When Mildew Gets Ugly

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

15 Jan 2007 12:58 PM

I hate harsh chemicals because they make me break out in rashes. Even the smell sometimes can make me want to itch. So whenever there is a job that requires a heavy duty cleaner, I usually ask someone else to do it. Like my husband. Like the shower curtain.

Despite my repeated asking nicely (okay nagging), however, it was no surprise to me this morning that the curtain still required a good cleaning. In fact, the mildew had rallied itself together to spell out "ha ha" on the plastic liner.

So I went to do what I always do when something like this happens. First I pretend to be captured and held hostage by the offending mildew, and when that doesn't make anyone in my household the slightest bit guilty, I figure out a way to get it done myself.

So with a little research, I found some different ways to clean off that mildew without using a harsh mildew cleaner.

Readers Digest Living has a lot of great ways to get rid of mold and mildew from everything from furniture to clothing. Some of the mildew and mold removal suggestions involve bleach or ammonia (*Warning, never ever mix the two together and always rinse well).

The one method that really sounds appealing to my sensitive skin was the washing machine method.

Get mold and mildew off your shower curtains. Wash them -- along with a couple of bath towels (to prevent the plastic curtains from crinkling) -- in warm water with 1/2 cup chlorine bleach and 1/4 cup laundry detergent. Let the washer run for a couple of minutes before loading. Put the shower curtain and towels in the dryer on the lowest temperature setting for 10 minutes, then immediately hang-dry.

So I am off to do yet more laundry and see if this works. What do you think? Do you wash your shower curtains (even the plastic liners) in the washing machine? What is your best method for keeping mildew and mold at bay?

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Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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Julie Gentry (5915) 17 Jan 2007 03:26 AM

I wash the curtain in the clothes washer, with a hand towel and using fabric softener. I must admit that it's not worth the buck (liners are at the dollar store here) to reuse the line. We get mold like crazy here in the Northwest. So far, the only thing I've found that really does the job on walls is Tilex. Expensive! Suggestions?

Mary Ann Romans (26886) 17 Jan 2007 04:19 AM

So far, I've been able to keep the mold at bay on our ways simply by rinsing them after a shower. If you don't mind bleach, you could mix 1/3 bleach with water in a spray bottle (make sure to mark it and keep it away from little hands) and spray the walls.

Tilex does work well, but it is expensive and smelly.