Preventing Mildew On a Shower Curtain

Tip: Preventing Mildew On a Shower Curtain

Bathroom shower curtains/liners are usually a source of mold and mildew. To help eliminate this problem, keep the wet curtains/liners away from the bathtub so it thoroughly dries. I bought self-stick plastic clips and attached them sideways, towards the middle and near the edge of the facing shower wall. When done showering, clip each side of the curtain high enough that the curtains do not touch any wet part of the tub. I recommend 3M self-stick removable clips. They are a bit more money but easily removable if the need ever occurs.

Another way to help eliminate the mold/mildew problem is to trim the hem off the bottom of the curtain/liner. The hem usually holds excessive water and will take longer to dry and that is usually where the mold and mildew starts to grow. I have trimmed a polyester shower liner; while it did fray a bit, it did not create a problem.

By mkymlp from NE, PA

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RE: Preventing Mildew On a Shower Curtain

If you buy one of the new lightweight fabric shower curtains you can slip it off and wash it every week. I wash mine with the rings on and slip it back on the rod. They last forever and are not cold and brittle like the plastic ones. I have two. One for the outside of the tub and one on the inside. (08/12/2010)

By Ann Parker

RE: Preventing Mildew On a Shower Curtain

Why go to all that trouble. I just wash mine in bleach and detergent every so often and hang it right back up. Dries in the tub. No mold or mildew for me! (08/13/2010)

By xintexas

RE: Preventing Mildew On a Shower Curtain

Thanks. This will help me. Our area is very humid. Mold and mildew tend to grow fast. There is five in the house, sometimes some of them shower twice a day. I usually wash my shower liner once a month but this will keep the yuckies off for the time being. We only have window air conditioners so the bathroom doesn't get dried out fast. We hope to get central air in the future. Thanks for the tip. (08/14/2010)

By HappyPappy

Request: Preventing Mildew On a Shower Curtain

I have a claw foot bathtub. We have to use shower curtain liners all the way around for showering. That's a lot of vinyl. Does anyone have a trick for keeping them scum-free? It doesn't matter what color curtain I buy, they all get scummy. I've even bought the ones that say mildew-proof. I don't want to waste my money on shower sprays and cleaners anymore and I'm tired of replacing the curtains every few months. I'm thinking vinegar might do the trick, but the smell is too strong. Any other ideas? Thanks.

Gloria from Western NY

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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 (01/18/2009)

By

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. (01/18/2009)

By Mary T

RE: Preventing Mildew On a Shower Curtain

I wash mine regularly in hot water and bleach (when I do white towels). 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. (01/18/2009)

By Opal1013

RE: Preventing Mildew On a Shower Curtain

We sold our 3-bedroom house and are now living in a 2-bedroom 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. (01/18/2009)

By MCW

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. This has been a long-standing pet peeve of mine.

Thanks again Thrifty Funners, you're the best. ~(01/18/2009)

By gloria

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. (01/18/2009)

By strawberryh

RE: Preventing Mildew On a Shower Curtain

Hi StrawberryH, Listerine, who knew? That's certainly worth a try. Thanks, much appreciated. (01/19/2009)

By gloria

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. (01/21/2009)

By Kreatvmuzk1111

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. (01/21/2009)

By Beth

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~ (01/21/2009)

By ashleybunkin

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. (01/22/2009)

By gloria

Request: Preventing Mildew On a Shower Curtain

How can I keep my shower curtain from mildewing?

MBE from Wilmington, DE

Answers:

RE: Preventing Mildew On a Shower Curtain

When your purchase your new vinyl curtain, before you hang it, soak it in salt water. This really does prevent mildew. I also towel dry my curtains after showering. It only takes a couple seconds and no mildew can grow. (12/05/2006)

By maryc

RE: Preventing Mildew On a Shower Curtain

How well your bath is ventilated to remove moisture after one showers makes a big difference in keeping mildew at bay.

After each person showers, make sure they wipe down the stall to help it dry quicker. You'll be surprised at how much water is left on the walls. The excess moisture is what causes the mildew.

I also keep a small fan in our bathroom that blows air into the end of our tub/shower stall. The moving airstream dries out the stall and curtain quicker, disabling the mildew from forming in the first place.

In the summer when it's really hot and humid, we live in the South, I have a fan that blows cool air into the bathroom to help clear out the moist steam, and use it with the small fan that moves the air around the bathroom.

I also have two shower curtains that I alternate. While I soak and wash one, the other gets hung so anyone can shower. This allows me to thoroughly clean each before reusing.

I like the idea of filling a spray bottle with a water-vinegar solution and spraying the curtain after each use. I think we'll incorporate it into our routine too.

I know this seems like a lot, but like I said, in the South where it's always humid and the summers are very hot, we need to take extra precautions against mold and mildew. (12/06/2006)

By susanmajp

Request: Preventing Mildew On a Shower Curtain

When you get out of the shower, always close the curtain so that the it is not bunched up. This allows the curtain to dry more quickly and helps prevent mildew.

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RE: Preventing Mildew On a Shower Curtain

If you already have mildew on your shower curtain, take a spray bottle and add a bit of bleach and fill the rest with water. Spray at the first sign of mildew. (06/01/2005)

By sewingmamma

RE: Preventing Mildew On a Shower Curtain

To allow your shower curtain to dry thoroughly, clip the bottom corner of it using a spring clothespin. I pin our shower curtain to a shower bag with pockets that hangs from our shower wall. This pulls the curtain away from the sides of the tub so it will dry. You could probably use a suction hook inside the shower to pin it to. Also, use a plastic hanger with clips, the ones you get when you purchase pants or a skirt, and keep it attached to a bath mat. When you are done using the mat, hang it up on the rod or inside your shower on a hook. You just have to be careful that you don't step on the attached hanger while using the bath mat. (06/01/2005)

By mkymlp

RE: Preventing Mildew On a Shower Curtain

i wash my shower curtain a least once a month and rinse with vinegar. There are 5 of us showering daily. Closing the shower curtain also helps. (06/02/2005)

By Diane

RE: Preventing Mildew On a Shower Curtain

I keep a spritz bottle of equal parts white vinegar and water with a few drops of lemon essential oil. As I am usually the last to shower in the morning, I spritz the shower curtain well and leave the curtain fully extended. (06/04/2005)

By Lori

RE: Preventing Mildew On a Shower Curtain

I too believe in shutting the curtain.. Now if I could just get the boys to do it on a regular basis! (09/28/2006)

By ~Wendola~