Showers are a modern and well-loved addition to many bathrooms. The glamorous and handy bathroom staples are some of the most relaxing parts of our day, and because they’re used so often it’s important to make sure you’re keeping them and the space around them clean. Shower curtains are one tool we use to keep water in the shower and prevent things from becoming wet. Just like any bathroomsurface, the constant exposure to moisture, mildew, and mineral deposits can leave mold, streaks, or other dirt that can be a pain to clean.
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Removing scum, mold, mildew, mineral stains, and other pesky dirt may feel like a cumbersome chore, but our expert guide will walk you through how to clean shower curtains. Our team has researched, tested, and tried out a number of different popular and technical cleaning solutions, and we’ve used our research to create the best guide for cleaning out shower curtains.
Removing Mold and Mildew
Materials Needed:
Vinegar
Lemon oil
Water
Laundry Detergent
Baking Soda
Commercial Mold Cleaners
The Process
The first step to cleaning off your shower curtains is going to be getting rid of any dust, mold, or other residual debris on the exterior of the curtain. The humid and moist climate of many showers can cause mold or mildew to build up quickly, so don’t be surprised when you encounter it as part of your cleaning routine. You can clear off any mold or mildew by putting distilled white vinegar and water mixed with lemon oil into a spray bottle and spraying down the entire shower curtain surface with the mixture. Let it sit for about fifteen minutes and watch as the vinegar dissolves most of the mildew and other gunk on the surface of the shower. Rinse with water and allow to air dry.
If you have more stubborn sections of mold that need to be cleaned out, you can toss your shower curtain into the washing machine with a natural mold removing solution. Add one cup of baking soda, a capful of laundry detergent, and water into the washing machine along with your shower curtain (and liner, if you have one). Run it through a hot water cycle, adding in a cup of white vinegar halfway through. Then, remove and allow to air dry before hanging back up. That will remove any mold or residue and leave behind a clean surface you can hang back up.
There are plenty of commercial mold removers on the market that can also be used to get a good clean. Shout brand or Clorox Brand mold cleaners are particularly effective on shower curtains, but just be sure that you rinse them off after applying in order to remove any toxic or damaging residues before they’re ready to be used again.
Removing Scum and Mineral Stains
Materials Needed:
Lemon juice
White vinegar
Dawn Dish detergent
Windex
Microfiber Cloths
The Process
Is your shower curtain beginning to look cloudy, thick, or otherwise discolored?
You may be experiencing a build up of soap scum, hard water, or other debris that’s caking to the surface of the curtain and leaving behind cloudy deposits that won’t come off. If you’re ready to restore the original finish and cleanliness of your shower curtain, you’ll want to reach for some natural household cleaners to tackle the dirt.
For particularly stubborn stains or discoloration, start by mixing lemon juice and baking soda. Mix these together and apply pressure until the paste forms a sudsy foam, then take a scrub brush and apply until it covers the surface of the stain entirely. Allow to rest for twenty minutes. After that has set, take a solution of distilled white vinegar and Dawn dish detergent. Mix this in a spray bottle and mist the entire shower curtain on both sides. Once every part of the curtain has been covered, let it sit on the plastic for about fifteen minutes. Rinse thoroughly with cold water and wipe down with a microfiber cloth. You should see your shower curtain looking clearer and cleaner than ever before! If you’re still struggling with a few stubborn holdouts, you can apply regular Windex to the curtain.
For particularly stubborn stains or discoloration on your shower curtain plastic, start by mixing lemon juice and baking soda. Mix these together and apply pressure until the paste forms a sudsy foam, then take a scrub brush and apply until it covers the surface of the stain entirely. Allow to rest for twenty minutes. After that has set, take a solution of distilled white vinegar and Dawn dish detergent. Mix this in a spray bottle and mist the entire shower curtain on both sides. Once every part of the curtain has been covered, let it sit on the plastic for about fifteen minutes. Rinse thoroughly with cold water and wipe down with a microfiber cloth. You should see your shower curtain looking clearer and cleaner than ever before! If you’re still struggling with a few stubborn holdouts, you can apply regular Windex to the curtain.
Keeping Your Shower Curtain Clean
Maintaining your shower curtain’s clean condition will require regular cleaning in order to keep build-up from occurring. Apply your heavy-duty paste or Windex to the shower curtain every two weeks or so to help prevent serious growth of mold, mildew, or permanent stains. You can toss it in the washing machine once a week or so for more regular maintenance, but stick to gentle detergent so you don’t break down the bonds of the shower curtain materials. For dye removal or other major stains, you may need to hand wash with stain removers or spot treatments in order to immediately remove dirt and prevent it from settling into the shower curtain itself.
Soap Scum Prevention
Keeping soap scum off your shower curtain involves a regular maintenance program in order to keep soap from gathering. Run your shower curtain under cold water after every shower and allow your shower curtain to air dry to break down soap scum at its core and keep your curtain free of clouds or streaks. Make sure that your curtain is able to dry completely in a not-humid environment to prevent mildew from beginning to form as well.
You can also create your own vinegar spray and keep it in the shower. Mist down after every shower to help bond the curtain against mold and kill any germs before they can fully form. Don’t ever let your shower curtain be exposed to high heat: the warmer it gets, the worse for the wear your shower curtain will be, and the easier it is for mold to begin growing and even for mold spores to spread.
Shower curtains and liners are a handy addition to your bathroom, but cleaning them can sometimes feel like an unnecessary challenge. Using these time-tested and tried techniques on how to clean shower curtains, you’ll be able to boast shiny and clean curtains every day!
