Are your shower curtains too dirty such that you avoid touching them? Do they have mold that guests often confuse for polka dots? Then it is time to clean them! However, cleaning shower curtains is not as easy as it sounds. In fact, some homeowners choose to toss these bathroom staples when they become grimy. Others scrub them with brushes and end up damaging them in the process. If you want to effectively wash your shower curtains, you need to use your washer – but with caution.
To prevent your shower curtains from coming out of your washing machines in shreds, below are a few tips you should follow:
Don’t Wash Shower Curtains With Cold Water
This is a super tip you should not ignore, especially if your shower curtains are made of plastic. Most plastic shower curtains become brittle when immersed in cold water. This increases their risk of being shredded in every churn. To prevent this and achieve the best clean, use warm water. This will protect vibrant colors from fading. Also, use warm water when cleaning a fabric liner.
Avoid Using a Fabric Softener
A fabric softener should be an integral element in your laundry toolbox, but don’t use it to wash your shower curtains! Shower curtains are not pieces of fabric that require softness. Using a fabric softener will attract grime and make your curtains unattractive and more difficult to clean.
Through A Few Bathroom Towels and Bath Mats in the Machine
If you have plastic shower curtains or cloth shower curtains with protective plastic sides, don’t toss them into the washing machine alone. Throw in a few soiled bathroom towels or bath mats. This will reduce the number of creasing and wrinkles. Also, it will ensure you achieve the best clean for these infrequently laundered items.
Use Regular Detergent
To effectively wash your shower curtains, use regular detergent enough for a medium-sized load. However, if you have excess stains or soap scums to deal with, add a cup of vinegar to the wash. This will not only get rid of the stains, but it will also keep colors brighter and make whites whiter.
Set the Washer to Normal Cycle
Often, homeowners are tempted to set the machine to heavier cycles when washing shower curtains because they want to get rid of all the grime and get a perfect clean. However, as long as you have a good washer, it will not take much to get the grime, mold, and any other dirt on your curtains. Therefore, set the washer to a normal cycle and only set it to a heavier cycle when the need arises.
Skip the Drier
As soon as you are done washing the curtains, hang it outside and let it air dry. The heat in the drier can melt and damage some fabrics. Also, note that direct sunlight can also weaken some shower curtain liners; hence you need to hand them in a shaded location or indoors.
Since your shower curtains get used a lot, always think of popping them into the washing machine when they start getting shabby. Even though grime, mold, mildew, and soap scum often take their toll on these elements, you don’t have to toss them in favor of new ones. Follow the above tips, and you will have clean, good-looking curtains for a long time.
