By Charles Mohaney

Selecting Shower Curtains

The choices in a curtain for the shower are abundant.You can find prints from traditional or contemporary styles and everything in between. Once you have chosen the fabric, you can select the rod and curtain rings. These help determine the overall look of the room and are inexpensive.

The most common materials used are waterproof surfaces. These include nylon, vinyl or PVC coated materials. These are best because they are waterproof, which is important in the shower. If you find a great curtain that isnÂ’t waterproof, you could use a vinyl liner with your fancy outer curtain. This will give you the look you want with the waterproof protection you need.

Making Your Own Shower Curtains

If you have trouble finding the style you want, you could make your own. This is an easy job for anyone with even rudimentary sewing skills. Your local sewing store has a wide selection of materials. If you find a great fabric that isnÂ’t waterproof, you can always purchase a liner. These are very inexpensive and are available in most stores that sell bathroom accessories.

Cleaning Shower Curtains

Mold is a problem all over the bathroom, and the shower curtain is no exception. Mold thrives in warm, damp environments, such as your shower. The mold can trigger allergy and asthma symptoms. In addition, bacteria can grow on a dirty shower curtain. This can be dangerous for people with respiratory problems, young children or the elderly. Keeping your curtain clean is the best way to prevent illness.

Clean your shower curtain with a cleaning solution that is made to kill mold. Most materials used in curtains canÂ’t be put in the washing machine. Check the cleaning instructions that came with your curtain. If it can be machine washed, use hot water and a little bleach to kill mold and germs. Another option is to wash the curtain and apply lemon juice. Set the curtain outside in the sun. The sun reacts with the lemon juice to kill mold.

Once you have removed the mold, itÂ’s important to prevent it from coming back. Here are some things you can do to keep the mold away.

Make sure your bathroom is well ventilated. Use the vent when you shower. If you donÂ’t have a vent, consider having one installed.

If you donÂ’t have a vent, open the bathroom window. This isnÂ’t as effective as a vent, but will help.

After washing your curtain, soak it in salt water before drying. The salt water will help prevent future mold growth.

About the Author:

Charles Mohaney writes frequently for curtains-drapes-coverings.com an online guide. Charles is working on other topics such as this one and home improvement.