Shower curtains prevent water from sprinkling out of the shower area. They are usually made of plastic. While taking a shower, you pull them across an opening to stop the water spray from getting out. It would be best to clean shower curtains regularly because they are exposed to water and soap scum.
Due to the growth of soap scum, mildew, and mold, curtains get dirty. But it’s not always necessary to toss them away and get a new one when this happens. Shower curtains are simple to wash and renew. You can clean the majority of shower curtains in a washing machine.
The significance of cleaning your shower curtain, how frequently you should do it, and how to successfully wash it in a washing machine will all be covered in this article.
Is it safe to put a shower curtain in the washing machine?
Yes, putting a shower curtain in the washing machine is entirely safe.
The fabric, though, makes a significant difference. Some fabric shower curtains are composed of a delicate material that must be treated with more care while washing them. Reading the label is the best way to determine whether you can put a particular shower curtain in the washing machine. However, a quick and straightforward technique to remove mold and soap scum from a shower curtain is to put it in the washing machine.
How frequently should you clean and replace a shower curtain?
When you notice a grime buildup, you might wonder if washing your shower curtain is necessary. Those ugly spots of dirt and grime would signify mold, something no one wants in their home.
According to the consensus, shower curtains should be washed monthly and replaced after six to twelve months. Even if there is no apparent mold on your curtain, it should still be cleaned and replaced as needed because it could contain bacteria.
Most likely, the grime on your shower curtain won’t make you ill. Even though bacteria and mold can develop in damp areas like the shower, these organisms are typically not harmful to healthy immune systems. However, it could be stressful if you have a weak immune system.
Mold exposure has the potential to make allergies and asthma symptoms worse. Consult your doctor about how frequently you should clean your shower curtain if you have any respiratory problems. It may not seem very comforting to wash a curtain every few months, but it is not that difficult. Here, we will discuss a few simple steps to help you conveniently wash shower curtains in a washing machine.
Things to know before washing a shower curtain:
Here are a few points to keep in mind before cleaning a shower curtain:
- First of all, your washing machine should be clean. There shouldn’t be any debris or odor in the washer. For this purpose, you should use True Fresh Washing Machine Cleaner Tablets. True Fresh washing machine cleaner is specifically designed to clean the inner and vital parts of your washing machine. As a result, True Fresh cleaner provides the best defense against dirt and odor.
- You can clean a shower curtain without the use of fabric softener.
- If your shower curtain has a liner, both the liner and the fabric curtain should be taken off and cleaned.
- It’s a perfect idea to pre-treat a shower curtain before you wash it, even though it’s not required.
- It would be best to wash your shower curtain even if it is not that dirty.
- Air drying is required to dry a shower curtain and helps to preserve the curtain’s shape. It would be best if you didn’t dry a shower curtain in a dryer.
6 steps to clean shower curtains in the washer:
The shower curtain is probably the first thing you see when you enter your bathroom, so it must be clean. Although plastic shower curtains are inexpensive and simple to replace when they become dirty, the cost increases over time. Try cleaning your shower curtains instead of throwing them away when they appear a bit worse for wear.
It’s pretty easy to do so and will ultimately save you money. For example, spending a little more on your bathroom cleaning routine can help you extend your curtain’s life for months to years rather than replacing it monthly.
So, if you want to clean your shower curtain and make it look new, you should follow the following procedure.
1. Detach the shower curtain from the rod and remove the rings:
First, detach the curtain from the shower rod and remove all the rings. If rings appear dirty, you can clean them individually by soaking them in a sink filled with hot water and a cup of white vinegar. Before putting the shower curtain in your washing machine, remove any metal hooks.
2. Place the shower curtain into your washing machine:
Put the shower curtain in the washing machine and use a small amount of detergent. You should place one or two towels in the washing machine. By doing this, you can avoid wrinkling the shower curtain, clinging to itself, or tearing it while being washed. While the washing machine runs, the towels also clean the shower curtain. Therefore, it would be best if you only used clean towels.
3. Add detergent and baking soda:
Add the usual quantity of detergent you would use for a load of laundry. After that, add baking soda between a half-cup and a cup. You’ll need extra baking soda for more oversized shower curtains. In addition to detergent, baking soda has anti-mold and cleanliness-improving properties.
To clean your shower curtains, you can also use white vinegar or bicarbonate of soda. Add distilled vinegar between a half and a full cup. Never use fabric softener. Your shower curtain may get a layer of film from fabric softener that can attract filth.
4. Start the machine:
Select a higher cleaning level. Use warm water to wash your shower curtain. Your shower curtains may contain many harmful bacteria and mold, so you must wash them using a warm water setting.
Plastic curtains are most secure during delicate or hand-wash cycles with slow spin speeds. There is no need for harder cycles because cleaning the gunk off your shower curtain won’t take much.
5. To remove stubborn stains, use bleach:
You only need baking soda and detergent to clean mildly dirty shower curtains. However, add bleach if your curtain has a lot of mildew and other stains. It would help if you started the washing machine after adding the detergent and baking soda. Half a cup of bleach should be added when the washer fills with water. Scrubbing up tough stains with an old toothbrush would be helpful.
6. Hang the shower curtain to air dry:
It would be best to shake the shower curtain once the wash cycle is finished and hang it back on the shower rod to air dry. Plastic or vinyl curtains should only be air dried, whereas some fabric curtains can be tumble dried on low heat. Read the care label before putting fabric curtains in the dryer. Some materials may melt or become distorted in the dryer.
How to maintain the cleanliness of your shower curtain after washing?
It is best to take specific preventative actions after cleaning your shower curtain to keep it from becoming dirty or moldy again. You should maintain good ventilation in your bathroom to prevent mildew and mold from growing there.
After every shower, spray the shower curtain with a solution of water and distilled white vinegar to keep it clean.
Regularly removing soap scum and mildew from the bottom of the shower curtain with a solution of water and distilled white vinegar will stop a more severe buildup.
Conclusion:
You should take good care of the cleanliness standards in your lodging to stay healthy. For example, we all need to take a bath almost daily, and we use the bathroom for that purpose. So cleanliness of the bathroom and all the things present there, is essential.
Hence according to your requirements, if you can wash your shower curtain in a machine, toss it in with some laundry detergent and a low-temperature setting. Implementing this quick and straightforward approach won’t take much of your time! Just be sure to read the care instructions for your shower curtain.
Frequenty Asked Questions
Q: How do you know if you can wash a shower curtain in a machine?
A: A shower curtain should have a care label instructing you to clean and maintain the item. To be safe, you should wash your shower curtain by hand if you can’t see a tag instructing you what to do. It will prevent any accidents from taking place.
Q: Can a plastic shower curtain be washed at 60 °C?
A: It is not a good idea to do this since the temperature would be too high for a shower curtain and could melt the plastic. The optimal temperature for shower curtains is 30°C or lower.
Q: How should polyester shower curtains be washed?
A: The best way to clean polyester shower curtains is at a low temperature without chlorine bleach. Because the curtain may become permanently damaged by this type of bleach. Instead, you can clean a shower curtain by following the instructions given in the article above.
Q: Can we Wash a Plastic Shower Curtain?
A: Yes, you can wash a plastic shower curtain in the washer. However, when you are washing it, be sure to:
- Keep it in a cool setting. Add a bath towel or two.
- Never put your plastic curtain in the dryer.
- Always air-dry your shower curtain.
