Vinyl shower curtain liners are SO hard to keep clean. Why is it so hard?!?! Learn 3 shower curtain liner cleaning hacks and banish mold from your shower forever!
How are you supposed to clean a shower curtain liner anyway? It’s not like a wall you can scrub or wipe down.
Maybe you’ve tried holding the top bottom tight and wiping it down. Or taking it off of the hooks to wipe it down. I did. It sucks. Wouldn’t do it again. (Hopefully, I’m not the only crazy one out there!)
Shower curtain liner cleaning is a bit of a mystery no one talks about.
So let’s get to and learn 3 shower curtain liner cleaning hacks to make life easier and cleaner!
3 Shower Curtain Liner Cleaning Hacks
Hack #1 – Make Your Liner Fit the Opening
One of the biggest issues I used to face is that little extra vinyl at the end of my shower curtain liner. Especially in our stand up stall shower. I’d have a foot or more of liner that was all bunched up to one side.
That bunch of excess liner is the perfect environment for mold growth. You need to keep the liner spread out to dry fully between showers to avoid pesky mold.
The simple answer is to simply cut the shower curtain liner to a custom size. This is a super simple DIY that will cut down on your shower curtain liner cleaning.
First, measure your shower opening and add a 2 inches. That is the measurement you’re going to cut your liner to.
Second, lie your shower curtain liner on your living room floor so you have plenty of space to lie it flat. Any room where you have plenty of floor space.
Finally, simply measure your liner to match the opening of your shower. Cut in a straight line (remember to add those 2 inches). Liners cut very easily. You should be able to glide your scissors down with ease.
One word of caution, make sure you’re cutting a 1/4 inch or so from the grommet at the top of the shower curtain liner. I made the mistake of cutting just before a grommet and it made the liner kind of funky.
Now you have a template for each time you replace your liner. In the future just lie down the old liner on top of the new liner and make your cut without measuring.
Here you can see the contrast between the old and new shower curtain liner. It was time to replace it!
This trick has single-handedly cut down on any mold I experience on my shower curtain liner. Less shower curtain liner cleaning is a win in my book!
Hack #2 – Wash Your Shower Curtain Liner
Did you know you can wash your shower curtain and shower curtain liner in your washing machine? You can! It’s a super simple way to keep it clean.
To get the soap scum wash your liner with your bath mats. You’re getting a little extra scrubbing action with your bath mats to clean off the liner.
Others recommend washing the liner with towels but I’d prefer to keep my towels separate. Plus it gets 2 things done at the same time. Wash bathmats – check! Shower curtain liner cleaning – check! Remember bath mats should get washed regularly too!
Some recommend washing your shower curtain liner on gentle cycle. I just do a normal wash with warm water and a little soap. I’ve never had a liner rip. Use your discretion.
I’ve read you can add 1/2 cup of salt to combat mold but have yet to try it. But I plan to
try it next time I replace my liner! I’ll report back with the results.
Washing your shower curtain liner in the washing machine won’t make your liner come out like new. It will breathe some new life into it. A quick wash in your washing machine will make your shower curtain liner look a whole lot better.
Here’s the before:
After the wash cycle:
And after it was hung to dry:
Much better!!
Just hang to dry directly out of the washing machine – your shower curtain liner should NEVER go in the dryer!
I do a quick wipe down of the bottom of the liner once it’s out of the dryer if I have time. If not, it just hangs dry.
I do a few washes before eventually replacing the liner.
If you’re looking for a more natural laundry room, check out these 3 simple swaps for a natural laundry room.
Hack #3 – Daily Shower Cleaner
This last hack is a little more work but very worthwhile. You can use a store-bought daily shower cleaning spray or just make your own daily shower cleaner.
Spray down the shower and liner after you shower to keep it clean longer. No wiping needed. Just spray and go!
Pay particular attention to the shower curtain liner.
Save yourself some work and time spent cleaning. And yes it really does work! The hard part is getting into the habit of using it daily. Or maybe getting your husband to remember to spray down the shower.
Here is my favorite granite countertop cleaner that I use to keep my bathroom vanity clean too.
Start Fresh
Sometimes your shower curtain liner may be at the point of no return. You can run it through the washing machine. If that doesn’t help, I recommend replacing it and starting over.
I replace my liner 2-3 times a year. It’s okay to start fresh. Unfortunately, shower curtain liners don’t last forever. But using these 3 hacks you’ll have a cleaner shower and prolong the life of your shower curtain liner.
Make sure to pin this to help your friends keep a mold free shower too!
