How to Clean a Shower Curtain Liner Without a Washing Machine

If your liner is covered in soap scum and mildew, you may think your only option is to throw it away. However, cleaning your shower curtain liner is quick and easy to do at home, even if you don’t have a washing machine.

To clean your shower curtain liner without a washing machine, use products you have at home, such as laundry detergent, dish soap, vinegar, bleach, and baking soda. You need a tub, a spray bottle, a sponge, and gloves to protect your hands to use any of these cleaning methods.

This article will detail different methods you can use without a washing machine. Following these steps will give you a clean shower curtain in no time.

Get more full bathroom cleaning tips here or general cleaning tips for the home here.

1. Water and Laundry Detergent

If you have a cloth shower curtain, the easiest way to clean it is to use water and mild laundry detergent.

You likely have some laundry detergent on hand already, so feel free to use whatever kind and brand of regular detergent you have at home. 

If you don’t have a washing machine, or you don’t want to use it to clean your liner, you will still need some form of a bucket to wash it in.

The easiest thing to do here is to grab a bucket or use a bathtub if you have one. You can also use your bathroom sink if it is deep enough to fit your entire shower curtain. 

Here are the steps you will need to take to wash your liner with water and detergent:

1. Remove the shower liner from the rod.
2. Place the fabric shower curtain liner in the bucket or tub. 
3. Add 1 tbsp (15 ml) of laundry detergent. 
4. Fill the bucket with hot water until the liner is just barely submerged. 
5. Use your hands to mimic the washing machine’s spin cycle and allow the detergent to mix and clean the curtain. 
6. Let the liner soak for 10 minutes. 
7. Hang the liner back up on the rod to dry. 

2. Water and Dish Soap

If you don’t have regular laundry detergent on hand or if you don’t have an extremely dirty shower curtain, dish soap is also an excellent method for spot cleaning fabric shower curtains.

For this method, you don’t need to remove the liner from the rod. 

Here are the quick and easy steps to follow:

1. Use a damp cloth or clean sponge to wipe the entire curtain while still hanging on the rod.
2. Spray the curtain with mild dish soap. You can mix water and dish soap in a spray bottle for this step. 
3. Rinse the shower liner with water. 
4. Allow it to dry. 

RELATED: How to Clean Bathroom Rugs and Mats

3. Water and Vinegar

Vinyl shower curtains can be a little trickier to clean. If you have a plastic curtain, you may want to go straight to a water and vinegar solution.

When cleaning with water and vinegar, you can either use the spray bottle method or the tub method.

The spray bottle method is very similar to the water and dish soap steps described above.

However, instead of using mild dish soap, you will fill the spray bottle with one cup of white vinegar (237 ml) and two cups (473 ml) of water.

Dampen the curtain as outlined above, spray the entire liner down with the solution, and allow it to break down any soap scum or mold that has built up on the curtain.

Be sure to rinse it off with warm water and allow plenty of ventilation in the bathroom while you are cleaning.

4. Water and Bleach

If you need something a little stronger, you can try using a cup of bleach or a detergent containing bleach on your plastic liners.

According to the American Cleaning Institute, bleach is a great way to remove stubborn stains and prevent mold spores. 

Use a color-safe bleach if you have a patterned or colored liner to avoid damage to the curtain. The best way to use bleach to clean your curtain is to let it soak. 

Here are the steps you should take for this cleaning method:

1. Remove your shower liner from the shower rod. 
2. Fill your bathtub with warm water. 
3. Add one cup (237 ml) of bleach to the tub. 
4. Put your liner in the mixture and allow it to soak for 20 to 30 minutes. 
5. Rinse the liner with warm water and hang it up to dry. 

You can also use a bleach and water solution for stubborn spots if you do not want to soak the entire surface of the curtain. 

Just create a one-to-one mixture of water and bleach in a spray bottle and spot-treat the affected areas.

Let the bleach mixture soak in for about 10 minutes before rinsing it off. You can also use this method as a pre-step to the other methods mentioned in this article. 

Bleach is also a good cleaner for tough grout stains and mold.

5. Add Baking Soda

Baking soda also removes tough stains on plastic shower curtain liners.

All you need to do is sprinkle 1 tsp (4.8 g) of baking soda onto the stain and scrub the area with an abrasive cleaning sponge.

You can also add baking soda to one of the above mixtures for an extra stain-fighting boost. 

If a Washing Machine is Available

We have covered all of the different ways to clean your shower curtain if you do not have a washing machine or if the curtain is made of a material that doesn’t allow machine washing (i.e., a plastic liner).

BUT, if you determine the above methods aren’t for you and you have access to a washing machine, the good news is machine washing is an easy way to get rid of ugly mildew stains.

Follow the care instructions on your specific curtain to ensure it is machine washable. Note, a plastic shower curtain liner should be washed with one of the above methods.

A gentle wash cycle with cold water and mild detergent should be safe. Add a couple of towels with the liner to give it a bit of protection in the washer.

I like to add a cup of vinegar for a disinfectant. For extra heavy mildew and mold growth, consider adding one cup chlorine bleach.

When the gentle cycle is complete, hang back on shower curtain rings to dry, ensuring the curtain is spread out along the shower curtain rod to allow proper drying.

Other Tips for Using Washing Machine

• Avoid fabric softener
• Air Dry vs using the dryer
• Add vinegar to rinse cycle

These tips should remove the soap scum buildup and grime from your curtain. 

Remember, moisture is the culprit for mold and mildew. So, always keep the shower curtain closed when not in use to allow air circulation.

Final Thoughts

Cleaning a shower curtain liner without a washer is an easy fix.

So before you toss that liner and buy a new one, it’s a good idea to try using one of the methods listed above to remove any mold, soap scum, or mildew that may be built up on the curtain. 

These quick and easy solutions will have your liner sparkling like new in no time! 

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