How to – clean a shower curtain
They may not be considered a regular laundry item, but your shower curtain and liner are great candidates for a regular trip through your washing machine. Over time, these items can accumulate soap scum, mildew and mold. Thanks to your washing machine, however, it takes minimum elbow grease and just a few household supplies to keep your curtain and liner clean. Here’s how.
Tools and supplies
- Baking soda
- Vinegar
- Laundry detergent
- Bleach
Check the care tags on your shower curtain and liner for any special instructions, and follow those if they conflict with the steps below.
Step 1
Remove the rings, then put the curtain and liner in the washer along with a pair of towels. The towels will provide extra scrubbing and help prevent the liner from crinkling.
Step 2
Add your normal amount of detergent and a half cup of baking soda, then run the wash cycle on warm or hot.
Step 3
Add a half cup of vinegar when the rinse cycle begins.
Step 4
When the wash is complete, remove the curtain and liner and hang them to dry. Do not put them in the dryer unless their care tags instruct you to do so.
To tackle extra heavy mildew, follow the same steps above but add a cup of bleach to the mix using the standard bleach use instructions. However, bleach can only be used with white/clear curtains and liners and white towels. For colored items, try OxiClean or color-safe bleach.
To keep your shower curtain cleaner longer, spray it down regularly with a homemade solution (e.g. half water, half distilled vinegar) or a store-bought daily cleaner. Once a week, scrub the curtain with a brush after your spray routine. To cut down on soap scum, considering using a body wash or non-soap cleaning bar instead of regular bar soap.