Wash your shower liner about once a month if the shower gets daily use, and a fabric outer curtain every one to two months. Wash it sooner if you see a slimy film, pink or orange streaks, or black dots along the bottom hem. Most liners and fabric curtains can go in the washing machine on a warm, gentle cycle.
The liner does the hard work. It's the layer that gets soaked, sits in a humid room, and touches soap splash every day. The decorative curtain outside it mostly gathers dust and the occasional splash, so it can go longer.
Shower curtain washing schedule#
| Type |
How often |
Washer? |
Dryer? |
| Plastic, vinyl or PEVA liner |
Monthly |
Yes, gentle and warm or cool |
No, hang it |
| Fabric liner (polyester) |
Monthly |
Yes, per the label |
Usually low heat, check the label |
| Fabric outer curtain |
Every 1 to 2 months |
Usually, check the label |
Per the label |
| Guest bathroom, rarely used |
Every 2 to 3 months |
As above |
As above |
Shared family bathrooms, homes with hard water, and bathrooms without a window or decent fan should stick to the shorter end.
How to wash a shower curtain in the washing machine#
Whirlpool's guide to washing shower curtains lays out a method that works for most liners:
- Unhook the curtain or liner and take off all the rings. Rings and hooks can crack or snag in the drum.
- Put it in the washer with two bath towels. The towels balance the load and scrub the plastic as it tumbles.
- Add a small amount of your usual detergent.
- Choose a gentle cycle with warm or cool water and the highest water level. Avoid hot water for plastic liners; it can warp or damage them.
- Hang it straight back on the rod to drip dry, fully spread out. Don't put a plastic or vinyl liner in the dryer.
For a fabric curtain, follow the care tag. If it allows the dryer, use low heat and hang the curtain while it's still slightly damp so the creases drop out.
Whirlpool also says you can add bleach to the load for an especially grimy liner, if your washer's manual allows it. Use only the bleach, and only at the dose on the bottle. The CDC warns never to mix bleach with other cleaners because the fumes can be dangerous to breathe, so don't add vinegar or a descaler to the same load.
Can you wash a shower curtain with vinegar instead of bleach?#
Yes. Plenty of people add about a cup of white vinegar to the rinse for a liner, and it's gentler on colored fabric curtains than bleach. Pick one or the other for a given load, never both. Whatever you add, what actually keeps slime and spots from coming back is letting the curtain dry fully between showers.
How to clean a shower curtain by hand#
Some curtains say hand wash only, and some liners are too cheap to bother machine washing. Lay it in the bathtub, fill a few inches of warm water with a squeeze of dish soap, and scrub both sides with a soft brush. Spend the time on the bottom 30 cm and the folds. That's where the grime is. Rinse it with the shower head and hang it spread out to dry.
For a quick midweek clean, take it down, spray the hem with a bathroom cleaner that's safe for plastic, wipe and rinse.
When to replace a shower liner#
Replace the liner when:
- black spots are still there after a proper wash, because they've grown into the plastic
- it has torn at the grommet holes or anywhere it gets pulled
- the plastic has gone stiff, cloudy or brittle
- it smells musty even when clean and dry
Cheap PEVA liners are close to disposable, and there's no shame in swapping one out when it's past saving. If you keep replacing liners because of mold, though, the liner isn't the problem. The EPA's guide to mold and moisture says mold control comes down to moisture control, and recommends more ventilation (a fan or open window) and more frequent cleaning for damp areas like showers.
How to keep a shower curtain clean longer#
- After each shower, pull the curtain closed and spread it out. Bunched folds stay wet for hours and that's where mildew starts.
- Run the bathroom exhaust fan during the shower and for a good while after. If it barely pulls a tissue toward it, the fan needs cleaning.
- Keep the hem out of standing water in the tub.
- Buy liners with a weighted hem. They hang straight instead of clinging to you and the tub wall.
- Wipe the rod and rings when you take the curtain down. Rings get the same soap and rust buildup as the liner.
If you'd rather not have a curtain at all, glass doors have their own routine. See how to clean glass shower doors.
Add the monthly liner wash to your bathroom cleaning routine, or set it as its own monthly reminder in ChoreLists.com so it doesn't drift to every six months.