Most of us clean the bathroom on a regular basis. But, how often do you think about cleaning the shower curtain? Shower curtains get dirty and if you’re like most people, we don’t really think much about washing them. Between the damp conditions of the shower and soap scum build-up, they can get to be a dirty disaster!

 

The biggest difference between shower curtains and shower doors lies in the materials that they are made from. In fact, despite what you have if you don’t take the proper steps to keep them clean, you will find yourself faced with the same nasty and disgusting problem: mold.

That aging shower curtain and shower curtain liner do not always need to be thrown away and replaced. They can be easily cleaned and brought back to like-new condition in no time, saving you both money and time during those occasional house cleaning projects. Just follow these shower curtain cleaning tips!

How to Wash a Shower Curtain Liner

To get the shower curtain liner clean and looking good again, put it in the washer and add in a few bath towels that need washing. Wash on a gentle cycle, large load, and cool/warm water.
1. Start filling the washer with water.
2. Add in your regular laundry detergent along with 1 cup of white vinegar.
3. When the washer is about 1/2 full add the curtain and towels.
When the washing is done and I’ve washed a plastic or vinyl liner, I put it in the dryer with the rest of the laundry, for just a few minutes. This way when I carry it back to the bathroom to hang on the curtain rod, it isn’t dripping along the way.

Removing Mold and Mildew from Fabric Shower Curtain Liners

These can be washed with a few towels as mentioned above. Wash in the hottest water as indicated by the label. Add in your regular laundry detergent along with 1 cup OxiClean.
If you have a white shower curtain, you can use bleach if you prefer. Dry on a gentle cycle, remove promptly, and hang back on the shower rod.
If the bottom of the fabric shower curtain liner is heavily stained, try soaking it for a few hours. This can be done by putting a clean bucket in the shower. Add at least a gallon of warm to hot water and mix in a large scoop of OxiClean, let the bottom part of the shower curtain soak then wash.

Removing Mold and Mildew from Plastic or Vinyl Shower Curtain Liners

Fill the bottom of the tub with just enough hot water to almost cover the liner. Add in 1 cup bleach. Add the liner and let sit about 10 to 20 minutes.
Use a cleaning cloth or scrub brush to clean the liner. Drain the tub then rinse the curtain liner and hang to dry.

How to Clean the Shower Curtain Rings

The other thing many of us don’t think about is washing the shower curtain rings. These can also be a place that harbors mold and mildew.
While the shower curtain is washing you can also wash the rings. Take them off the curtain rod and place them in the bathroom sink.
1. Fill with hot water and about 1/2 cup white vinegar.
2. Let them soak about 20 minutes or so.
3. Take an old toothbrush or a green scrubby and run that around the rings.
4. Drain the water, rinse and hang back on the curtain rod.

Washing the shower curtain liner isn’t hard and should, at the very least, be washed every few months.