# Getting Mildew off of a shower curtain **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 14, 2006, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-mildew-off-of-a-shower-curtain/372717 "2006-09-14T18:04:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chairman\_Pow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-mildew-off-of-a-shower-curtain/372717/1 "2006-09-14T18:04:32Z")
I recently got a mildew-proof shower curtain and it’s now got mildew. I’m not about to send it back to the manufacturer, but I am wondering if there’s an easy way to get rid of the stuff that’s accumulated on it already. I generally like spraying vinegar on anything that needs cleaning, although it didn’t work in this case. Any suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-mildew-off-of-a-shower-curtain/372717/2 "2006-09-14T18:09:04Z")
I’ve had luck with bleach, but be careful that it doesn’t damage the curtain. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-mildew-off-of-a-shower-curtain/372717/3 "2006-09-14T18:16:18Z")
I’ve soaked shower curtains in the tub with a little bleach added, and it’s worked well. Depending how much nastiness you have on the curtains, you may need to scrub a little. But I’m too lazy to bother, lately, so I buy cheap shower curtains and just replace them if they get gross. ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-mildew-off-of-a-shower-curtain/372717/4 "2006-09-14T18:42:05Z")
Bleach certainly works. Also, nothing kills mildew better than sunlight. If you have a sunny day and room outside, spread your shower curtain out and let the sun shine on it for an afternoon. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-mildew-off-of-a-shower-curtain/372717/5 "2006-09-14T19:01:37Z")
Toss it into the washing machine? ---
**Author:** ![rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/919ad9/32.png) [@rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rabbit)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-mildew-off-of-a-shower-curtain/372717/6 "2006-09-14T19:04:57Z")
Used to have a serious prob with mildew in one nasty apt. I lived in. Easiest solution was a product called scrub free. I’d hold my breath, spray the stuff all over the curtain (where the mildew was obviously) and count to 10. Then I’d turn the shower on and rinse the stuff off. Worked like a charm. Didn’t seem to do anything to the curtain either (we’re talking dollar store products here so not exactly top of the line). Even did it WHILE showering just to save time on more than one occassion. (held my breath cause that stuff was NASTY to breathe). ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-mildew-off-of-a-shower-curtain/372717/7 "2006-09-14T19:26:11Z")
I’ve always had fantastic success with just throwing the filthy shower curtain in the washing machine with bleach & detergent on hot. Works for plastic ones for sure, and I suspect it might even work better on woven ones. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-mildew-off-of-a-shower-curtain/372717/8 "2006-09-14T19:27:29Z")
Toss it into the washing machine with your white towels (or socks) and some bleach on the gentle cycle. Bleach alone will kill mildew well enough, but the towels or socks will scrub the dead mildew off. Once you’re done with a shower, do you leave the curtain open and bunched up so it stays wet, or do you close it so it hangs freely to dry? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-mildew-off-of-a-shower-curtain/372717/9 "2006-09-14T19:30:32Z")
Short of using a flame thrower, I would toss it into the laundry, add a little bleach and you should be set. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-mildew-off-of-a-shower-curtain/372717/10 "2006-09-14T19:45:49Z")
I just put a 20% bleach/water solution in a spray bottle and spray the curtain. You can watch the mildew disappear. 5 minutes later, I throw a few buckets of water at it and I’m done. (BTW, I highly recommend those new automatic shower cleaners. They rock, they’re easy, they smell nice and they do keep your shower clean.) ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-mildew-off-of-a-shower-curtain/372717/11 "2006-09-14T20:45:02Z")
I just did it this way after reading the tip in Rodales book of practical home remedies. Fill your washing machine up with warm or cool water, add 1 1/4 cup bleach ( I used the new 'splashless" kind) and your shower curtain along with two towels that are either bleach safe or old. Afterward hang up curtain immediately. ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-mildew-off-of-a-shower-curtain/372717/12 "2006-09-14T20:52:33Z")
BTW, and sorry if this is totally obvious, but draw your shower curtain back across the shower when you’re done. You’ll get much less mildew if you let the curtain air out/ dry out and don’t leave it all scrunched up at one end of the rod. Also, run the bathroom fan and shower with the door open or open the door ASAP after showering. The less moisture in the air and on the curtain, the less mildew will grow in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Chairman\_Pow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2006, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-mildew-off-of-a-shower-curtain/372717/13 "2006-09-15T01:08:30Z")
Oh, i’ve been bunching. Yikes. Will do, mildew. Er…thanks. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2006, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-mildew-off-of-a-shower-curtain/372717/14 "2006-09-15T01:29:19Z")
I’ll eleventh or twelfth the above recommendations. If you don’t have bleach handy, try sodium hypochlorite, diluted properly in dihydrogen monoxide. 😉