How to clean the curtain in the bathroom from yellowness and limescale

A bathtub curtain or shower curtain is constantly in contact with water, so it shouldn't come as a surprise to see yellow patches or mildew on it. Methods that are too drastic can damage the curtain, and overly gentle cleaning methods will not give the desired result. How to remove mildew from a bathroom curtain? What products will help in the fight against limescale?

Why do you need a bathroom curtain?

Most people have an idea of ​​how difficult it is to get rid of limescale and messy yellowness on bathroom curtains. Therefore, a completely natural question arises: why do we need this accessory at all?

There are several reasons why you should use a curtain when using a shower or bath:

• Security. Thanks to the curtain, water will not spray all over the bathroom, which means it will not get on the tiles on the floor and will not make the floor even more slippery.
• A permanently wet floor covering (tiles, carpet or other) is an excellent breeding ground for fungus and mold, as well as other pathogenic bacteria.
• Aesthetic component. A well-chosen design of the curtain for the bathroom makes the room attractive and stylish. At the same time, the curtain can become both the main accent of the interior and a creative addition to the overall design.
• Space zoning. Thanks to this bathroom accessory, it becomes possible to hide the most intimate from prying eyes.

Varieties

The modern market offers a decent range of curtains. Models differ in material, colors, fastening methods, etc.

By the way, the type of attachment is a very important point for choosing the right curtain. This can be a regular barbell (the most common option), eyelets, magnets, chains, and others.

The choice of material is also very important for the operation of the accessory and for its care. Available today:

• Polyethylene curtains. This is the most affordable and demanded option. These curtains are sold at any plumbing or household goods store. The curtains are not designed for long-term use. They crumple very quickly, lose their original appearance and become an ideal habitat for fungi and bacteria.

  But, due to the budgetary cost, it is possible to change the plastic curtains quite often, while maintaining the aesthetic appeal of the bathroom. Therefore, even such a short-lived option should not be discounted.

• Polyvinyl chloride bathroom curtains. This model will last much longer if you follow simple care guidelines. You can wash these curtains in the washing machine.
• Polyester is actively gaining popularity. Such curtains have a special impregnation, thanks to which they become water-repellent.
• Hard curtains.This is a slightly different option, however, it has become more and more popular lately. If earlier such "curtains" were used exclusively for shower cabins, today they are also used for ordinary baths.

  Why are they appreciated? For compactness, reliability, safety, long service life, as well as for minimalist "appearance", which easily "takes root" in any interior.

Today, plastic or glass hard curtains are increasingly being installed.

How to choose a curtain for a specific bathroom

Before heading to the store, it is worth answering yourself a number of questions:

1. Which fixture do you like best and would it suit your bathroom?
2. Which is preferable for you: hard curtains or soft curtains?
3. What colors will "fit" into your interior?

Cleaning methods

No matter how carefully you choose the model of curtains, sooner or later you have to face such a problem as limescale. Immediately, we note that according to statistics, about 80% of housewives prefer to throw out the yellowed curtain, rather than somehow deal with unpleasant divorces.

First of all, this choice is explained by the erroneous opinion that limescale is forever. However, having the necessary information, you can solve the issue with a minimum investment of time and money.

There are two ways to wash the curtain: in an automatic machine or by hand. The method is selected depending on the manufacturer's recommendations (as a rule, all information is available on the label on the curtain), and the material of the canvas must also be taken into account.

Today, bathroom curtains are made from polyester, vinyl or polyethylene. Vinyl and polyester curtains are perfect for both hand washing and machine washing. The use of different powders and even bleaches is allowed.

Polyethylene bathroom curtains are a budget option. They are distinguished by their simple appearance and short service life. In the best case, such a curtain will last 1.5-2 years, and if it is not properly cleaned, it will have to be thrown away within a month. These curtains are rarely washed (in the full sense of the word), but they lend themselves well to cleaning with special products.

Handwash

Housewives do not use this method very often, despite the fact that it is ideal for vinyl, polyester or polyethylene curtains. If the bathroom curtain is made of fabric, then the recommendations below will not work.

Procedure:

1. Pour warm water into a basin and add citric acid and soda, based on 3 liters of water, 1 teaspoon of soda and half a teaspoon of acid.
2. Soak the curtain in the solution and leave for 1 hour. Make sure that the canvas is completely wet.
3. After soaking, it is recommended to lightly wrinkle curtains made of polyester with your hands, and then even the most difficult stains will go away.
4. Finally, rinse the curtain in clean water and hang to dry.

It is also recommended to add a little whiteness when soaking to clean the curtain from yellowness and mildew. Due to the chlorine content, whiteness helps to cope with fungal spores.

If the curtain is very dirty, then after soaking it must be washed with the addition of detergents, and only then rinsed and hung to dry.

Machine wash

With the automatic washing machine, you can save time and effort to achieve great results. Thanks to automation, you can return the curtains to their original appearance. The main thing is to choose a delicate mode, and also not to forget to turn off the spinning and drying, as these actions can hopelessly ruin your curtains for the bathroom or shower.

According to experts, in order to keep the curtains always fresh, it is enough to wash them in the machine once a month. If the curtain is heavily soiled, it is recommended to soak it in water with bleach before placing it in the automatic machine.

If the curtain cannot be washed with chlorine bleach, you can add some bleach for baby clothes. Such compositions are distinguished by a more gentle action and will not spoil the canvas.

After washing the curtain in the washing machine, soak it for half an hour in salted water. Thanks to this, an invisible protective layer will appear on the surface of the canvas, which will protect against the appearance of stains, and the curtain can be washed less often.

How to remove rust stains

How to wash a bathroom curtain to remove not only surface dirt, but also rusty stains? It will take a lot of effort, especially when it comes to stubborn stains. And yet there is a proven way.

1. To begin with, a solution is made of ammonia and hydrogen peroxide in a 3: 1 ratio.
2. Apply the solution directly to the stains and rub a little with a sponge.

If the stains do not go away, then you need to moisten a napkin in the solution and apply to the stain for 20-30 minutes. After that, the curtain must be washed in the usual way.

You can use proven products from well-known manufacturers. For example, "Adrilan" or "Sanita". Apply the product with a soft sponge to the stain, leave it on for a few minutes, and then remove it with a damp sponge.

How to get rid of mold and mildew

Fungus and mold are not only an aesthetic problem. Because of them, serious health complications often occur. Young children and allergy sufferers are especially sensitive to the influence of spores. And if you nevertheless decide to remove such stains, and not throw away the curtain, be sure to arm yourself with means for your own protection: gloves and a mask.

Both industrial compounds and improvised means, such as soda and vinegar, will help get rid of fungus and mold.
The algorithm of actions is as follows:

1. First, use a sponge to remove all visible dirt from the curtain.
2. Warm water is poured into the basin and soda and vinegar are added.
3. The curtain is soaked in the solution for about 10 minutes.
4. Rinse thoroughly in cool water. The rinse can be repeated if necessary.
5. The curtain is hung up to dry completely.

Many housewives use Domestos in the fight against mold stains. The composition is simply poured onto the stain, left for a few minutes, and then washed off with warm water and the curtain is thoroughly rinsed. It is not recommended to use boiling water, because, although it destroys mold, it turns out to be fatal for some fabrics, destroying the structure.

How to remove limescale

Another problem that every housewife faced is limescale. Dried drops of subtle white color can ruin the look of the most stylish bathroom. Citric acid is an excellent solution for removing plaque. It is added both when the curtain is soaked and during the subsequent washing in an automatic machine.

Also, table vinegar and chlorine-containing bleach have proven themselves well, the main thing is to use these "aggressive" substances in the correct proportion.

The process is extremely simple: the product is added to the water to soak the curtain, and then the curtain is rinsed and washed at the desired mode in the machine.

The best protection against limescale build-up is to wash it regularly. It is also important to set your machine to a delicate wash cycle and use the correct powders. If the curtain is made of delicate materials, be sure to add an air conditioner.

How to properly dry a bathroom curtain

After washing, the curtain must be properly dried. Experts are categorically against spinning in any form, regardless of the material of the product. Even if you lightly squeeze the canvas, wrinkles will remain on it, and the curtain will look untidy.

How to dry properly?

1. Immediately after washing (by hand or by machine), the curtain is carefully laid out in the bathroom so that water can drain from it.
2. Then the canvas is hung in such a way that there are no folds on it.
3. If there is a string above the bathroom, this is the perfect place to dry the curtain.
4. You can also dry the canvas in the open air, for example, on the balcony, the main thing is to make sure that direct sunlight does not fall on the curtain.
5. Under no circumstances should you dry next to heating appliances. This applies to any household appliances: from a heater to a stove. The thing is that with such drying, yellow spots will appear on the curtain, which will be impossible to remove. In addition, this method is simply not safe.
6. In no case should you iron your bathroom curtains. The canvas shrinks from high temperatures and then such a curtain can only be thrown away, it is unsuitable for use.

Caring for plastic and glass curtains

If, nevertheless, you prefer glass or plastic curtains, then there are a number of simple recommendations that will help keep their original attractiveness longer.

Glass curtains:

1. Use soft cloths or sponges for care.
2. For surface cleaning, window and mirror cleaners are suitable.
3. Never use alkaline compounds, as they can damage both the glass surface and the metal fasteners.
4. The use of abrasive products is also unacceptable, since barely noticeable scratches remain on the surface, which become deeper and more obvious over time.

To prevent splashes on the glass surface, treat it regularly with a special water-repellent compound. Glass curtains are often sold with a special coating. However, its validity period is not that long - 6-7 months.

Plastic curtains in their performance are inferior to glass ones, which means that they need even more careful operation and maintenance. But in general, the recommendations for the care of plastic curtains are very similar to those for glass surfaces.

Use only soft cloths and sponges, avoid the use of aggressive compounds, as well as preparations containing abrasive substances. You need to be especially careful about caustic chemical compounds. With proper care, even the most "capricious" materials will last long enough.

Rust stains, limescale, mold are not the most pleasant manifestations of a humid environment. However, it is obvious that it is not at all necessary to get rid of your favorite curtain in the bathroom if you notice the above spots.

Today, chlorine-containing formulations are available that will quickly and reliably remove stains from curtains. And if you want, you can use the tools at hand, such as soda or vinegar. The main thing is to carefully read the recommendations for washing and cleaning curtains for the bathroom or shower.

Video: how to wash the curtain in the bathroom?