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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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Request: Preventing Mildew On a Shower Curtain
Archived on 01/18/2009
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)
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)
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.
Feedback:
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)
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)
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)
