You should clean your shower curtains every other week or once a month to keep mold growth under control. For shower curtain liners, it's best to clean them every two to three months to prevent mold buildup.
Put the shower curtain or liner in the washing machine and use a small amount of detergent. Choose a gentle cycle with warm water and the highest water level. Delicate or handwash cycles with slow spin speeds are safest for plastic curtains.
Wash the liner in warm water using a small amount of laundry detergent and 1/3 cup of bleach. Adding a few white cotton towels to the load will help with the agitation and also prevent the curtain from wrinkling. Hang the shower curtain liner on the rings so it can dry. Never put a plastic liner in the dryer.
Your shower curtain liner is not indestructible. Replace your shower curtain liner every six months if your bathroom is stuffy and/or you live in a humid climate. Between replacing the curtains, you'll want to wash the liner on a regular basis. It should be replaced every 7 months.
Mildew can be a problem due to the dampness of the shower and shower curtain. This type of bacteria is generally a white/gray color and can stain fabric. It can also leave a strong, musty odor in your bathroom. Hard water stains often remain on your shower curtain, leaving it clouded and discolored.
Remove your shower curtain and fill your tub with warm water. Add a little bleach to the warm water and soak your shower curtain in this mixture. After your shower curtain has soaked for a while, run it through your washing machine on the rinse cycle. You'll want to use warm—not hot—water.
Air Dry Only: Refrain from putting the liner in the dryer; instead, hang it back up to air dry naturally to avoid damaging the fabric or causing shrinkage. Prevent Mold and Mildew: After washing, spray the liner with a vinegar/water mixture.
Before you hang up a new shower curtain, you first need to buy a shower liner. Why? Because shower liners protect your shower curtain from getting wet and growing mold and mildew. A liner also keeps the water in the tub or shower.
You can put them in the dryer. It might be a good idea to consider drying your curtains on a gentle cycle with low heat for a maximum of ten to fifteen minutes. This will help to get the wrinkles out as well as assure the longevity of your curtains.
Spray the inside shower curtain with a bleach based cleanser or Pine Sol. Lift the outside shower curtain to spray the backside of the inner shower curtain then allow both sides to dry. After showering leave space between the curtains and the walls to allow air flow.
If you're concerned about your washing machine having magnets clanking around inside, you can always hand wash your shower curtain instead. However unless otherwise stated on the label, plastic shower curtains with magnets are safe to machine wash.
– Run the fan or open a window while showering. – Keep the fan running for 20 minutes after you shower to rid the room of moisture. – Squeegee your shower after bathing to remove excess water. – Spritz the bottom of your shower curtain liner with bathtub cleaner and rinse.
While our experts suggest washing your curtain/liner about once a month, there are definitely some things you can do so that you can wait longer between washings. Use body wash or a non-soap cleansing bar instead of bar soap.
Run a cold water cycle and let the shower curtain liner air dry rather than put it in the dryer. For extra protection against mildew, Bowen recommends adding ½ cup baking soda and ¼ cup vinegar in the rinse cycle.
A: The PEVA needs to be replaced eventually just like a PEVA curtain. The fabric liner gets wet, but does not penetrate. The fabric liner. can be thrown in the washing machine.
Shower Curtains & Shower Curtain Liners: Every 6 Months
If you have a plastic shower curtain liner, it's easy to see when mold, mildew, or other buildup has accumulated. You can wash it with a diluted bleach solution and a sponge, throw it in the washing machine (hang to dry), or just toss it and purchase a new one.
PEVA & EVA Shower Liners
Chlorine is one of the main reasons why PVC liners emit such a terrible smell, so having a chlorine-free liner is certainly preferable for your health. You won't have to worry about any noxious fumes off-gassing from a PEVA or EVA liner.
Shower liners can be a homeowner's best friend when it comes to maintaining a clean and vibrant bathroom space. These handy items not only protect your shower wall and flooring from harsh stains, grime, and potential water damage, but also add an aesthetic touch to your bathroom's overall appeal.
A simple solution of vinegar and water will easily wash away any grime. "The vinegar will help break down mold and soap scum," says Bowen.
Never put it in the dryer, as this may cause the curtain to become misshapen or melted. Because mildew breeds in damp, warm areas, it's important to keep things dry. After showering, keep the shower liner inside the tub and the curtain outside of it so that air can move between the two.
Preventing Mold Growth with Vinegar
Store a spray bottle of vinegar in the bathroom and mist it over the shower stall after taking a shower, or add vinegar to your mopping solution to prevent mold growth on the floor.
“Mold grows where there's moisture,” Rubino explains, adding that because shower curtains often get wet, “they're prime real estate for microbial growth.” Additionally, the makeup of the shower curtain or liner itself, if it's fabric, along with other factors in the shower, can contribute to the proliferation of mold.