Shower curtains are very easy to get dirty; full of soap scum, hard water stains, and stains from your shampoos (not to mention molds, fungus, and mildew)… GROSS! This can lead to bad odors and diseases if not properly handled. Most people have plastic or vinyl curtains that can be easily thrown away and replaced, but some people just don’t want to spend that money every few months. You could also have fabric shower curtains, and you definitely don’t want to just toss those because they are more expensive. It is possible to clean your shower curtain. Here are a few cleaning tips for your disgusting problem.
- Take down your shower curtains, being sure to remove them from their rings on the curtain rods, and drop them in your washing machine with a cup of baking soda or laundry detergent. Be sure to wash with warm water. For cloth shower curtains, you’ll want to follow the washing instructions. When finished washing, take it out and hang it up to d;y, do not put it in the dryer. The steam from your next shower will iron out the wrinkles for you.
- If you have a plastic shower curtain, you can safely add bleach along with your regular laundry soap. Rehang the shower curtain when finished washing.
- Vinegar and soapy water work well with vinyl and plastic shower curtains. For added scrubbing power, you can throw in an old towel. Rehang when cleaned.
- It has been suggested that you can cut off the sewn portion on the bottom of the shower curtains, as mold tends to collect there the most. However, I would think that you’d still have mold growing on the portion that’s left, plus it leaves you with a ragged edge, so you may want to skip that idea.
Your shower curtains will last longer with proper cleaning. A gentle cycle is usually best, but check the care tag on the curtain itself for the best method. Regular cleaning helps control the mold and mildew.
To remove existing mildew, we try washing the shower curtains with hot water (lots of soap), rubbing them with lemon juice, and letting them dry in the sun. Lemon juice may have a bleaching effect, so test an area first if you are concerned about bleaching.
Fabric shower curtains are easier to clean and often come with better care and cleaning instructions than plastic shower curtains. They also tend to last a bit longer and aren’t quite so bulky in your washing machine.
Hopefully, these tips will help with your shower curtain cleaning project. Haven’t cleaned it lately? Get going, that mold is growing!
Find Your Perfect Shutters
There is an amazing variety of shutters to choose from at the stores. Some homes just can’t handle shutters around the windows, but others almost demand it to complete the look of the house. Which shutter styles and colors you choose will greatly affect the overall curb appeal of your home. Some people might say there are too many choices, but America is all about choice, right?
What are the most common shutter types?
We have found that plantation shutters and wooden shutters are the most popular types of window shutters. You can put shutters inside or outside the home, although most are placed outside.
They were originally used with a true protective function in mind, instead of the largely decorative purposes they serve today. Old-time shutters actually closed over the windows to protect them during storms and high winds. While there are still those kinds today, particularly hurricane shutters, most of them are permanently fixed to the exterior walls framing the windows to provide the appearance of functioning shutters when in fact they are only for aesthetic purposes.
What are Plantation shutters?
So what are plantation shutters? They are indoor shutters, usually wooden, with a push rod in the middle that allows you to push the blinds up or down depending on your needs and the direction of sunlight. We had a sunroom in the house I grew up in that had plantation shutters all around. Although back then, I had no idea that’s what they were officially named. (read more on our plantation page)
Where are the best places to buy window shutters in general? Are there any good online stores?
Removable storm shutters are the easiest to use, but most people just end up putting plywood over their windows and hoping for the best. Many people get removable plywood shutters, others will get clear hurricane shutters, which do the same thing, they’re just see-through. They do cost more than regular plywood.