Molds are the microorganisms that can grow anywhere they get air, grease and moisture. Mostly they thrive in bathroom areas as it meets their proper needs and shower curtain is one of them.
They produce a distinct bad odor where they build up. So, taking preventative measures to stop their growth is a must.
Can you wash a moldy shower curtain?
Mold in the shower curtain can be harmful. Washing the curtain thoroughly to keep it clean is the only cure. Fabric detergent, bleach, distilled baking soda, chlorhexidine gluconate, hydrogen peroxide etc. can be used to wash it. Sanitizing and proper air circulation is a must to prevent mold.
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Shower curtains are a common place for mold to grow because they are constantly exposed to moisture, and mold thrives in environments with high levels of humidity that attracts them mostly. Molds can spread quite rapidly if they get a proper environment that meets their basic needs.
It’s really hard to get rid of the molds once they get the way of your home. From shower curtain it’ll spread in the walls of the bathroom, under the sink, then will enter in your bedroom or lawn and kitchen kitchen.
However, if you keep the shower curtain clean by washing it regularly and sanitizing it, mold growth can be lessened to a great extent.
Initially, you can use hot water and detergent to clean a moldy shower curtain. In fact, there are many other easy methods for keeping shower curtains mold free.
Soaking them in hot water and cleaning solutions, particularly those containing chemicals that are effective against mold growth, such as bleach, sodium sulfate, or chlorine, is the most efficient method.
Typically, molds are difficult to eradicate. Since washing is the only cure, mold can be avoided by doing so.
How to wash and clean moldy shower curtains?
The moldy shower curtain can be cleaned and washed in a variety of ways. Molds are very resilient, and once they start to colonize, washing them becomes challenging. However, there are many chemicals and detergents that can stop mold from growing and returning on shower curtains.
In particular, solutions containing chlorhexidine and cresol, which are known for their antimicrobial effects, are very effective when used with water. By regularly eliminating the mold spores with hot water and liquid curtain cleaning detergents, mold growth will be reduced.
The shower can be cleaned in addition to using any chemical cleaner by exposing it to sunshine. The sun’s heat will eradicate the mold on the curtain and stop it from spreading.
Maintaining a clean shower environment is also helpful in preventing the growth of mold because the shower curtain is frequently exposed to moisture.
Molds can be avoided by keeping the shower window open and maintaining air circulation. These are the procedures to follow in order to maintain the shower curtain.
Water-soluble phenol chemicals:
Phenol is a powerful chemical agent. It has an anti-microbial component that interacts with the molds, so it can destroy microorganisms.
When combined with water and phenol, the ergo sterol-containing cell component, phenol dissolves the cell membrane of mold.
So the shower curtain can be cleaned using phenol chemicals to remove mold. Molds are sensitive to heat, so using warm water with a phenolic solution can help to efficiently remove the molds in a short amount of time.
Chlorhexidine gluconate and water:
There are also several concentrations of chlorhexidine-based mold-cleaning treatments available. To terminate the mold spores, combine chlorhexidine with water and soak the shower curtain for a few hours.
The amount of chlorhexidine used depends on the level of mold growth. The chlorhexidine helps wash the shower curtain and make it mold-free and clean by precipitating the protein content of mold.
Using hydrogen peroxide for cleaning:
Mold spores are terminated and mold infections are avoided by mixing water and hydrogen peroxide at a concentration of 30%.
The hydrogen peroxide breaks down into hydrogen ions and neutral molecules of the harmful oxygen molecule.
By making the molds’ cell membrane porous, this molecular oxygen effectively terminates the aerobic organisms that were growing on the shower curtain. This is how to maintain a mold-free, spotless shower curtain.
Using baking soda:
Using baking soda to clean a shower curtain is a quick and efficient method. A mixture of two-thirds water and one-third baking soda can be put in a spray bottle to stop the growth from happening frequently.
Shower curtains can be made mold-free and clean by using this solution, which can be sprayed over the curtain.
Bleaching solution:
Using bleach is another approach to get rid of mold. Molds can be destroyed by bleach because it is an antimicrobial agent.
Because bleach contains chlorine and chlorine in high concentrations destroys mold spores and has cleaning properties, washing the shower curtains in this bleach solution will clean them. Vinegar can be added to bleach with water to boost its effects.
And in this case, storing the shower curtain for a few hours will aid in reducing the growth of mold.
Shower curtains can be kept clean in this way by using warm water to increase the efficiency of this solution. You may also use this solution to quickly treat a mold issue by spritzing it on the shower curtain. Cleaning the mold off and preventing its growth is an efficient method.
Shower curtains are challenging to wash and clean, so make an effort to keep the shower area tidy and wash the curtains once a week, if you can. After washing, hang the curtains outside to dry completely.
Using ordinary detergent for laundry:
Due to the harsh chemicals it contains, detergent has cleansing and antimicrobial properties. The shower curtain can be washed with this detergent washing solution since it effectively removes mold and stops it from growing.
Using detergent and warm water speeds up the washing process. Now, leaving the curtains somewhere for a few hours will allow the chemicals to break down the mold, and washing the curtains again in warm water will thoroughly clean them.
Can a moldy shower curtain make you sick?
Molds easily thrive in the shower curtain because it remains wet and dirty most of the time that initially attracts the molds or other microbes.
Molds can spread all over the house by their spores really quickly in environments with high levels of humidity. And once they start growing rapidly, it’s really hard to control. Molds are not harmless so, using the moldy shower curtain will not be safe at all.
Moldy shower curtains can cause harmful illness if it is inhaled from the air. As molds spread spores to increase its number, there’s a high possibility of spores in the air.
As a result, it can cause chronic cough, irritation in the eyes including watery and itching, sneezing, dry throat, runny nose and headache. If the spores get in contact with the skin, it can cause allergies or rashes and make you go through a lot.
If for a long time spores are inhaled, it may severely attack on your respiratory organs as well. Additionally, mold will cause a bad odor from your body. So, make sure to regularly wash and sanitize the shower curtain to efficiently prevent them.
Tips to prevent mold and mildew buildup on shower curtain:
Make sure to follow the steps given below to prevent mold from shower curtain:
Wash the shower curtain regularly:
As shower curtain gets wet everyday, keep it clean on a regular basis. Otherwise, it’ll attract mold and mildew and become smelly too soon. It’s better to use the fabric shower curtain so that you can easily wash it by the machine cycle.
However, you can buy the PEVA shower curtain liner if you’re not willing to wash the curtain regularly because it is designed specially to prevent microbes from the washroom with a light weight, fashionable look, at a cheap price.
Sanitize it properly:
To prevent mold and mildew from the shower curtain, you can’t forget to sanitize it regularly, minimum thrice a week. Sanitizing will reduce the growth of mold to a great extent.
You can sanitize it using distilled vinegar in a spray bottle. It has a great chemical compound that works as an antimicrobial and absorbs all the bad smell from the washroom.
Ensure proper air circulation:
Water evaporates throughout the water curtain if there’s no proper air ventilator which is the main reason why mold attracts in it.
Keep the windows open and let the sunlight enter in it which will work effectively in enduring proper air circulation and reducing all the bad odor.
Final thoughts
Washing a moldy shower curtain, certainly will help to get rid of molds. As mold prefers dirty, greasy areas with excessive moisture, they can be easily ward off by thoroughly washing the curtain regularly. Using ordinary detergent to water-soluble phenol chemicals, it can be washed efficiently.