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What to use to get rid of mold on shower curtain?

030508shower.jpgMoldy shower curtains. Gross. How do you get rid of it? Over at the CasaSugar blog, they found an archived article found by Book of Joe that gave a test run of several cleaners and other methods of removal...

 
 

The article by Sam Schechner, from the Wall Street Journal, documented five methods used on several strips of a cut up moldy shower curtain. The products included a spray with bleach (Tilex), a chlorine free spray (Seventh Generation) as well as washing the strip in a washing machine, soaking it in vinegar, and a water, dishsoap, tea tree oil mixture.

The final results? Tilex won out in terms of ease of removing the stain. However the toxic smell was "like a noxious swimming pool" but "came out practially bone white." The next best option was the Seventh Generation Shower Cleaner, but it took 14 minutes of scrubbing on just "the one section." The end result "smelled like sweet lemon soda," but " a graying pattern remained where the black mold had been."

Read the piece here.

What do you guys use to remove the mold? Do you have any tried/trusted techniques? Is it worth the extra scrubbing time vs. quick and effective but "noxious" bleach? Or Is it just better to get a new curtain?

Via CasaSugar, via Book of Joe, via Wall Street Journal

[ image from Linen and Things ]

Related links:

Good Questions: Recipe for Shower Cleaner

How to clean plastic or vinyl shower curtain

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cleaning, bathroom - tubs, toilets, showers & sinks, shower curtain, shower, mold

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Comments (30)

I use Seventh Generation shower cleaner, which I spray in generous quantity on the shower curtain liner at the start of a shower. Then at the end of the shower, before I turn off the water, I scrub the liner with a scruffy sponge, then rinse it all. Works like a charm.

posted by Robin(happilyever) on March 5th 2008 at 8:13am
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i don't know how this is even possible, but target markets a shower curtain liner that discourages the growth of mold. i own said liner. paired with my porcelain tub, it really DOES somehow keep the nasty molds from growing. the only problem i ever had was from using it with a plastic all-in-one shower-tub in my last (craptastic) apartment. it did grow a tiny bit of mold once. of course, the testing of this was a little nasty... i purposefully didn't clean my shower for over a month (wore shoes in there, thank you!!) to see how it would do. plus, it's a really nice frosted white color that REALLY pops with my shower light on, giving the whole white-and-grey-without-a-window a very bright appearance.

posted by lizkid on March 5th 2008 at 8:14am
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Put the shower curtain in the washing machine on gentle, use cold water and a lot of vinegar!

posted by Gina T on March 5th 2008 at 8:15am
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I throw our shower curtain into the washing machine. I do this before any black mold develops.

posted by wig3000 on March 5th 2008 at 8:20am
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Bleach gets rids of mildew on plastic liners

posted by mjr on March 5th 2008 at 8:31am
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I went to the link to read more and was saddened to see the number of lazy people who think that throwing their vinyl curtain away is the best solution to a little mold.

Consumption is not always the answer to our problems. Get some exercise and clean your curtains yourself even if it means a little more elbow grease.

posted by jchan on March 5th 2008 at 8:32am
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i didn't know they could mold and go a whole lot longer than a month without cleaning the liner.

posted by Lady J on March 5th 2008 at 8:35am
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I also use plain old Clorox bleach. I take the shower curtain outside to do this, and rinse with the garden hose. The washing machine works too.

posted by JoanneM on March 5th 2008 at 8:35am
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Plastic shower curtains suck. They get cold and stick to your body on the way in & out. I can't really imagine why anyone thought they were necessary, when fabric is more attractive can be thrown in the washing machine as needed.

posted by marlo on March 5th 2008 at 8:39am
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Marlo- you use the fabric one on the outside and vinyl curtain on the inside.

My husband bought a curtain that discourages mold growth too- and it's worked great!

posted by a to the toy on March 5th 2008 at 8:53am
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washing machine AND bleach

posted by mrs yow on March 5th 2008 at 8:54am
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Anna Toy - you can actually buy fabric shower curtain liners that are resistant to water-logging. I've been using the one I bought at Target for about a year now, and I wash it in the washing machine once a month. So far no fading, no mold or even mildew. It's been a huge improvement over the plastic liners I used to use.

posted by alina on March 5th 2008 at 9:01am
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In the past, I have put shower liners (the plastic ones) in the wash with soap and bleach and it works quite well. Now, I use the ones labelled 'mildew resistant' and replace them frequently. I also launder the cloth outer curtain sometimes, but it stays pristine with no real effort.

posted by Dulcibella on March 5th 2008 at 9:07am
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try lemon scented clorox

posted by wwoolsey on March 5th 2008 at 9:10am
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My nylon curtain got a bit dirty. Looked like scale but might have been mold.

What worked was washing it with a few towels and bleach-free concentrated detergent. This contains stuff to keep limescale dissolved; it also seems to dissolve it.

posted by Jute Zak on March 5th 2008 at 9:36am
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Plastic shower curtains are tacky.

Nylon shower curtains are easier to clean, don't sweep in as much with the warm air and look nicer.

posted by bepsf on March 5th 2008 at 10:17am
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2 Fabric liners, one on the rod one on the shelf, swapped monthly. The one on the shelf is machine washed once or twice before the next swap. Three years, no mold.

posted by Boraxics on March 5th 2008 at 10:18am
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bleach discolors mildew (so it is invisible) but doesn't kill it; ammonia kills it but doesn't remove the stain (so it's still visible); and mixing the two creates cyanide gas. fun for everyone! so you can use a rotation of the two (let a week or so elapse between the two applications so you don't kill everyone in the house); otherwise, you can throw shower curtains into a washing machine (but not dryer, obviously). for plastic curtains and the tub i actually use toilet cleaner; it clings and cuts the scum like a machete.

posted by claude le monde on March 5th 2008 at 10:50am
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i have this plastic curtain (in a series of art curtains i have had) and i have never thought them tacky. i like that they are clear; reminds me of lucite and adds a modern feel.

posted by claude le monde on March 5th 2008 at 10:51am
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So since plastic curtains are tacky, it there such a thing as a clear/translucent fabric liner? We use a plastic liner under a sheer fabric curtain because (1) it lets in more natural light and (2) makes the wee bathroom feel roomier. It provides privacy but needs a liner to keep the water in the tub.

posted by Katalase on March 5th 2008 at 11:31am
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Plastic liners are tacky now? Um, I know there are nylon fabric ones like hotels use, but I think most people who don't have a door use them. Sheesh.

I use diluted bleach very very occasionally when there's an issue (which actually, is surprisingly not often--only if the curtain's curled up on itself) and "clean shower" or equivalent after most of my showers. Occasionally, I'll wash it in the washing machine.

I'm surprised to hear the ones that discourage mildew actually worked. I had a tub mat that said it did that; it didn't.

posted by Christine (the one in DC) on March 5th 2008 at 11:41am
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I stopped using those awful plastic shower curtain liners years ago - on to the fabric liners and haven't looked back. No need to throw them out - just throw them in the washing machine every few weeks and you are good to go. They lay nicely against the tub and you can't see water marks / soap scum on them like you can with those plastic ones... here is a link to some with fun colors!! I hope I have converted a few of you readers!! happy showering!!

http://www.bedbathstore.com/fabshowcurli.html

posted by DLP on March 5th 2008 at 12:02pm
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Soak the plastic liner in bleach and scrub it out (it comes right off).

posted by PlanItGirl on March 5th 2008 at 1:13pm
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To minimize the problem, shake out the liner after showering and don't leave the curtain bunched at one end. Also squegeeing the tile after showering inhibits mildew.

Then laundering (hot) with bleach when the inevitable happens.

posted by southender on March 5th 2008 at 2:45pm
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Soft scrub with bleach scouring pad

posted by jyw on March 5th 2008 at 3:16pm
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Plastic liners tacky? We only have a plastic liner. It lets light into the tub, makes the room seem bigger (tiny tiny bath). Also, it facilitates ogling when you and your sweetie are not showering together.

No mold on ours - bathroom door stays open all the time and we run the bathroom fan while we shower. The water spots and soap scum are what I'm always trying to clean.

posted by BonivaGScott on March 5th 2008 at 3:45pm
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i just spray the method shower stuff on there & then rub the liner against itself. i saw it on a cleaning show on bbc. the friction kills it i guess. it works though.

posted by mariegael on March 5th 2008 at 9:20pm
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I have the same target one, and in my experience it slows the mold and soap scum down, but doesn't stop it. my shower is clean (thanks to the nice people who come in every other week), but I haven't been able to find a perfect curtain yet.

my mother actually takes hers off periodically and throws them in the washing machine, cold water and no dryer.

I can't figure out how she does it, because every time I try the curtain ends up ripping.

posted by lcg on March 7th 2008 at 5:30pm
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I would try using food grade Hydrogen peroxide.
Learn all about the wonderful uses of 35% food grade hydrogen peroxide ((H2O2). A great alternative to bleach
and environmentally friendly. A great whitener for many things.
You may have trouble finding it locally.
I order mine from Guardian of Eden by the gallon.
Needs to be diluted before use.

posted by sorraia on March 11th 2008 at 5:12am
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"Washing machine, vinegar and bath towels every month" work fine for me. I don't use bleach. Also, I found an online store that carry a nice collection of shower curtains and bought some from it. You might like to check out http://www.justhomedecor.com/estoreusa/home.php?cat=653

posted by kirsten1866 on March 13th 2008 at 4:52am
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