Washing "dry clean" curtains...?

[Arnoldthecat]

Just flicking the duster round and i think my curtains are due a clean? They are Laura Ashley lined, 100% cotton in a kind of plain /beige colour with white linings. Quite large size. The label says dry clean only. I did think about a gentle 15 minute cycle and hang to dry or does this sound like a complete no no?

I've done this (although mine weren't Laura Ashley, they're faux silk from dunelm). They came out fine, DH even tumbled them in the condenser dryer! I wouldn't recommend that though as they were very creased afterwards, I think hang dry would have been better.

They might shrink 5% but if you think that won't matter then I would put them on a gentle wash and keep fingers crossed.

Someone I once worked for machine washed dry clean only curtains, they shrunk a fair bit and because they were (originally) floor length it was very noticeable.

Yes, you might need to let them down afterwards.

The risk with lined curtains is the lining will shrink and the curtain won't.

Having said that, I would. I wash everything. Cool wash and yes to hanging up to dry.

Don't do it! I tried it once and ruined the curtains. Fortunately they weren't too expensive, but I'd think twice about washing curtains that would be expensive to replace.

point taken,,yes the different behaviours of the curtains and lining are what concerned me. They may behave differently and end up terribly misaligned. Dry cleaning it is then. Not sure how that works ! ..or indeed how much

I did ours today - dry clean only. Took a chance and popped them on a hand wash cycle in the washing machine and came out as they went in only clean and fresher - a quick iron and back hanging up

They'll probably be ok. If you are worried you could handwash them..

Cool wash. You may get shrinkage.
I'd risk it if I wasn't too bothered about the length, and they usually only shrink the first time. Wash both curtains at the same time in case they fade.
Iron them before they get bone dry.