 *Photo: Unsplash*
A shower curtain that smells fine in January can be covered in black mould spots by August. That's not a housekeeping failure — it's Montreal's climate doing what it does.
Montreal's summer humidity sits at 70 to 80 percent relative humidity from July through August. Combined with a bathroom that heats up to 35°C during a shower, a vinyl or fabric curtain left hanging in still, damp air creates near-perfect conditions for mould growth. In pre-war triplexes across NDG, Plateau-Mont-Royal, Rosemont, HoMa, and Villeray — where many bathrooms have no mechanical exhaust fan (or a weak undersized one) — black mould specks can appear on a liner within two to three weeks of installation without regular cleaning.
Add Montreal's hard water (90 to 150 mg/L of dissolved calcium carbonate), and you get a second problem: a pink-to-white mineral scale ring along the bottom edge of the liner where it contacts the bathtub water, plus a greasy grey film on the lower third from bar soap reacting with calcium ions in the water. Together, mould, mineral scale, and soap scum make Montreal shower curtains dirtier faster than almost anywhere else in Canada.
This guide covers every type of shower curtain found in Montreal homes — PEVA vinyl liners, PVC liners, fabric curtains — and every cleaning method: machine washing, hand washing, mould removal, and mineral descaling.
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Types of Shower Curtains and Liners in Montreal
Understanding what your curtain is made of determines how you clean it.
PEVA liner (most common in Montreal rentals) Polyethylene vinyl acetate — the clear or frosted flexible liner hanging inside the tub. This is the standard in the vast majority of Montreal rental triplexes and condos. PEVA is chlorine-free (unlike PVC), is machine washable on cold, and replaces easily every 6–12 months at Dollarama ($6–8), Canadian Tire ($10–18), or IKEA (~$8–12).
PVC liner (older and budget rentals) Heavier, opaque, or textured. Hot water warps PVC permanently. Machine wash on cold only; never put PVC in the dryer. PVC also emits VOCs (particularly noticeable with a new liner) and is less eco-friendly than PEVA. Signs of wear: yellowing, peeling, or a permanently musty smell despite cleaning.
Fabric curtain (outer decorative curtain) Polyester, cotton-polyester blend, or microfibre. Many Montreal apartments have a fabric outer curtain plus a PEVA inner liner. The fabric curtain stays drier and needs washing only every 4–6 weeks; the liner gets dirty much faster and needs monthly attention or replacement.
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Machine Washing (Fastest Method)
When it works: PEVA liners and most polyester fabric curtains. Always check the care label.
Step-by-step:
1. Remove the curtain or liner from the rings. If rings/hooks have soap scum, set them aside to soak separately. 2. Add the curtain to the washing machine with two or three bath towels. The towels act as gentle scrubbers and prevent the curtain from bunching into a ball. 3. Add ½ cup of white vinegar to the fabric softener compartment (not laundry detergent only — the vinegar dissolves mineral scale and soap residue). 4. Add ½ cup of OxiClean (or regular laundry detergent) to the main compartment. 5. Set to cold water, gentle cycle. Never use hot water on PEVA or PVC — it warps the material. 6. Do not spin at high speed. 7. Remove immediately and hang to dry. Never put vinyl or PEVA in the dryer — the heat melts and deforms the liner permanently. Hang it back on the shower rod within minutes of the cycle ending.
For fabric curtains with mould: add ½ cup of baking soda to the main wash and swap OxiClean for 1 cup of borax. Borax is a natural mould inhibitor and odour eliminator.
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Hand Washing (No Machine Required)
Many Montreal apartments — especially in older triplexes — have coin-operated laundry in a shared basement buanderie. Hand washing the liner in the bathroom saves a trip downstairs.
What you need: - Spray bottle with undiluted white vinegar - Dish soap (a few drops) - Baking soda - Non-scratch scrub sponge or old toothbrush - Bucket or bathtub
Step-by-step:
1. Leave the curtain hanging on the rod. Spray the entire surface with undiluted white vinegar and let sit for 10 minutes (this softens mineral scale and soap scum before scrubbing). 2. Squirt a few drops of dish soap onto a damp non-scratch sponge. 3. Scrub the surface from top to bottom in circular motions, paying extra attention to the bottom third where soap scum and mineral deposits concentrate. 4. For stubborn soap scum: make a paste of 3 tablespoons of baking soda and 1 tablespoon of dish soap. Apply to scum deposits and let sit 5 minutes before scrubbing. 5. Rinse thoroughly with the shower head or a bucket of water. 6. Leave hanging to air dry completely with the bathroom door open or exhaust fan running.
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Removing Mould from a Shower Curtain
Montreal's humid summers make mould the most common shower curtain problem. There are two types:
Pink mould (Serratia marcescens) — a reddish-pink slime that forms in corners and along seams. Despite its appearance, this is actually a bacteria, not a fungus. It's easier to remove: scrub with baking soda paste + dish soap, then spray with undiluted white vinegar and let sit 15 minutes before rinsing.
Black mould (Cladosporium and related species) — the more serious problem in Montreal's pre-war triplexes. Small black dots, usually starting along the bottom seam and lower third of the liner.
For light black mould (early stage, small spots): 1. Mix 1 part household bleach (eau de Javel) with 10 parts water in a spray bottle. Open the bathroom window and run the exhaust fan — bleach fumes in an enclosed bathroom are dangerous. 2. Spray onto affected areas and let sit 15–20 minutes. 3. Scrub with a non-scratch sponge or old toothbrush. 4. Rinse thoroughly. 5. Wash in the machine (cold, gentle) with OxiClean to remove bleach residue and remaining spores.
For heavy mould (black throughout the lower half of the liner): Stop cleaning and replace the liner. PEVA liners at Dollarama cost $6–8. If mould has penetrated through to the back surface of the liner, it cannot be fully removed — the spores will regrow within weeks. Replacement is both cheaper and more effective than continued cleaning.
Never use bleach on fabric curtains without checking colourfastness first. Bleach will permanently discolour patterned or coloured fabric. Use OxiClean or hydrogen peroxide (3%) instead.
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Removing Soap Scum and Mineral Scale
The greasy film and white scale at the bottom of the liner comes from two sources: bar soap reacting with Montreal hard water to form calcium stearate (greasy-mineral hybrid) and calcium carbonate depositing at the waterline.
Two-step protocol:
Step 1 — Degrease first: Spray dish soap directly onto the affected area, work into a lather with a soft sponge, and rinse. This breaks down the fatty acid layer. Skipping this step and applying vinegar first wastes the acid on the grease without reaching the mineral underneath.
Step 2 — Descale: Spray undiluted white vinegar onto the cleaned area and let sit 5–10 minutes to dissolve the remaining calcium carbonate deposits. Rinse clean.
For severe accumulated scale at the liner's bottom edge: submerge the bottom 10 cm of the liner in a bucket of undiluted white vinegar for 30 minutes, then scrub and rinse. Citric acid powder (2 tablespoons dissolved in 500 ml warm water) is more concentrated than vinegar and works faster on heavy scale — available at Bulk Barn, Jean Coutu, or Pharmaprix for $5–8.
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Cleaning Curtain Rings and the Tension Rod
Curtain rings/hooks: Remove from the rod. Soak in a bowl of equal parts white vinegar and warm water for 20–30 minutes. Scrub with an old toothbrush to remove the soap scum and calcium around the ring opening. Rinse and dry before reattaching.
Tension rod: The chrome or plastic tension rod accumulates a grey film of soap and calcium at each end where it contacts the wall. Spray with undiluted white vinegar, let sit 5 minutes, and wipe with a microfibre cloth. Check that the rubber end caps are intact — cracked end caps leave rust marks on painted bathroom walls.
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When to Replace Instead of Clean
Replace the PEVA liner: - Heavy black mould throughout the lower half - Permanent musty smell after washing - Tears or holes in the material - Yellowing or brittleness (UV degradation) - Every 6–12 months as a preventive replacement, regardless of visible mould
Replace the fabric curtain: - Permanent mould staining (black spots that bleach does not remove) - Structural tearing at the grommets - Permanent musty smell after machine washing
Montreal pricing: - PEVA liner replacement: Dollarama $6–8, Canadian Tire $10–18, IKEA $8–12 - Fabric curtain: Canadian Tire / Maison RONA $20–60, IKEA $10–40
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Prevention: The Montreal Routine
1. Spread the curtain after every shower. A bunched curtain stays wet — spread it fully across the rod to maximize airflow and drying. 2. Run the exhaust fan for 20 minutes after every shower. In pre-war triplex bathrooms without an exhaust fan, open the window. 3. Squeegee or shake water off the liner after each use. Reducing moisture on the surface slows both mould growth and mineral deposit formation. 4. Spray with white vinegar weekly. A 30-second spray of undiluted vinegar on the liner's inner surface (the tub side) after the shower, left without rinsing, inhibits mould growth. The vinegar smell dissipates within 10–15 minutes. 5. Wash the liner monthly — machine or hand wash. 6. Replace PEVA liner every 6–12 months. At $6–8 at Dollarama, replacement is cheaper than the time spent cleaning a heavily moulded liner.
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Q: Can you put a shower curtain liner in the washing machine?
A: Yes — for PEVA and fabric liners. Use cold water on a gentle cycle with a few bath towels to prevent bunching. Add ½ cup of white vinegar to the softener compartment and ½ cup of OxiClean or laundry detergent. Never use hot water (warps PEVA and PVC) and never put a vinyl liner in the dryer. Hang immediately after the cycle ends.
Q: How do I remove black mould from a shower curtain in a Montreal apartment?
A: For early-stage black mould (small spots), spray a 1:10 bleach-water solution on the affected areas, let sit 15–20 minutes with the window open and exhaust fan running, scrub with an old toothbrush, rinse, then machine wash cold with OxiClean. For heavy mould covering the lower half of the liner, replace the liner — PEVA liners at Dollarama cost $6–8 and heavy mould cannot be fully removed once it penetrates through the material.
Q: Why does my shower curtain get mouldy so fast in the summer?
A: Montreal's July–August humidity (70–80% relative humidity) combined with shower steam creates near-ideal mould growth conditions in bathrooms — especially in pre-war triplexes with no or inadequate exhaust ventilation. Mould can appear on a clean PEVA liner within 2–3 weeks. The most effective prevention: spread the curtain fully after every shower, run the exhaust fan for 20 minutes post-shower, and spray the liner weekly with undiluted white vinegar.
Q: What is the pink slime on my shower curtain?
A: Pink or reddish-orange slime on shower curtains and in bathroom corners is Serratia marcescens, a bacteria (not a mould) that thrives in wet environments. It's common in Montreal summers due to the warm, humid bathroom conditions. Remove it by scrubbing with baking soda paste and dish soap, then spray with undiluted white vinegar and let sit 15 minutes before rinsing. Prevent recurrence by keeping the bathroom dry between showers and cleaning the liner weekly.
Q: How do I remove soap scum from the bottom of a shower curtain?
A: The greasy white residue at the liner's bottom comes from bar soap reacting with Montreal hard water calcium. Use a two-step protocol: first spray with dish soap and scrub to dissolve the fatty acid layer, then spray undiluted white vinegar (or citric acid solution for heavy buildup) to dissolve the underlying calcium deposits. Rinse well. Do the acid step second — applying vinegar to a soap-coated surface wastes the acid on grease instead of reaching the minerals.
Q: Who is responsible for shower curtain mould in a Montreal rental?
A: Under Quebec tenancy law (Civil Code of Quebec, Article 1458), tenants have an obligation to use the rental unit reasonably and carry out routine maintenance. Mould on shower curtains and liners caused by failure to ventilate or clean regularly is tenant responsibility. The Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL) has consistently ruled that mould resulting from tenant lifestyle (not opening windows, not running exhaust fans, not cleaning the bathroom regularly) is a tenant-caused problem. Mould that has penetrated into wall grout, caulk, or structural elements from chronic moisture is more ambiguous — document bathroom ventilation deficiencies with photos and written notice to the landlord.
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Related Guides
- [How to Clean a Shower in Montreal](/en/blog/how-to-clean-a-shower-montreal)
- [How to Clean Bathroom Grout and Caulk in Montreal](/en/blog/how-to-clean-bathroom-grout-and-caulk-montreal)
- [How to Get Rid of Mould in a Montreal Apartment](/en/blog/how-to-get-rid-of-mold-in-a-montreal-apartment)
- [How to Deep Clean a Bathroom in Montreal](/en/blog/how-to-deep-clean-a-bathroom-montreal)
- [Deep Cleaning Services in Montreal](/en/services/deep-cleaning)
