How to Get Rid of a Moldy Shower Curtain
No matter how often you clean your tiles, plumbing, and bath / shower, you can still face an annoying and recurring problem: mold on your shower curtain. One day you put in a new liner and it looks like the mold will reappear after a few days.
So why is this happening and what to do about it? To remove mold expert Michael Rubino parse this in an article for mindbodygreen . Here’s what you need to know.
What causes mold to grow on shower curtains
Basically it all comes down to ventilation and airflow. “Excess moisture between the shower curtain and shower liner can be trapped, creating an ideal environment for mold and mildew (which, by the way, should be taken as seriously as mold ),” Rubino writes.
Airing the bathroom
The obvious solution is to turn on the exhaust fan, but as Rubino explains, you can’t just flip a switch and expect things to be fixed:
It’s worth noting that when you turn on your exhaust fan, you create a negative pressure environment in your bathroom that sucks out steam and air. In order for the exhaust fan to work properly, you need to replace this air at the same rate that you extract it. That is why it is so important to open a door or window every time you open it.
If you don’t replace the airflow in the bathroom, your range hood won’t work as efficiently as it could. Ever notice moisture dripping from your fan after a hot shower? This is moisture that has remained inside the ventilation hole due to lack of incoming air.
And if you don’t have an exhaust fan, you will definitely want to open a window to let in the hot steamy air somewhere.
Other ways to prevent mold growth on your shower curtain
Besides keeping your bathroom well ventilated, Rubino offers some more tips for keeping your shower curtain mildew-free:
Separate shower curtain and liner
Since mold often forms between the shower curtain and the liner, take an extra five seconds after your shower or bath to separate them, that is, make sure the liner is inside the tub and the curtain is outside. Per Rubino :
By separating them, you are letting them both dry properly. When these two wet surfaces touch, moisture can remain between them for much longer. (Think if you left a wet sponge on the counter; both the sponge and the counter underneath would remain wet for a long period of time.)
Don’t leave your bath mat on the floor
Since the goal is to keep your shower area dry, Rubino says it’s also important to hang a bath mat after showering or bathing to prevent the same moisture retention that occurs between curtains.
“Simply place a bath mat over a shower bar or towel rack to allow it to dry completely between uses and you will have a lot less problems with mold growing around your shower area,” he writes.
Wash your bath mat and shower curtain regularly.
Rubino says if you’re not in the habit of washing your bath mat and shower curtain regularly, it’s time to start. “Over time, dust will accumulate on both, and when it does, it becomes a kind of magnet for settling mold spores,” he writes.
How to get rid of mold that is already there
If your shower curtain was relatively inexpensive and moldy, it’s probably best for you to throw it away and then start fresh and follow the tips above to prevent mold growth in the first place. But if you still want to try cleaning it, Rubino recommends using this product .
Another option is on The Maids website. They recommend spraying a moldy shower curtain with a solution of two parts hydrogen peroxide and one part water, letting it sit for 5-10 minutes, and then wiping it down with a solution of equal parts baking soda and water. Since you are dealing with mold, you should ideally do it outdoors, but if this is impractical or impossible, you can also clean it up in the tub itself.