Give Your Shower Curtain A Refresh With This Natural Cleaning Method
As a protector of the one place you use to get clean, it's always an eye-roll moment when your shower curtain looks worse than the drain or the toilet on a bad day. Whether it's from lack of time or forgetting to wash it, this divider can accumulate dirt and grime quickly due to the moist conditions of your bathroom. Cleaning it regularly will keep harmful bacteria at bay, and allow the fabric or material to last longer. While standard cleaning products are always an option, a clever bathroom staple could be the solution to your soap scum, hard water-stained curtain: Epsom salts. Great for relaxation, Epsom salts might be even better at cleaning your bathroom!
Epsom salts are popular for everything from exfoliation to muscle relaxers, and most homes have a tub or bottle somewhere in a cabinet or cupboard. The abrasive texture of Epsom salts also makes them useful for cleaning and scrubbing. And because they are all-natural, you can forgo the harsh chemicals found in store-bought products.
A little Epsom goes a long way
To clean your shower curtain with Epsom salt, you first need to remove it from the railing and detach any rungs. Fill a 1-gallon bucket with cool or warm water, avoiding any temperature too extreme. Add 1 cup of Epsom salts to the water and allow the mixture to fully dissolve. Place your curtain inside the bucket and fully submerge it before letting it soak for at least one hour, or several if you can. For tougher stains, use a sponge or cloth to work at the marks pre or post-soak with the Epsom solution.
If removing your shower curtain proves too much work, you can also try to remove dirt and grime by using your sponge while it's still hanging — just dip it into your Epsom salt solution and rub it into the stain until it begins to fade. The magnesium and sulfate found in Epsom salt will also help deflect moisture once your curtain is dry, leaving it less prone to mildew. While the salts themselves can't always combat mold and might require help from a stronger cleaning solution, they can help protect your material after their soak. Once you're finished with the salt and water mixture, remove the curtain and let it hang dry outside. Don't ring it out as this can wrinkle it. You can even use Epsom salts to combat soap scum on your tub, shower, and sink while cleaning the shower curtain.