According to Melissa Briones, owner of Melissa's House Cleaning in Lawton, Oklahoma, "The shower curtain should be cleaned every time you shower." These frequent cleanings, of course, are rather simple and require only a quick rinse to remove any soap or dirty water that has gotten on it during the course of the shower. Keeping the shower curtain as dry as possible also prevents the occurrence of mildew. This can be done by gently shaking the water off of the shower curtain or, more efficiently, by wiping it down with a sponge or towel.
After quickly cleaning the shower curtain, keep it partially open. If the curtain is kept closed, it takes a long time for the humidity behind it to escape, and humidity creates a prime environment for mold and mildew. If the curtain is opened all the way, it tends to bunch up in folds, creating areas prone to mold and mildew growth.
For additional protection, there are products available, such as Arm & Hammer Clean Shower, that you can spray on your shower surfaces and curtain immediately after showering. These products create a protective barrier that keep mold and mildew from attaching to surfaces. They also cause the water to bead up and roll off the surfaces allowing them to dry faster.
No matter how well you care for your shower curtain, however, it is inevitable that it will develop mildew at some point. When this happens, you can machine wash it. Simply use ordinary detergent and warm water. Washing a couple of bath towels at the same time cleans the curtain even better. As the wash agitates, the towels rub the curtain and help remove the stains. When the wash cycle finishes, remove the shower curtain immediately. Do not let it go through the spin cycle. This can cause the curtain to become twisted, possibly stretching or tearing it. Do not place a plastic shower curtain in the dryer, either, as it will melt. Simply hang it up in the shower and wipe it down with a sponge or dry towel
Briones says, "If you have a cotton shower curtain, I recommend washing it every two weeks if possible." Normally, cloth shower curtains can be washed through a full cycle in the washing machine and then placed in a dryer, but be sure to follow the manufacturer's laundering directions.
If your shower curtain is too large or your washing machine too small, you can launder your shower curtain in the bathtub. Simply fill the tub with water and a little bit of detergent and allow the shower curtain to soak for an hour or two. You can even add a cup of bleach or vinegar (not both) to the water to disinfect the curtain. Before removing the curtain, simply wipe it with a sponge to remove any remaining mildew or other soil.
