When the time comes to deep-clean your bathroom, do you know how to clean a shower curtain liner? Yes, liners are cheap, but that doesn't mean your first inclination should be to toss the thing once it gets gross. It might sound easier to throw it out and buy a new one, but trust us, cleaning it is actually a breeze—if you know the right techniques.
Experts say you should clean the shower curtain liner once a month.
"Obviously, if you don't have to buy a new one, that saves some money," says Bruce Vance of Town and Country Cleaning Services based in Chapel Hill, NC. "It also prevents some more plastic in the landfill.”
How to clean a shower curtain liner
The two biggest cleaning issues with shower curtain liners? Mold growth and hard-water deposit buildup, the latter of which looks like a chalky, filmy residue. Here are the two best methods to restore the pristine quality of your shower curtain liner.
Method No. 1: Use the washing machine
Just like your sheets and towels, your shower curtain liner can also be cleaned in the washing machine. According to Vance, the easiest way to clean a liner is to throw it in the washing machine with a few towels. The towels will help prevent the liner from getting shredded.
Pour a regular amount of detergent in the washer. If you’d like, you can use one with bleach such as Clorox or OxiClean.
If you have hard-water buildup, white vinegar will typically take care of it. Just add 1 cup white vinegar to the machine during the rinse cycle if you’ve already added detergent to the mix. Be sure not to use vinegar with bleach, OK?
After the shower curtain liner is washed, hang it up to dry in the shower.
Method No. 2: Hand-wash
If you’d rather not put the shower curtain liner in the washing machine, you can try hand-washing it. Vance suggests using a mixture of isopropyl alcohol with hydrogen peroxide. Pour equal parts into a spray bottle, then spray the mixture all over the liner.
Bleach also works well if you dilute it with water. Vance recommends using 10 parts water to 1 part bleach.
“In addition to the washing machine method, you are also able to clean your shower liner with a cloth and baking soda,” says Leanne Stapf, vice president of operations for the Cleaning Authority in Columbia, MD.
Sprinkle some baking soda on the liner, dampen it with water, and scrub the entire liner with a sponge. Rinse the liner with warm water and repeat until the baking soda, soap scum, and water stains are gone.
"You can also spot-treat the shower liner with an all-purpose cleaner and cloth," says Stapf. "No need to take the liner off the shower rod for small spots.”
How to keep a shower curtain liner clean in between cleanings
You should deep-clean your shower curtain liner every month or so, but to keep the grime to a minimum, Vance recommends the following tips:
- Keep humidity as low as you can to prevent mold buildup. To do this, run a fan during and after your showers. If you live in a low-humidity climate and have a window in your bathroom, you can open it if you feel comfortable.
- When cleaning your bathroom, spray tile cleaner or vinegar and water on the liner and rinse it off. Keep in mind that vinegar can damage marble or natural stone, so be cautious if you have those types of surfaces in your bathroom.
- Be sure to shake off excess water and leave the shower curtain open to let your shower dry fully; this will keep mold at bay.
