This Easy Wash Trick Keeps Mildew From Coming Back To Your Shower Curtain
Are you guilty of ignoring that gross pink and black grime at the bottom of your shower curtain? It’s hard to feel like you’re actually getting clean when you are standing right next to a science experiment. I used to think the only solution was to throw the plastic liner away and buy a new one every few months. But I recently learned a brilliant trick to rescue it and keep the mildew away for good.
Let Your Washing Machine Do The Work
The most surprising part of this whole trick is realizing you do not have to scrub that plastic liner by hand. Your washing machine is actually perfectly capable of handling a standard plastic shower curtain. Just take the liner off the metal hooks and drop it right into the empty drum. It feels a little weird putting cheap plastic into the washer, but I promise it is totally safe and saves your tired arms.
Add Towels
If you just run the plastic curtain by itself the mildew will not actually come off. The machine needs some extra friction to scrub the slime away. The absolute best trick is to throw two regular bath towels into the washer along with the plastic liner. As everything spins around the rough texture of the heavy towels acts like a gentle scrubbing brush. It easily wipes the mold off the plastic without tearing the liner.
Picking The Right Mold Killer
You have two really great options for getting the mold completely killed. If you do not mind harsh chemicals, pouring half a cup of bleach in with your normal detergent works incredibly well. But if you prefer a gentler approach, plain white vinegar is fantastic. Just pour a cup of vinegar directly into the drum. It naturally kills the mold spores and strips away all that hard water buildup making the plastic perfectly clear again.
Keep The Water Temperature Warm
When you set the washing machine dial you want to use warm water and a gentle cycle. Hot water is a huge mistake because it can actually melt or warp the thin plastic material. Cold water will not dissolve the soap or soften the grime enough. Warm water is the perfect middle ground to get things clean while keeping the liner safe. Just let it run through the normal wash and rinse cycles.
Skip The Dryer
This is incredibly important to remember. You must never put a plastic shower liner into your hot dryer. It will melt into a disastrous puddle and ruin your machine entirely. When the wash cycle finishes, simply take the damp curtain and hang it right back up on the shower hooks. It will drip dry perfectly into the bathtub in just a few hours. The bathroom will instantly smell so fresh and completely clean, which is a great bonus.
Trim The Bottom For Better Airflow
Now that your curtain is clean we need to stop the mildew from returning. The biggest reason mold grows is because the bottom of the liner bunches up on the floor of the tub. That folded plastic traps standing water all day long. Take a pair of scissors and carefully trim a few inches off the bottom of the liner. You want it to hang completely straight without touching the floor of the bathtub.
Close The Curtain After Every Shower
The final secret to keeping mold away is honestly just a tiny habit change. When we finish showering we usually push the wet curtain all the way to one side of the wall. That creates deep wet folds where air cannot circulate, so the curtain stays wet. Instead you should pull the wet curtain completely shut across the length of the tub. Letting it dry flat exposes the entire surface to the air and stops mold from taking root.
Related Articles
-How To Keep Your Shower Curtain From Getting Moldy
-Dirt vs Mold vs Mildew: How To Tell The Difference (And What To Do)
-How To Test Your Home For Mold (And How To Get Rid Of It)
It is amazing how a few simple tweaks can solve such a frustrating household problem. I love knowing that I’m not throwing away a perfectly good piece of plastic every single season anymore. It saves a little bit of money and makes my bathroom feel like it’s actually clean. I hope this easy routine helps you conquer that annoying shower grime for good.
Bliss Donahue-Power
