I have beige custom drapes that are about forty years old. I was told I could lace them in my washer on hand wash only because I have one of the new LG True Balance washers. I am not so sure about this. I thought the best thing to do would be to dry clean them. I am looking for any suggestions. :D

Any fabric that is forty years old is going to be very delicate, plus the fact that they have I assume been hanging in the direct sunlight subject to solar radiation breaking down the fiber strength. If they are totalled by your new washer, you did get 40 years use out of them, you know? You would have lost the original cost of the drapes divided by 40 which is a pretty small mumber. My mother would place delicate curtains inside a sturdy pillow case that she either basted shut or fastened with safely pins from the kids diapers. This keeps them from being thrashed around a lot by the machine agitating

I would definitely dry clean them. At their age they are very fragile.