The Easiest Way to Clean Your Shower Curtain Liner

2 Materials
$5
45 Minutes
Easy
The other day I heard someone say you can clean your plastic shower curtain liner by putting it in the washing machine and I thought she was crazy. But now that I've tried it maybe I was crazy for not knowing this sooner!
In the past I've fought the uphill battle of scrubbing and wiping down the curtain periodically and then replacing it when I let it get ahead of me. Buying a new liner always hurts because we only buy the eco-friendly, PVC-free ones (linked on the blog) and they're a little more expensive. So after I heard it can be cleaned in the washing machine I decided to try this for myself as soon as I got home and save the expense of buying a new shower curtain liner.
I had planned to take before and after photos of our frosted shower curtain but it just didn't photograph well and maybe that's for the best, I don't think you all wanted to see our soap-scum anyways. It also didn't help that our pup Harley kept trying to "help."
How to: Now to clean the liner, it's pretty darn simple - just stick it in the washing machine with one or two bath towels, 1 cup of white vinegar (affiliate link) and your regular detergent (we use Seventh Generation Free & Clear - affiliate link), then wash on the delicate cycle. When it's done hang the curtain back up to dry -- DO NOT put in the dryer. The curtain will be a bit wrinkly at first but as clean as the day you bought it!
Ah, nice and clean - I wish I had known this sooner! { Follow me on Instagram @birchlandinghome }
Resources for this project:
Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Hometalk may collect a small share of sales from the links on this page.More info
Sarah | Birch Landing Home
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
Go
Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
3 of 5 questions
  • Sbs12057754 Sbs12057754 on Sep 22, 2016
    My shower curtain has magnetic circles a couple of places along the bottom edge (placed there to help keep the curtain closed in place). Do you think it's OK (for the washing machine) for the magnets to go in thru the wash cycle?
  • Jeanne Hodges Jeanne Hodges on Oct 19, 2016
    I bought a sturdy shower curtain liner. I've always washed it in the washing machine. It's really stiff and horribly wrinkled when it comes out of the washer, so I put it in the dryer on the lowest heat setting for a couple minutes. It gets a lot of the water off, and no more wrinkles. Always looks brand new too.
  • Bernice H Bernice H on Jan 29, 2017
    I have always had an agitator washer,my daughter got one of those big tub type that weigh the amount of clothes,then dispense the amount of water accordingly. I tried to wash her liner...FAIL, had to wash it twice, not enough water to swish with towels. It didn't get agitated nor did it even unfold. It was a little cleaner when it came out,but where it didn't agitate directly..still grimey. WHAT kind of washer do you have? I wonder if it was laid in a hot tub of water and vinegar and detergent ...if it would come clean by swishing it after soaking? I now have one of those washers,came with the house we bought , my clothes are not clean and have lint spots on them from not enough water to move around.
Comments
Join the conversation
2 of 108 comments
  • Julie Julie on Mar 04, 2018

    My shower curtain liner was really bad ( we have hard water, and no water softner). I tried hot water, vinegar and detergent on delicate. It got off most of the gunk, but it was still pretty yellow looking. I then did baking soda, detergent and warm water on delicate.... the liner looks almost New!

  • Barby Barby on Aug 14, 2018

    I do this all the time! But, dirty white vinyl liner, use hot water & bleach & a touch of detergent & 1 or 2 white towels.

    Do put the liner in the dryer with 1 towel, maybe just 5 min or less? Take out immediately & hang the shower curtain (it should be warm & very soft)...as it cools, no wrinkles!

Next