Ethan Clarke
Keeping your shower curtain clean is important, but it's easy to forget about. Soap scum, mildew, and grime can build up over time, so it's a good idea to wash your plastic shower curtain every few months. You can wash a plastic shower curtain in the washing machine or by hand.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cleaning methods | Machine wash, hand wash |
| Machine wash cycle | Delicate or handwash cycles with slow spin speeds |
| Machine wash water temperature | Warm or cool |
| Machine wash detergent | Yes, a small amount |
| Machine wash additives | Bleach, colour-safe bleach, vinegar, baking soda |
| Machine wash items | Towels |
| Drying | Hang on shower rod, air dry |
| Hand wash method | Soak in bathtub, scrub with a soft brush and soap |
| Hand wash additives | Baking soda, vinegar |
| Frequency | Once a month, at minimum once every three months |
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What You'll Learn
How to pretreat a plastic shower curtain
To pretreat a plastic shower curtain and prevent soap scum buildup, you must do so before its first use. The following steps can be taken to pretreat a new plastic shower curtain:
Step 1:
First, add the plastic shower curtain to your washing machine. It is important to only wash one shower curtain at a time.
Step 2:
Add a small amount of distilled white vinegar to the machine. You can use about 1/4 cup of vinegar.
Step 3:
Run the washing machine on a rinse cycle with warm water. Make sure the water is not hot, as this could cause the plastic to melt.
Step 4:
Once the rinse cycle is complete, hang the curtain on a rod to air dry.
Other options:
Lemon juice or a small amount of mild laundry detergent can also be used to pretreat a new plastic shower curtain. However, avoid using vinegar, lemon juice, and laundry detergent together, as this could cause a chemical reaction.
After pretreating your plastic shower curtain, it is important to wash it regularly to prevent mildew and soap scum buildup. Handwashing or using the washing machine with a gentle cycle and cool water is recommended for washing plastic shower curtains.
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How to machine wash a plastic shower curtain
Firstly, remove the plastic shower curtain from the shower rod and take off all the rings. Check the care label for specific instructions.
Next, place the curtain in the washing machine and use a small amount of detergent. Choose a gentle cycle with warm or cool water and the highest water level. Avoid hot water as this may damage the curtain. Delicate or handwash cycles with slow spin speeds are best for plastic curtains.
Add a couple of bath towels to the machine, which will help wipe off dirt and residue and balance the load. You can also add 1/2 cup of colour-safe bleach to the load if your curtain is especially grimy.
Once the cycle is complete, remove the curtain and hang it back up on the shower rod to air dry. Do not put a plastic shower curtain in the dryer.
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How to hand wash a plastic shower curtain
Step 1: Prepare the shower curtain
Remove the shower curtain from the shower rod and take off all the rings. If only the bottom of the curtain is dirty, you can leave it attached to the rod and soak just the bottom in a container of bleachy water.
Step 2: Pretreatment
Before the first wash, pretreat your plastic shower curtain by running it through the rinse cycle of your washing machine with a bit of distilled white vinegar. Set the water to warm to avoid melting the plastic. This will prevent the buildup of soap scum.
Step 3: Handwashing
Handwashing can be done in a bathtub or a large tub. Soak the curtain in warm or cool water with a mild detergent or baking soda. Use a soft brush or a microfiber cloth to scrub the curtain until it is clean.
Step 4: Drying
After handwashing, hang the curtain back on the shower rod to air dry. Do not put the curtain in the dryer.
Maintenance
To keep your shower curtain clean for longer, spray the bottom of the curtain with a mixture of half water and half distilled white vinegar once a week, then scrub with a brush.
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How often to wash a plastic shower curtain
It is recommended that you wash your plastic shower curtain at least once a month. This is because shower curtains can quickly become soiled with daily use.
If you are unable to wash your shower curtain that often, you should, at the very least, aim to clean it once every three months. This will help keep it free of soap scum and residue.
If you are unable to machine wash your plastic shower curtain, you can also wash it by hand. To do this, fill your bathtub with water and add a small amount of mild detergent. Soak the curtain in the bathtub and scrub it with a soft brush until it is clean.
Some people also recommend washing your shower curtain after every use. This can be done by filling a plastic container with bleachy water and soaking the bottom of the curtain in it.
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How to prevent mould and mildew on a plastic shower curtain
To prevent mould and mildew on a plastic shower curtain, it is important to keep it dry. After taking a shower, remove the curtain from the bathroom and store it in a dry place. Once the humidity in the bathroom has decreased and any water that may have splashed on the floor has been mopped up, put the curtain back up.
Additionally, ensure that the curtain is not left bunched up at one side of the shower opening. Instead, smooth it out so that it dries more quickly. Increasing ventilation by turning on the bathroom exhaust fan and opening windows can also help to prevent mould and mildew.
To further inhibit the growth of mould and mildew, wash the shower curtain at least once a month. To wash a plastic shower curtain, you can use a washing machine or hand wash it. For machine washing, use a gentle cycle with high levels of warm or cool water—not hot, to avoid damaging the plastic—and a small amount of gentle laundry detergent. Add a couple of bath towels to help wipe off dirt and balance the load. Once the cycle is complete, remove the curtain and hang it back up to air-dry.
For handwashing, soak the curtain in a bathtub and scrub it with a soft brush and soap until clean. Alternatively, use baking soda with sprinkles of water and scrub the whole curtain down outside or in a large tub.
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Frequently asked questions
You can wash a plastic shower curtain by hand or in a washing machine. If washing by hand, soak the curtain in your bathtub and scrub with a soft brush and soap until clean. If using a washing machine, use a gentle cycle with warm or cool water and a small amount of mild detergent.
It is recommended that you wash your shower curtain at least once a month. However, if you use your shower less frequently, you may be able to wash it just once every three months.
You should use mild laundry detergent to wash your plastic shower curtain. You can also add vinegar, baking soda, or colour-safe bleach to the wash cycle to prevent mould and remove mildew.
