Washing curtains at home with normal washing machine.

[Jeffers_S13]

Hello,

The curtains that cover the driver and passenger windows are a bit grubby so thought I'd put them through the washing machine, only to find a 'only dry clean' label on them.

Went to the dry cleaners and they want £45 to clean them!

Now reconsidering washing them at home.. but concerned I'll ruin them or the currently (grubby) white liner will go pink (curtains are the dark red material).

Google says use a mild detergent and cold wash for dry clean garments.

Can anyone share their experience of machine washing their Autotrail curtains??

Thanks
James

 

[TheBig1]

mild detergent, warm wash and add a couple of those stain guard tissues to catch any dye that runs. then hang out to drip dry naturally

 

[M-J]

You could ignore the instructions to save £45 and pay much more to replace them after!

 

[TheBig1]

should have said, have washed loads this way on vans being done up to sell. worst were the ones stained with cigarette smoke that needed 2 or more washes. never ruined a single set

 

[denisejoe]

I would risk a cool wash with mild detergent and drip dry. Definitely worth using a dye catcher sheet with them.

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[Wombles]

Have found that most dry clean materials are fine on a gentle cold water wash using liquid detergent with low spin & drying on the line or airer. Did have some shrinkage on 30 degree wash lined curtains so stick to cold wash now. Not used colour catching sheets but sound a good idea in case the dye isn't fast.

 

[Hollyberry]

I’ve just put a pair of “ dry clean only” trousers through a 30C short wash, look perfectly ok.
As others have said, colour catcher sheets, short, cool wash with low spin speed then hang to dry ( might shrink in a tumble dryer) Iron while slightly damp.

 

[joka250]

In conversation with a dry cleaning business they said many dry clean only items were because of colour fade when washing so the advice of others for cool wash, drip dry and dye catching sheets probably good.

 

[Jeffers_S13]

Sorry for very long gap! Hate it when threads aren't closed properly so thought I'd update this one with some pics.

I had some great success, thanks for all the advice.

Before Pics showing how filthy the curtains were, was like a grimey ground in dust/filth and also a few to show contrast:

:

I set the washing machine to 30deg on the Easy-Care list and the lowest spin rate. As you can see I also used a Dylon 'Colour Catcher' sheet.

 

[Jeffers_S13]

And these are the after pics. Curtains came out lovely and clean and NO colour run.

Given their condition I don't think they'd ever been washed before so it's not like the colour had had chance to wash-out from previous washes.

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[TheBig1]

Perfect, as I said have washed loads of sets and never ruined any. |Very satisfying putting them back in and taking years off the look of the van plus it smells lovely