Can I risk washing these curtains

[Curtainconundrum]

I have got two pairs of second hand Sanderson curtains with are 49% Linen 38% Cotton 13% Nylon. (Sanderson swallows in pebble) I was just quoted £125 at the dry cleaners to get them cleaned but they said it was at my own risk, so no guarantees that they won't run. It seems a huge amount of money for no guarantee. I'm wondering whether I could risk a gentle hand or cold wash. Any thoughts?

What I have found often happens is the curtains shrink a bit but the lining doesn't, I washed my Morris ones at 20c and that happened, they are still long enough though and the lining is now the same length as the curtains. I have got a pair of John Lewis plain curtains upstairs though that said dry clean and they washed beautifully. I would probably do a very short wash and slow spin on a nice day so they hang outside to dry

I have washed linen interlined curtains in the bath before now and they survived fine, I think I gave them a gentle spin in the machine before hanging on the line to dry. Very cool, almost cold water. They survived just fine!

I have washed many many things either by hand or on a gentle cycle.

Usually curtains come out a bit shrunk, but the lining doesn't shrink. If that's important to you?

I've not had a complete disaster yet.
I suppose you could look at how much they cost second hand and how upset if they run?

Hang them back up damp, they dry quicker, with fewer creases.

They'be fine, maybe hand-wash in the bath and line dry for a first go, but a gentle machine was should be fine. I machine wash velvet curtains and they always come out OK.

Thanks all. It wouldn't be a disaster if they shrunk a bit as they're quite long and I was wondering whether to shorten them. If the lining doesn't shrink but the rest does, perhaps I could get the sewing machine out and adjust them.

My motto for most things is that if it can't be washed then it doesn't belong in my house anyway.

Obviously for curtains that can be more complicated and I have some very beautiful ones from hideously expensive fabric so I do get the concern (my mother made them for me so while the fabric was expensive the curtain making didn't cost me anything).

Anyway. That's irrelevant. My question would be why do you want to wash them? Because if they look clean and you just gel they need a freshen is it worth the risk? But if they are actually dirty/stained or something then you can either live with stained curtains, pay for new ones or give washing a go. In which case it is well worth the risk.

I work in the fabric trade and really wouldn't recommend washing them. The care instructions are dry clean only and that comes as a result of testing.

We've tried washing some large returnable samples on occasions and it's never ended well..... if you're really intent on doing so, order a sample from their website or from a local stockist and wash that first.

That's a really good idea. I'll do that. Thanks.