Mold-free (for Real) Shower Curtain Hack

by taylorlevy in Living > Life Hacks

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Mold-free (for Real) Shower Curtain Hack

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Even though shower curtains are often advertised as "mold-free", it is only a matter of time before the nasty goop makes itself a new home. This instructable will take you through the process of prolonging the life of a cheap-o shower curtain.

Buy a Shower Curtain

Grab one from your local deli, tack it onto your next amazon order, or EVEN BETTER ... go get the shower curtain currently hanging in your bathroom.

Find Scissors

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The bigger and heavier the better. Most shower curtains are made out of vinyl, nylon or polyester. These materials are quite satisfying to cut with giant scissors.

Remove the Bottom Seam

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Lay your new shower curtain on the floor. Cut across the entire bottom of the shower curtain to remove the seam. This is the main area where water gets trapped, a perfect place for mold to grow.

* If you are doing this with your old shower curtain, you will be able to see where to cut.

Trim the Sides + Magnets

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The excess material of oversized shower curtains create a dark and damp environment, perfect for mold growth. Most shower curtains are made bigger than they need to be in order to accommodate all tub sizes.

Your shower curtain is too big for your tub. Use scissors to cut lengthwise and trim off the sides. Remove enough off the sides so that when you close the curtain, it isn't still bunched up.

Also cut off the quarter sized disk magnets attached near the bottom of the curtain. In theory these help create a better water barrier. But I don't think they really do much. Since the magnets are often held in place with a moisture trapping seam, I recommend cutting them off too.

Hang It Up

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Hang up your shower curtain.

You might not need to use all of your shower curtain rings anymore since your curtain is narrower than it was before.

Close the Curtain + Recycle Your Magnets

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Use any extra shower curtain hooks to hang other stuff.

Keep the magnets and use them to hang stuff on your fridge.

Your shower curtain should always be kept closed so that it can evenly air dry.