Moldy shower curtains are a total drag, they look and smell terrible and can bring down the whole aesthetic of your bathroom. I love taking a bath too, so the hot and steamy atmosphere creates the perfect breeding ground for mold. Grim!
At TGCS, we are huge advocates for using baking soda, whenever possible, as a substitute for harsher, more aggressive cleaning chemicals. And we are lucky because its properties make it perfect for almost any scenario where a surface is scratch resistant. This trusty household staple helped us clean up that nasty mold from our vinyl shower curtain liner, and sources around the web also indicate it is effective on plastic, polyester, nylon, and fabric too. Just remember to do a small test first to avoid any color changes or damage to the material.
Here’s what we did to get our shower curtain liner looking fresh and clean
Step 1: Take the shower curtain down from the rod and lay it flat. We did this in the tub but you can also do it on a non-carpeted floor (anywhere where you are happy to clean the surface afterwards).
Step 2: Mix a 1/2 cup of baking soda with some warm water to make a paste.
Step 3: Spread the baking soda paste all over the moldy areas of the curtain, placing a thicker layer where the mold and grime is the worst.
Step 4: Wait 30 minutes (coffee and YouTube).
Step 5: Scrub the moldy areas with a soft-bristled brush or sponge. I used a kitchen sponge but a toothbrush also works, it depends how much time you have.
Step 6: Rinse the curtain thoroughly with warm water using the showerhead.
Step 7: Hang the curtain back up to dry.
And voila! Our shower curtain is mold-free and ready for its close-up. Keep in mind, severe cases may require a new shower curtain, especially when the vinyl of plastic starts to thin and break. This happened to ours after a couple of years of intense cleaning, so we picked up a budget replacement from our local Walmart for a few dollars. Plus, remember to keep the curtain dry to avoid future mold growth. If you find mold popping up in other places like the wall and ceiling, you may have a ventilation or roof leaking problem. Good ventilation helps to remove moisture and dry your curtain. Mold can have very negative impact on your respiratory health, so it is best to nip it in the bud before letting it take over.
Here’s another option using laundry detergent, baking soda and vinegar in a washing machine (for those readers under a time crunch). For a true green clean you can swap out standard high street detergent for eco-friendly options 🙂 Here’s NBCs run-down of their top 12 eco-friendly laundry detergents currently available. We use our own baking soda recipe which I will cover in a future blog post.
Sources
https://www.homedepot.com/c/ah/how-to-clean-shower-curtains/9ba683603be9fa5395fab901623bcb26
