Since shower curtains are often exposed to moisture, they are highly likely to harbor mildew. Here’s how to clean pink mildew from shower curtain in just five steps.
Soap alongside water that accumulates in your shower curtains makes good food for mildew. Over time, you will start to notice pink patches of mildew growing in your curtain.
This variety is called pink mildew. Whether you spot this type or the other forms of mildew, it is essential to do an effective clean-up to prevent it from spreading.
What Is Pink Mildew?
“Pink mildew” or “pink mold” is not actually a type of mold at all. It is a gram-negative bacteria called Serratia marcescens that gets its color from the pigment (prodigiosin) it produces.
Although usually referred to as mold or mildew, this pink stain in your bathroom and shower curtains is actually a type of bacteria.
Pink mildew generally appears slimy and does not always look specifically pink in contrast to its name. It can appear in a scheme of colors from salmon pink to orange or even blood red, depending on the environmental conditions as it grows.
This bacteria is commonly found in bathrooms as it thrives in areas where there is a high level of dampness, warm temperatures, and mineral deposits. Pink mildew feeds on the mineral deposits left behind by the soap we use and from fatty deposits coming from the residue of personal hygiene products.
Cleaning Pink Mildew From Shower Curtain
Getting rid of the pink stains in your shower curtains will not take up too much of your time and energy. In just five simple steps, your shower curtains will be, once again, mildew-free.
Step #1. Wash the shower curtain
Take the shower curtain off its rod and place it inside the washing machine. Before running the machine, put a couple of towels together with the shower curtain.
The towels will provide additional protection and will prevent the curtain from wrinkling.
Step #2. Add baking soda into the wash cycle
Aside from adding ½ cup of laundry detergent, our ½ cup of baking soda into the washing machine. The sodium bicarbonate component of the baking soda will kill the mildew and will freshen your shower curtain.
Step #3. Turn on the machine to a gentle wash setting
Run the washing machine to a gentle cycle. Most shower curtains are machine-safe, but still, they require special care. To be sure, check the tags of your curtain before you proceed with machine-washing.
Step #4. Add undiluted white vinegar
As you start the first rinse cycle, add 1 cup of distilled white vinegar. The acetic acid component of the vinegar will create a reaction with the baking soda you used previously, killing the mildew more effectively.
Step #5. Dry the shower curtain thoroughly
After rinsing, take the shower curtain off the washing machine and hang it to dry. No matter the circumstances, never put the curtain in a dryer.
If you still notice visible pink stains after washing, rewash the shower curtain. This time, add ¼ cup of detergent and ½ cup of bleach instead of baking soda and vinegar.
Just like vinegar and baking soda, bleach is also known as an effective home remedy to mold and mildew. It can be more pungent in smell, so be extra cautious when using it.
For more tips and more information, check out this article on how to remove mildew from shower curtains. If your shower grout was also contaminated, you could try reading this helpful guide on how to remove mildew from shower grout.
Preventing mildew in your shower curtains
There is no better way to succeed in the fight against mildew than to avoid creating a suitable environment for it to grow. Avoid splashing too much water on your shower curtain.
If you cannot avoid it, at least do not let the moisture stay on the curtain for too long. Wiping it dry every time may be hard to do, but you can try opening the door and windows of your bathroom to allow air to flow inside.
Another thing to remember to combat mildew is to act as soon as you spot visible stains on your shower curtain. Clean it immediately to stop the pink mildew from spreading even more and save yourself from a bigger hassle.
It will also be helpful to immediately fix leaks in your bathroom and in any area of your home to prevent mildew from developing.
Conclusion
Aside from mastering the craft of DIY mildew removal, it is essential to make it a habit to do regular cleaning and inspections. You can also make use of other preventive measures like using a dehumidifier.
Dealing with mildew is certainly something you wouldn’t want to deal with the second time around. It is especially true in terms of bathrooms which should be a “comfort room” and not a space to worry about fungal contamination.
Now that you have learned how to clean pink mildew from shower curtain, you can once again enjoy the refreshing bath you long for after a long, tiring day.