Tips on Cleaning Shower Curtains and Screens

Bathrooms are easy to keep clean as long as they are kept tidy. It is the work of seconds to run a damp cloth over a clear surface, but a complete nuisance if it is cluttered with bottles and jars of potions, lotions, and make-up.

Shower curtains can quickly get dirty and moldy. Try not to leave them so that the bottom edge sits in a puddle of water. Hanging them over the shower rail helps.

Wash shower curtains regularly to prevent soap build-up and staining. Wash in the washing machine on a hot wash, using biological detergent. If they are very dirty, washing them along with some towels seems to help remove dirty marks.

With really powerful modern showers, a shower curtain will not keep the water in. You need an integral screen fixed on the side of the bath, or a separate cubicle. If you have the space, opt for the latter. The best shower enclosures are made using ¼ inch glass. Choose one with drip strips that channel water back into the tray, so it does not drip on the floor when the door is opened, and seals that can withstand the force of water generated by a power shower.

Shower screens can be difficult to keep clean. Often, their construction - especially if there is a sliding door - means there are parts that can never be cleaned. And in hard-water areas, limescale can be a problem. Water droplets evaporate on the surface, leaving behind a characteristic dappling of limescale spots. The good news is that many modern shower screens and enclosures are now treated to make them less prone to limescale.

There are several ways of dealing with limescale. The green solution is a ruber squeegee, of the type that window cleaners use. The idea is to give the screen a quick once-over after a shower. It is a good habit to get into. The speedy solution is to use one of the special shower sprays. You spray them on to a wet shower screen, and leave them. They are designed to be used after every shower and are extremely effective, but are pointless unless they are used every time and unless the screen is clean in the first place.

To clean a really dirty shower screen, deal first with the limescale. Although vinegar mixed with water is the best and cheapest way to remove limescale, it will run down vertical surfaces. On this occasion, use a proprietary gel cleaner, which will cling to the screen. Follow instructions and rinse well.

To clean, swab the entire screen with straight all-purpose cleaner and leave overnight. The next day, wash off using a cream cleaner. Rinse well with plain water and dry with soft cloth. Now, if you like, apply a shower spray.