Cleaning 101: How to Clean a Shower Curtain & Liner
Get rid of grime.
Has your shower curtain seen better days? Freshen up your bathroom with these simple instructions for how to clean a shower curtain and liner.
Tip!
Keep in mind that shower curtains and liners should ideally be cleaned once a month to prevent the buildup of mold, mildew, and bacteria. Even with regular cleaning, consider replacing your shower liner every 6–12 months.
What You’ll Need
- Clean white towels
- Color-safe bleach
- Detergent
Step 1: Remove Curtain & Liner
Remove both the shower curtain and liner from the rings – leaving the rings on the curtain rod.
Step 2: Read Manufacturer’s Instructions
Make sure to follow the instructions on each label. Some fabrics may be hand-wash only and some require cold water. If they can be placed in the washing machine, follow the steps below. If they are hand-wash only, skip to the How to Hand-Wash a Shower Curtain & Liner section of this guide.
Step 3: Load Your Washing Machine
Take both the liner and the curtain and place them in the washing machine, along with two or three white towels that will help agitate your curtain fabric and liner to remove grime more effectively. Add detergent to the washing machine basin and pour a small amount of color-safe bleach into your machine’s bleach dispenser.
Step 4: Choose the Correct Settings
Following the care instructions on the tag, choose your machine wash settings. Generally, be sure to use a warm water setting so you melt the plastic or vinyl of the shower liner. If your shower curtain requires cold water, wash the liner separately as the cold water may crack the plastic.
Step 5: Hang to Dry
Do not place the curtain or the liner in the dryer. They can be hung back up on the shower curtain rod in the bathroom or strung up on a clothesline to hang dry. Make sure they hang flat instead of bunched to one side for faster and wrinkle-free drying results.
How to Hand-Wash a Shower Curtain & Liner
What You’ll Need
- Microfiber cloths
- Baking soda
- Detergent
- Vinegar
- Scrub brush
- Spray bottle (optional)
Step 1: Prepare a Cleaning Basin
Remove your shower curtain and liner from the rod, making sure to leave the curtain rings behind. Fill your bathtub or a large sink with warm water, adding 1/4 cup of baking soda and a splash of mild detergent to the water.
Step 2: Gently Clean the Curtain
Swish your curtain around in the warm water solution, massaging the fabric for a deeper clean. For tougher stains, sprinkle baking soda or fabric cleaner directly on a microfiber cloth and scrub it on the stain – rinsing and repeating until the stain is gone.
Step 3: Hang to Dry
Drain the bathtub and wring out your shower curtain as much as possible to remove excess water. Rehang the shower curtain on the curtain rod or outside on a clothesline to air-dry while you tackle the shower liner.
Step 4: Scrub the Liner
To clean the liner, you’ll need to mix a solution of one-part vinegar and four-parts water. Dip a scrub brush or cloth into this solution and wipe down the shower liner. Alternatively, pour the solution into a spray bottle and apply it directly to the liner before scrubbing it. Then rinse the solution off with your showerhead or a bucket of water.
Step 5: Rejoin the Curtain & Liner
Once hung to dry, the vinyl or plastic shower liner will likely dry quickly. At this time, you can rehang it with your shower curtain, making sure to hang it flat to prevent wrinkles.
