Preventing Mildew On a Shower Curtain
Gloria from Western NY
Feedback About This Post:
RE: Preventing Mildew On a Shower Curtain
Thanks Kreaty, Lynn Beth and Ashley, I'm beginning to think, for me, the cloth liner may be the best solution. I like the NON disposable aspect and I know they won't be that slimey vinyl that will stick to my legs, eeww. ~gloria
Post By Enter your name. (Guest Post)
RE: Preventing Mildew On a Shower Curtain
If the shower curtain is made of plastic, use a bleach solution. Equal parts water and bleach and spray on the curtain. No more mildew. ~janette~
Post by ashleybunkin
RE: Preventing Mildew On a Shower Curtain
Buy the fabric liners (the ones meant to get wet) and you can just wash them in the washing machine as often as you like.
Post by Lynn
RE: Preventing Mildew On a Shower Curtain
Hello!
The best way I have found is
1. When you first start, after you take a shower, take a squirt bottol filled with half bleach and half water and spray down the whole shower, including the shower curtain.
2. Using an old rag or old towl, wipe the shower all down and do not rinse. I alway exten the shower curtain so it can dry on it's own.
3. After every shower, I just spray down the shower all over including the shower curtain and I never have scum build up or mildew and I like the clean smell.
4. Be sure you keep this bottol labled "Bleach" and keep it up and away from children.
I always have a clean tub and shower.
Post by Kreatvmuzk1111
RE: Preventing Mildew On a Shower Curtain
Hi StrawberryH,
Listerine, who knew? That's certainly worth a try. Thanks, much appreciated. ~gloria
Post By Enter your name. (Guest Post)
RE: Preventing Mildew On a Shower Curtain
Listerine! kills and Prevents mildew. you can even use the cheep generic kinds but it has to be the original kind not the mint one. It will not remove stains left if the mildew gets to bad but it will kill it this works on tile in basements and on clothes. I keep several bottles in the house. I learned this from a chemical engineer who specializes in clothes. And unlike bleach it will not make the plastic brittle.
Post By strawberryh (Guest Post)
RE: Preventing Mildew On a Shower Curtain
Hey, more great ideas. I'm going to solve this problem one way or the other. Here's a couple more monkey wrenches thrown in to complicate things a bit. No. 1, I'm trying very hard to NOT be a buy it, use it, throw it away kind of person. Some say I'm "green", but it goes farther than that, I'm cheap. So even at 1.00, I don't like to toss something that I could possibly make last a little longer or indefinitely.
No. 2, Taking down the curtains and putting them back up is a Royal Pain in my bum shoulder. Even my healthy husband doesn't like this job (but does it, because he loves me). So I really want a solution that can help my existing vinyl curtains. I like the salt water idea, no vinegar smell. And I do cut the bottoms off first thing. But more for the reason that I HATE an overly long curtain that can attack my legs and glom onto me. For anyone interested, you can read my column on the subject in my blog gloriaslater.blogspot.com . You may have to search back in the archive pages to find it or google vinylhydrophobia :) This has been a long-standing pet peeve of mine.
Thanks again Thrifty Funners, you're the best.
~gloria
Post By Enter your name. (Guest Post)
RE: Preventing Mildew On a Shower Curtain
We sold our 3-bdr. house and are now living in a 2-bdr. apartment. While we lived in the house I had to regularly wash the white polyester shower curtain liner to keep it clean and white. Before the fabric curtain liner I went with the heavy duty plastic. After trying to keep it scum free it finally cracked and I had to throw it out.
Since we moved into the apartment I made a beautiful fabric shower curtain from a full flat bed sheet for our bathroom. Now I just purchase my shower curtain liners at Dollar Tree for $1.00. I've noticed that I have very little upkeep with the cheap liner. When it wears out, I replace it with another one for $1.00 that I keep in my linen closet. It's cheaper to throw it out then to wash it.
Sorry, I see what your dilemma now, you have to buy several shower curtains because of your claw foot bathtub. Someone from the Thrifty Fun Community might be able to give you an answer.
Post by MCW
RE: Preventing Mildew On a Shower Curtain
I wash mine regularly in hot water and bleach (when I do white towles). Just hang it to dry. DO NOT put it in the dryer. I bought a heavy duty liner with metal rings at the top at the Dollar store for like $5. I've had it for about three years now.
Post by Opal1013
RE: Preventing Mildew On a Shower Curtain
Mrs. Fixit website (mrsfixit.com) says:
To prevent mildew from growing on your shower curtain, soak it in a strong saltwater solution in the bathtub for about a half an hour, and then hang it up. The salt will help to hinder mildew growth. Spray it every couple of weeks with salt water to keep it up!
I also read another trick somewhere else a long time ago...
Shower curtains have a little "hem" at the bottom. Cut off the hem and water will run right off it and water won't stay in the crease and cause mildew.
This is the first thing I do with every new shower curtain.
I think I would go with the salt water soak to start, for the mildew, and the vinegar spray in between for the scum.
Post by Mary T
RE: Preventing Mildew On a Shower Curtain
Great ideas everyone. Part of our problem is that the bathroom is so small, like they say, you have to step out in the hall to change your mind. So it steams up fast. The curtain, not my mind, though on some days that's a problem, too. Again, great ideas. I'll probably try them all.
~gloria
Post By Enter your name. (Guest Post)
Disclaimer: ThriftyFun.com cannot accept any responsibility for any injury or damage that you may cause to yourself, others, or property when following any advice given on this site. Read the full disclaimer: http://www.thriftyfun.comdisclaimer.ldml If you find any information on ThriftyFun.com or in our newsletters that is either erroneous and/or potentially harmful to others, please Contact Us, immediately.