While cleaning shower screens covered in limescale and soap can be scary, we sometimes tend to forget to mention that of the shower curtain. However, limescale, humidity, dust, mold, stagnant water and soap splashes can leave stubborn stains on it (not to mention bad odors!). Suffice to say that it is not very hygienic, because it becomes a real breeding ground for bacteria. Fortunately, there is no need to throw away your curtain at the slightest stain with all the plastic pollution that entails. You just need to know grandmother’s tips for cleaning, disinfecting and removing a shower curtain without damaging it!
Good to know:
Whether there are traces or not, it is advisable to clean your shower curtain at least once a month for more hygiene. However, good practices start every day. So, always make sure to ventilate the bathroom well and keep the curtain open after use to let it dry. This will limit the appearance of mold and condensation and will allow it to dry more quickly. However, you can use a towel after a shower or bath to dry it and limit moisture. This will also limit wear and moldy dirt! And above all, clean regularly you don’t have to remove installed grime and dirt.
How to clean your shower curtain? 3 methods!
Simply put in the washing machine!
The curtain is generally machine washable. For a fabric shower curtainopt for a wash cycle at 60°Cif possible using a special cotton program. For a plastic shower curtainhowever, do not exceed 40°C and use the special synthetic washing machine program. To complete the cleaning, you can use baking soda (stain remover and deodorizer). Allow half a cup of bicarbonate to add to the laundry for optimal effectiveness. And above all, add two large towels in the drum to protect the curtain during cleaning.
If your curtain is heavily stained, be sure to first remove the stains with the correct cleaning product before washing (see below).
To clean a synthetic shower curtain: white vinegar (or household alcohol)
The white vinegar and thehousehold alcohol are essential ecological and economical household products for the home. They also share the same stain removal properties. Household alcohol, however, is more disinfectant and its smell tends to be less bothersome. However, both will work just fine, so the choice is yours. In any case, this does not risk damaging the polyester or vinyl of the curtain ! How to clean the curtain? Simply unhook the shower curtain from its rods and lay it flat in the bathtub, on the floor or on a table. Use a sponge soaked in product or a soft brush to scrub the dirt. A toothbrush can be used on the seams. Finally, take care to rinse well before machine washing.
To clean a fabric shower curtain: Marseille soap
Here, we proceed as with the synthetic shower curtain! We unhook the curtain and lay it flat on a bathtub, a clean floor or a table. Then, rub with a damp sponge then with Marseille soap to get rid of encrusted stains. Once you have treated the stains, you can put your curtain in the washing machine. If it is white fabric, consider adding one to two tablespoons of sodium percarbonate to whiten it and help remove difficult stains. Hydrogen peroxide can also be very effective.
No need for bleach, not at all eco-friendly!
Bonus tip: How to prevent mold from growing on a shower curtain?
To limit stains caused by fungus and humidity, soak your clean shower curtain in a basin filled with warm salt water before putting it back in place. You can boil it and add coarse salt beforehand while the machine is running and let it cool so as not to make everything shrink.