Washing Your Vinyl Shower Curtain

Vinyl shower curtains and liners don’t have to be replaced just because they get dirty.

There are a few different tried and true methods for cleaning, depending on your preference and strength of the vinyl.

If your shower curtain or liner is thick, heavy duty vinyl (usually $15 or more from a discount store), hand washing is recommended. The agitation and folding in most washing machines is simply too rough on really thick vinyl.

If your shower curtain or liner is thinner vinyl, the washing machine method should be all you need.

Hand Washing Method
Hand washing is a two step process. First, you should spray the curtain or liner no less than once per week and no more than once per use with one of the solutions below:

1 part bleach to 10 parts water, applied with a spray bottle (most effective against mold and mildew)
1 part vinegar and 2 parts water, applied with spray bottle (most effective against water spots)
Table salt and scrubber (helps with soap scum)
A commercial shower cleaner like “Shower Power”

Once every two or three months, you’ll need to take your shower curtain or liner off the hooks or rings and scrub well. There will likely be enough soap stuck to the vinyl to create enough suds. If you have problems with soap scum, water spots and mold or mildew, clean in this order:

Liberally sprinkle table salt onto vinyl
Pour or spray on full strength vinegar
Scrub with scouring pad
Rinse well
Spray with full strength bleach
Let dry completely
Re-hang

Leave out any steps that do not concern your curtain or liner (salt for soap scum, vinegar for water spots, bleach for mildew or mold)

Machine Washing Method

Remove liner or curtain from rings
Place in washing machine with a few towels
Run hot water cycle, adding 1/4 cup of vinegar during the rinse cycle
Place in dryer for 3-5 minutes, then hang to dry

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