Cleaning curtains- how ?

[Milksheikha]

Having had.blimds and shutters in our last house , I don't know how to deal with curtains.
I have 9 sets of which were new 3.5 years ago when we moved in and have never taken them down to clean them . Only the upstairs sets are pulled ever so they are probably super dusty.
How do you clean them ?

They are way to bulky for a washinv machine.

Hoover them with the soft brush attachment of the hoover if they look dusty. Wipe with a damp white cotton cloth if they need it in spots. Steam them depending on the fabric.

I had some dusty house work done so washed mine at 40 degrees and tumble dried them on low, as per the instructions (I
might add). The cotton shrank so now it curls around the acrylic backing (blackout curtains) and doesn't hang/close very well. Can't decide what ruined them more - the machine washing or the tumble drying. 🤔

A lower temp wash, and air drying, would probably do the trick.

If you want to be extra careful, hand wash in the bathtub with mild detergent and air dry straight.

Ours always go to the dry cleaners.

My Mum has had several attempts at washing some of hers and they always shrink. We have very big windows and the curtains cost a fortune - no way am I risking the washing machine.

I wash mine. I have some that I made years ago and for months years, the hems were tacked until I'd washed them and made sure they didn't shrink. Launderette machine would probably work if you can't fit them in yours - I wash king sized duvet at the launderette for same reason. I don't wash mine as often as I should because they're such hard work to iron, but when I do, I choose a 'good drying day'. bring them in damp, iron and hang them up again to finish drying.

I recently discovered dry cleaning bags on Amazon.
large bag, wet wipes and stain spray enough to do 4/5 sets of large albeit unlined curtains cost me under £30. You pop them in the tumble drier on medium for 30 minutes. Am astonished as cost of actually dry cleaning would have been more than buying new.

It depends on the curtains. Hand sewn pleated headings cannot be washed. Dry cleaned at a push but could shrink (lining and fabric could shrink differently). Tape headed curtains could be washed but again, could shrink. Hoover them and give them a shake out. Btw I'm a curtain maker by trade 😊

Nah, don’t ever wash curtains !

I use these to Dry Cleaners Secret sheets.
(Usually buy them on eBay)

Just pop a sheet with a pair of curtains into the tumble dryer for 20 minutes on low - medium heat. They work terrifically well. 👍

Sorry that sounded a bit garbled. 🙄

That should read, "I use Dry Cleaners Secret sheets."

I just hoover mine occasionally. Recently changed our curtains in the dining room and realised they were over 20 years old. Never cleaned. They were fine. The local charity shop were pleased as anything to have them, they were not faded, and really heavy too. Actually much better quality than what replaced them, hey ho.