Cleaning Your Shower Curtain

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Bath and Shower Curtain Cleaning

How To Clean Your Bath Tub and Shower Curtains

Shower curtains get dirty. You would think they would be the cleanest things in your house, but the damp conditions, and soap scum that builds up makes this a disaster waiting to happen.

To get your shower curtains clean and looking better than new, put the curtains in the clothes washer. Add 1 cup of bleach and 1 cup of detergent. Add several dirty towels or a blanket, etc. to the washer and run on a gentle cycle using either warm or hot water. Right after the spin cycle, take the shower curtains out of the washer, take them back to the tub and shake gently to remove as much water as possible. Hang them back up to drip dry. The combined effect of gravity and the hot steam from using the shower or bath will cause any remaining wrinkles to disappear within a day.

Bodies combined with bar soap equal soap scum. Toss in possible hard water, and a shower curtain means you are looking at one dirty shower curtain. Whether your shower curtain is cloth, plastic or vinyl, it's the bar soap that's the culprit. Consider switching to body wash which will not result in those nasty deposits on your tub, shower and shower curtains.

To clean your shower curtains, take them down by unclipping the rings connecting it to the rod, and simply toss it into the washing machine with 1 cup of baking soda. Wash through 1 complete washing cycle in warm or hot water, or read the manufacturers' instructions for details specific to your brand and fabric material type.

Removing Soap Scum

Soap scum and soap film on shower curtains is not a pretty site. But there is an easy way to remove it. Place the shower curtain in the washer with a few large towels. Add detergent and 1 cup of vinegar. Wash on gentle cycle. Remove the curtain right after the spin cycle and hang it back in the shower to dry.

Removing Mold and Mildew

Before hanging your shower curtains, soak them in either a vinegar or a salt water mixture to prevent mold and mildew.

To remove any mold and mildew that does occur, you can wash the curtain in the washer, or soak it in the bath tub with about 1 cup of bleach. Let it sit for about 20 minutes. Mold and mildew on plastic curtain can be cleaned with water in the bathtub and approx. 1 cup of bleach.

Remove Bathtub Rings

To make short work of bathtub rings it's best not to use oily bath products, bubble bath and bar soap. A water softener will help you. Even a 1/4 cup of baking soda in the bath will soften the water and make your bath feel as smooth as silk.

If a ring around the tub does form, scrub it with plain ammonia and baking soda, or use comet. Rinse the tub clean and wipe it dry to shine.

Removing Wrinkles From The Shower Curtain

Assuming your shower curtain is not vinyl, put it into the dryer on the low setting and run the dryer for approx 15 minutes. If you have a vinyl curtain, hang it in the shower, and run the shower on hot. If you can- adjust the spray toward the inside of the curtain so the hot water hits it and helps to remove the wrinkles. If you have warm weather in the area, hang the shower curtain over the fence and let the sun do the work.