Tips for Cleaning a Plastic Shower Curtain (2 Easy Methods)
Learn how to clean a plastic shower curtain. Here are tips for cleaning a plastic shower curtain in a washing machine and how to clean a plastic shower curtain by hand.
Your plastic shower liner is subject to constant abuse from hard water, soap scum and mold and mildew.
While there are things you can do to help keep your shower curtain clean longer, it will also need a deep clean from time to time.
Here are some tips on deep cleaning or washing your plastic shower curtain.
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How to Clean a Plastic Shower Curtain in a Washing Machine
You need to remove the shower curtain from the shower rod and then remove it from all of the shower hooks. Make sure you check to ensure that the curtain is machine washable.
If the curtain is machine washable, you’ll need a few drops of a mild laundry detergent along with ½ cup white distilled vinegar and ½ cup baking soda.
The vinegar and baking soda will make a nice foaming agent to help scrub the curtain and leave it smelling fresh and kill bacteria.
Start with setting the washer for a large load and fill with cool or warm water. Add the laundry detergent, vinegar and baking soda and then add the curtain and allow to soak 5 to 10 minutes before starting the wash cycle.
Add a couple of towels into the machine with the plastic curtain to help scrub the curtain as it runs through the cycle.
Remove the curtain from the washer, smooth it out and hang it to dry. Do not under any circumstances place in the dryer.
You can put the curtain back on the shower rod and allow it to dry right on the rod.
How to Clean a Plastic Shower Curtain by Hand
When washing your plastic shower curtain by hand, I like to clean it out of doors where I can set up a flat surface to lay the curtain on for scrubbing it.
You’ll need a large container to soak the curtain in, a few drops of a mild laundry detergent, ½ cup of baking soda and ½ cup of white distilled vinegar.
Fill the container with cool or lukewarm water and mix in the laundry detergent, baking soda and vinegar. Add the curtain and allow to soak for several minutes.
Once the shower curtain has soaked, remove it from the water and lay it out on a large flat surface.
Using the water that the curtain was soaked in, take a clean cloth or sponge and scrub the curtain gently from top to bottom on one side and then flip over and clean the other side.
Take a clean cloth and using clear water, rinse both sides of the curtain thoroughly and dry with a dry cloth or towel.
Hang back on the shower rod and allow it to dry.
Keeping Your Plastic Shower Curtain Clean Longer
Between deep cleanings of your shower curtain, there are things you can do to keep your curtain cleaner longer. Here are a few things you can do.
After each shower, take a dry towel and wipe down both sides of the shower curtain. This will help prevent the build up of soap scum and helps prevent the curtain from mildewing.
After each shower, close the curtain to help to dry.
Every time you clean your bathroom, spray the shower curtain with an all-purpose cleaner and wipe with a clean dry cloth and then close the shower curtain to allow it to dry.
Keeping a small dehumidifier in the bathroom won’t prevent the build up of soap scum on your shower curtain, but it may help prevent the appearance or build up of mold or mildew.
You may also want to read this article to learn how to select the right dehumidifier for a bathroom.
How Often Should I Clean My Plastic Shower Curtain?
Many people ask how often they should deep clean their shower curtain.
The answer may depend on many things such as the climate in which you live (warmer climates may cause mildew to build up quicker.) How many people use the shower each day and even the hardness of your water (calcium build up) can dirty up your curtain.
A good rule of thumb is simply to look at your shower curtain and if it is starting to look dull or shows signs of mildew, then it is time to give that curtain a good deep cleaning.
How to Clean a Plastic Shower Curtain – Conclusion
Keeping your shower curtain looking cleaner and newer will add to the overall cleanliness of your bathroom. And as you can see, cleaning a plastic shower curtain is not a difficult task to do. You can machine wash it if it’s machine washable or you can simply wash it by hand.
Did you find the tips on how to clean a plastic shower curtain helpful? Leave your comment below.
