How to Clean Mildew From a Shower Curtain Liner

The shower and shower curtain are common breeding grounds for mildew.

Your shower curtain is a prime location for the growth and spread of mildew. Because it's exposed, sometimes on a daily basis, to moist heat, your shower curtain often becomes stained with black or pink mildew stains. It's possible to remove mildew from your shower curtain liner without using expensive mildew-killing products. Thorough removal of mildew from your shower curtain is important so the mildew doesn't spread to the shower tile.

Things You'll Need

• Washing machine 2 old white bath towels 1/2 cup chlorine bleach 1/4 cup laundry detergent Dryer

Instructions

1. Remove your shower curtain from the shower and fold it so the mildew is on the inside. This helps prevent mildew from transferring to other surfaces as you move the shower curtain out of the bathroom.

2. Fill your washing machine with warm water, 1/2 cup chlorine bleach and 1/4 cup laundry detergent. Place two old white towels into the washing machine, preferably towels you don't mind being exposed to bleach. Add the unfolded shower curtain and run your washing machine through a full cycle.

3. Place your shower curtain and two towels into dryer, on the lowest heat setting, for a few minutes to remove excess water.

4. Spread or hang your shower curtain outside in the sunlight, if possible, or inside by an open, sunny window. The air and sunlight will finish drying the shower curtain without drying out the material, and the sunlight will kill any remaining mildew spores.

Tips & Warnings

• Prevent mildew from growing on your shower curtain again by spraying it with undiluted vinegar after each shower or bath, then opening the curtain up all the way so it can dry thoroughly.

• Repeated use of bleach to remove mildew from a plastic or vinyl shower curtain can dry out the curtain material.

References

• Reader's Digest: Wipe Out Mildew
• University of Missouri: How To Prevent and Remove Mildew