Plastic shower curtains and liners are cheap and easy to replace when they get dirty, but buying new ones all the time costs more money and isn’t good for the environment. Instead of throwing them away when they look worn out, try cleaning them. It’s actually easy to do, and you might even be able to put them in the washing machine.
How Often to Clean Your Shower Curtain
Your cloth shower curtain isn’t right next to the water, so you don’t have to wash it as often as the liner. Cleaning your curtain every three months should be enough to keep it nice. But if it often gets wet, wash it monthly to prevent mildew, bacteria, and smells.
How Often to Clean Your Shower Liner
Your shower liner should be cleaned once a month because it’s more prone to gathering bacteria and mold from regular use. To prevent this buildup, monthly cleaning is essential.
Materials Needed
Before you start cleaning your shower curtain and liner, make sure you have these basic cleaning items:
- Detergent
- Vinegar
- Bleach
- Cotton towels
- Microfiber towel
- Bucket
- Washing machine
How to Clean a Shower Curtain
Most shower curtains, whether they’re made of cloth or plastic, can be easily cleaned in the washing machine or by hand using a few simple steps.
Washing Machine
The easiest way to wash your shower curtain is in the washing machine, but first check the tag to make sure this method is safe.
- Remove the curtain from the rings.
- Set the washing machine to the delicate cycle with warm water.
- Put your shower curtain in the washer.
- Add a little detergent and 1 cup of vinegar (the vinegar helps remove any mold).
- After the wash, hang the curtain back up to dry.
By Hand
Hand-washing your shower curtain can be challenging and is only recommended for certain materials. For example, a cotton shower curtain not suitable for the washing machine can be heavy and awkward to handle when wet, and hard to rinse thoroughly, according to a cleaning expert. It’s often better to take these to a laundromat.
Hand washing is best for synthetic shower curtains that can’t be put in the washing machine.
- Fill a large bucket with water, enough to cover your shower curtain.
- Add 1/4 cup of bleach for every gallon of water.
- Soak the curtain for five minutes.
- Take out the curtain and rinse it well.
- Put fresh water and a few drops of laundry detergent in the bucket, and submerge the curtain again.
- Let it soak for 15 minutes.
- Remove the curtain, rinse it well, and hang it back up to air dry.
How to Clean Your Shower Liner
Shower liners are usually made of polyester, nylon, or vinyl. You can often wash these in the machine, but always check the care tag first to be sure.
- Remove the liner from the rings.
- Set the washer to the delicate cycle and use hot water.
- Place the liner loosely in the washer.
- Add a few drops of detergent and 1/3 cup of disinfecting bleach to the designated dispensers.
- Start the wash cycle.
- After the cycle finishes, hang the liner back on the rod to air dry.
Wash your shower liner with two or three white cotton towels. They help scrub and keep the liner from wrinkling.
How to Clean a Shower Curtain or Liner Without Removing It
If your washing machine isn’t big enough for your shower curtain or liner, they can’t be machine washed, or you don’t want to take them down, there’s a simple fix. Just clean them with a mixture of vinegar and water. This solution helps remove grime by breaking down mold and soap scum.
- In a spray bottle, mix 1 part vinegar with 4 parts water.
- Spray the mixture until the inside of the curtain or liner is fully soaked.
- Spray any other dirty areas.
- Rinse with warm water.
- Let it air dry.
How to Clean Shower Curtain Rings
Curtain rings are the easiest part of your shower to clean—simply soak them in a mix of vinegar and water.
- Take the rings off the rod.
- Put them in a bowl with equal parts vinegar and warm water.
- Let the rings soak.
- Take them out and dry them with a microfiber towel.