all have been fine. The cool water really helps and as others have said if the shrink at all you can always alter either the curtain or the lining to match.
The cost of dry cleaning our living room curtains ( big windows ) was £80 they only cost £60 on eBay. The washed up fine

I personally wouldn't want dry cleaned curtains in a babies room as the chemicals given off after dry cleaning are pretty grim. Hence the warnings about airing duvets etc and many now say no dry cleaning
Dry interesting article here in the Guardian a couple of years back www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/nov/18/dry-cleaning-toxic-process-carcinogen-cancer

Poly cotton is a mixture of polyester and cotton. Very common on cheaper sheets that are not 100% cotton. Used cos it's more stain resistant and crease resistant....also the polyester stops the fading due to light

How on earth can the be Dryclean only and have line dry as a way of drying them ?

I wouldn't risk it, having just shrunk a pair of curtains by washing them. I had to bin them as they came out totally shapeless.

The alternative is to put them in the bath with some soap and swish them about, pull plug out, let drain for half and hour, then drip dry somewhere. If the weather stays this dry and warm, they should dry quite quickly.

Lol I just did this with my living room curtains today! They're fine. Washed them at 30 with some zoflora

I did it once and ruined the curtains.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/housekeeping/2428292-A-word-of-advice-for-anyone-planning-to-wash-their-blackout-curtains

Further googling brings up stories of the linings falling apart...

Eeek. The smell wasnt as bad this evening. Im sure its the sun reacting with the blackout liner. I found an old MN thread on it.