Buy Shower Curtains

A shower curtain is used daily and is splashed with a great deal of water. In time, mold, mildew and soap scum will build up. Keep in mind that mold and mildew thrive in warm, damp places like a bathroom so shower curtain care, as is most house upkeep, is an ongoing process.

The first line of defense for a shower curtain is a liner. If you do not have one already, installing a liner is a good, inexpensive way to keep a shower curtain in the best condition possible. It also can provide an extra layer to keep water inside the shower enclosure.

Spray is another proactive way to keep your shower curtain mold free. Inexpensive sprays will combat mold and mildew but should be used daily after showering to be most effective.

Shower curtains should be washed about once a month. If they curtain is good vinyl or fabric, it can simply be machine washed in warm water. Adding a cup of bleach to the wash will kill the bacteria. Also, the increased friction from washing with towels or some other items will help get the shower curtain cleaner. Detergent, vinegar, baking soda and fabric softeners can also be used.

Fabric or cloth shower curtains generally require more care. If the curtain does not get enough time to air out between uses, mildew stains may appear. While these can usually be taken out with detergent, sometimes a soaking in lemon juice or distilled vinegar is needed for the more stubborn stains.

Curtains that cannot be machine washed should be taken down and whipped down by hand or soaked in a bathtub.

Occasionally soaking the curtain in a saltwater solution is another way to prevent mold and mildew.

Once washing is complete, hang the shower curtain back up and allow it to drip dry. Some use dryers on curtains but this runs the risk damaging the curtains or worse.

With periodic cleaning and maintenance, your shower curtain will look better and last much longer than it otherwise would.