How do you clean yours?

Shower Curtain - curtain
@Humbug25 (12540)
December 15, 2008 8:15am CST
In the area I live in the water tends to make things go a bit orangey in colour if it is left long enough. This has happened to my shower curtain and I am now wondering how on earth to clean it off. I think the curtain is nylon. The same thing happened to my mums so she put it in the washing machine and it came out really creased and as it is like plastic she can't really iron it and the washing machince doesn't seem have done a very good job either but that might have something to do with the detergent or heat that she washed it at. How do you wash your shower curtain? Do you think it would be ok to put in the washing machine?
5 people like this
16 responses
@jessi0887 (2788)
• United States
15 Dec 08
I used to use tilex on stuff like that. You really may have to scrub it with a cleaner. Washing it alone in a washer may not help. Buy a scrubber, tilex or try another cleaner like comet. It worked for me. i hope it works for you. I don't know what kind of curtain it is though. Is it cloth or plastic kind? If its cloth then washing in machine might be the best way to go.
2 people like this
@Humbug25 (12540)
17 Dec 08
Hi ya jessi0887 The only problem is that I am worried it will get really creased up and I won't be able to iron it but I must just give it a go. Thanks for your response
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
12 Jan 09
i wash mine in the washer on gentle cycle w/detergent & some bleach. i also use softher in the final rinse water. hang it up immediately so it want be so wrinkled.
1 person likes this
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
12 Jan 09
hi there. hope it works well for you. have had alot of computer problems but hope i'm on the roadto recovery. lol was not a happy camper w/out it. just got your request for a friend, thank you.
@Humbug25 (12540)
12 Jan 09
Hi there ANTIQUELADY long time no see, how's you? Well I hope!! Yes I will give it a go, should be ok in the washing machine, low temp, gentle cycle and hang it up immediately!! Thanks for your response
1 person likes this
@EvrWonder (3571)
• Canada
16 Dec 08
To clean a shower curtain you must first be sure to know what the material is that it is made out of. Check for any labels that give washing instructions. For plastic curtains, simply fill the tub a little and place the curtian inside. Use a good soap scum remover that has a disinfectant and a dandy brush. Start spraying and scrubbing. Rinse. If your shower curtain is nylon it maybe put in the washer on a gentle cycle. Warm water is fine but not hot and don't use bleach. Add a bit of Mr.Clean or pinesol if you want, in addition to the washing detergent. hang back on curtain rod hooks to dry.
@EvrWonder (3571)
• Canada
18 Dec 08
You are very welcome. Just Don't put it in the dryer and wash on gentle in preferrably cold water or warm if you think it will do a better job. Just don't use hot water and no bleach! Good Luck. ;)
@Humbug25 (12540)
18 Dec 08
Hi there EvrWonder Yes I don't think I shall put it in the dryer after just hang it back up and let it dry! Thanks for your help and response
@nixxi76 (3191)
• Canada
16 Dec 08
My shower curtain is cloth and I just put it into the washing machine and run it through like I would normal clothes. My shower liner is plastic and disposible so after three months or so I just throw it out then go to the dollar store and buy another one for $1.00. Good luck
1 person likes this
@nixxi76 (3191)
• Canada
17 Dec 08
If you're going to wash the liner yes it's not worth it. You can get them super cheap. I hope that's what you're talking about lol.
@Humbug25 (12540)
17 Dec 08
Hi ya nixxi76 Ah so maybe I should buy just a cheap plastic one so that the other one doesn't get so messy? Thanks for your response
1 person likes this
@jewilim (495)
• Philippines
16 Dec 08
I think that usually happens if the water comes from underground. I also think those are the unpurities in the water. I have heard some people say that when they hand wash their clothes using water from underground their clothes usually go from white to dirty white, they say it is because of the water. I think there are also times that it would really be hard to wash your cutrian especially if it has water stains on it and if it has been there for quite some time. If buying a curtain wont cost that much i guess its much better to buy a new one. I dont really know how much a curtain cost but i think if it would cost the same as your cleaner then i guess buying a new one would really be a good idea. Well, that is if you would like to save time and effort then you would have to spend for it. hehe
1 person likes this
@Humbug25 (12540)
18 Dec 08
Hi ya jewilim Well I have only had the curtain for a couple of months or so, so buying a new one is out of the question right now but thanks for the advice! Thanks for your response
@mariposaman (2959)
• Canada
19 Dec 08
That orangey colour is most certainly iron in your water. It actually deposits on whatever and turns to rust. The best way to get rid of it is with the aforementioned CLR cleaner and is gets rid of calcium, lime and rust. Lysol toilet bowl cleaner seems to remove rust too. A word of caution these are powerful chemicals and cause you skin, eye and lung damage, and can even be fatal in some circumstances. I do the same as a nother poster here, put it in the washing machine as I only buy the dollar store shower curtains so if the washing machine does not work, I throw them away and use the vinyl dollar store product.
@Humbug25 (12540)
19 Dec 08
Hi mariposaman That's great mariposaman thanks for the advice! Thanks for your response too
• United States
16 Dec 08
It sounds like you need a water filter put on your main water line.. then nothing will turn orange. If it were me I would just replace the shower liner.. they are fairly cheap and it beats trying to wash it. I normally throw away my shower liner (for a new one) every other month.
1 person likes this
@Humbug25 (12540)
18 Dec 08
Hi Litle_Stormy I actually don't have a liner on my curtain, maybe that is the problem! LOL Thanks for your response
@amanda333 (739)
• France
15 Dec 08
I have doors on my shower now....I no what you mean though, because when I lived in England I had shower curtains and they use to go a funny colour at the bottom. I tried cleaning it but in the end had to get a new one
@Humbug25 (12540)
17 Dec 08
Hi amanda333 That might be the answer! Get doors instead, problem solved forever!! LOL Thanks amanda
@p1kef1sh (45681)
15 Dec 08
www.mrscleannw.com/tips/shower-curtain.html Makes sense to me Humbug. Just don't put the shower curtain on a hot wash!
1 person likes this
@Humbug25 (12540)
17 Dec 08
Hi ya p1kef1sh Yes not a good idea to put on at 60 degrees huh? LOL Will check out the link thanks. Cheers p1key
@bunnybon7 (50970)
• Holiday, Florida
15 Dec 08
thats what happened to my shower curtain when someone told me to do that. after that, i just took it down, took it outside(unless snows on the ground) laid it out, put soap an water on it, took the broom and scrubbed, shook it out an hung it back up to dry in shower.
1 person likes this
@Humbug25 (12540)
17 Dec 08
Hello bunnybon7 Sounds a bit time consuming to me! LOL Thanks for your response
@Jenaisle (16568)
• Philippines
16 Dec 08
Brush it with lukewarm ammonia water. This could also be used with glass windoes and the tiles of your bathrrom floor. Or hang it and then brush with a soft brush and detergent. Do not use bleach as this will destroy the fabric or teflon. Is it is a cotton curtain , then wash is like an ordinary clothe. Do not use the washing machine when these are teflons or semi-plastic as they would be ruined . Cheers.
1 person likes this
@Humbug25 (12540)
18 Dec 08
Thanks Jenaisle for your help and response
• United States
16 Dec 08
humbug25, To keep my shower curtain clean, I mixed-up a bottle of bleach/water (10 to 1) and spray my shower curtain with that after showering. My problem is more of a fungus issue though. Happy MyLotting!
1 person likes this
@Humbug25 (12540)
18 Dec 08
Hi there PrincessKitten Maybe you ought to start a discussion about that then LOL Thanks for your response
@bellebads (740)
• Philippines
16 Dec 08
use a scrub and a good cleaner agent to take the dirt off. but you have to be gentle because the curtain might tear off if you exert too much force in scrubbing.
1 person likes this
@Humbug25 (12540)
17 Dec 08
Hi there bellebads I have 3 young boys I run around after every day so I think the chances of me exerting too much energy might be a bit slim! LOL Thanks for your response
• United States
16 Dec 08
I spray my shower curtain with this off brand shower cleaner. It works amazing and smells good too. Only like 2 dollar.s
1 person likes this
@Humbug25 (12540)
18 Dec 08
Hi conehead992 and welcome to mylot I will have a look around the supermarkets here and see if they sell stuff! Thanks for your response
@rocketj1 (6955)
• United States
15 Dec 08
Mine is nylon and can be popped into the washer. I only dry it on very low or simply hang it back up if there is no humidity that day. Mine dries extremely quickly. Does it have a tag on it? Often times there will be washing instructions on the tag.
1 person likes this
@Humbug25 (12540)
17 Dec 08
Hi rocketj1 Na, no tag on it but I must just give a go in the washer maybe not putting it on to spin and just hang it back up again to dry! Cheers rocketj1
@cynthiann (18612)
• Jamaica
15 Dec 08
Anything made of nylon should be soaked overnight in cold water. Do not add soap or anything else - just cold water. The dirt will be released in the cold water. Then take out the nylon curtains and wash them. Wash in cold or warm water in mild detergetn. Spin for a short while and hang up damp and there will be no creases in the material. My Grandmother taught me this many years ago. Blessings
1 person likes this
@Humbug25 (12540)
17 Dec 08
Hi cynthiann Ah yes soaking them, I hadn't thought of doing that! Cheers cynthiann