Since shower curtains are exposed to lots of water, they can acquire mildew, which is a type of fungus. Here are some tips for cleaning your shower curtain.
Put it in your washing machine
If your shower curtain is plastic, it can probably be machine-washed. As long as you wash it at a low temperature like 30 degrees Celsius, it won’t melt or get damaged. Check the curtain’s care label first to check that it’s machine-washable.
Shower curtains are usually made of slippery materials, so it can be hard for the action of a washing machine to dislodge dirt from them. That’s why it’s a good idea to add a few towels to create some friction which will help dislodge the dirt. You can also try adding half a cup of bicarbonate of soda to your regular detergent.
Wash by hand
There are a several ways to clean a shower curtain without a washing machine. You could soak it in the bathtub with some diluted vinegar or diluted bleach. Then drain the bath and scrub it to remove grime and mildew.
Cleaning a shower curtain without taking it down
If you can’t remove your shower curtain, you can try spraying some diluted bleach on it with a spray bottle and scrubbing it before finally rinsing it with a handheld shower attachment.
Buying a new shower curtain
Shower curtains only cost a few quid, so it might be easier to just buy a new one rather than trying to clean it yourself. If you want to avoid the problem of mould or mildew in the future, you should consider getting a water-repellent shower curtain, which will reduce or prevent mildew.
In The Wash is your guide to the best laundry and cleaning products, tips and tricks. Our mission is to solve the UK’s cleaning and laundry dilemmas!
