Prep first
Before you start
- Work out the cause first: orange-brown marks are usually iron, and slimy pink-red marks are usually bacteria.
- Test any remover on a hidden spot, because some dyes change and rust removers are strong acids.
- Keep the stained curtain out of the dryer until the color is gone.
Pink, red and orange marks on a shower curtain can have different causes, and the wrong treatment can make one worse. Orange to reddish-brown marks are most often iron from water or rusting metal, while slimy pink-red marks are usually a bacterium. Chlorine bleach makes rust worse and has no place on this fabric, so identify the mark first.
A pink stain on shower curtain usually responds to a little delicate laundry detergent and warm water, worked in with a soft brush. For an orange stain on shower curtain, reach for a rust remover made for fabric, and test it on a hidden edge first. If the mark is still there after two rounds, let the fabric dry fully before you judge it.
Before you start
What curtains & blinds can take
Use with care6
- Water
- Soaking
- Oxygen bleach
- Enzyme cleaners
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
Avoid4
- Hot water
- Chlorine bleach
- Scrubbing and abrasives
- Heat, once the stain is out
8 items
What you'll need
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- Oxygen bleach powderfor the soak that lifts the stain (opens Amazon)
- Heavy-duty laundry detergentfor the wash after the soak (opens Amazon)
- Liquid hand dishwashing detergentfor the vinegar soak (opens Amazon)
- White vinegarfor the vinegar soak, white only (opens Amazon)
- 70% isopropyl or 90% denatured alcoholfor the rinse after the vinegar soak (opens Amazon)
- Clean basin or tubto hold the soak solutions (opens Amazon)
- Clean white clothto blot without rubbing (opens Amazon)
- Rubber glovesif you use a rust remover (opens Amazon)
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Test a hidden spot, then rinse
Before anything else, run the hidden-spot test with the remover you plan to use. Then rinse the fresh stain under cool water, working from the back of the fabric so the stain does not spread through the front.
Step 2 of 615 to 30 minutes
Soak in the oxygen bleach solution
Mix 1 quart of warm water with 1 tablespoon of oxygen bleach in a basin, then soak the stained section for 15 to 30 minutes. Check the color as you go, and stop once the stain has faded or stops changing.
Step 3 of 6
Launder the curtain
Wash the curtain in the machine with heavy-duty detergent and water, following the care label for water temperature. Any color still visible goes into the vinegar soak next, so check the curtain before you move on.
Step 4 of 615 minutes
Soak in the vinegar solution
Mix 1 quart of warm water, 1/2 teaspoon of liquid hand dishwashing detergent and 1 tablespoon of white vinegar, then soak the stained section for 15 minutes. This is for stain that remains after the oxygen bleach soak and wash.
Careful. White vinegar can change the color of some dyes, and dish soap is too harsh for silk and velvet.
Step 5 of 6
Rinse, sponge with alcohol, and wash
Rinse the soaked section thoroughly with water. Then sponge it with 70% isopropyl alcohol or 90% denatured alcohol with no added color or fragrance, and wash the curtain as usual.
Careful. Skip the alcohol on acetate, silk and any colored fabric you have not tested.
Step 6 of 6
Air dry and check the color
Hang the curtain to air dry, and look at the stain once it is completely dry, since wet fabric can hide how much has lifted. If color is still there, use the stronger options below.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for orange on curtains & blinds
Choose an oxygen bleach powder for the soak and a heavy-duty laundry detergent for the wash. Use a liquid hand dishwashing detergent for the vinegar soak, since the amounts are measured for it.
Woolite Delicates
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on curtains & blinds, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light before using any heat. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
Heavy buildup usually takes more than one round.
Heavy or long-standing buildup →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
A working treatment lightens the stain a little with each soak, so the color fades before it disappears. If the stain does not change at all after the oxygen bleach soak and wash, it is probably not iron, so check the cause again.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your curtains & blinds
Pink on Shower Curtains
Pink on a shower curtain is one of two things. If it is slimy and sits on the plastic, it is usually the bacterium Serratia marcescens, so the rust steps are the wrong treatment for it. If it is a flat color on cloth, it may be dye, and dye removers can strip the curtain's own color.
Serratia comes back in a damp bathroom, so let the curtain dry between uses and look at it again after each shower.
Orange or Red on Shower Curtains
Orange to reddish-brown marks are most often iron, carried by water or left by a rusting shower rod or hardware. Red marks of this kind are usually the same iron, so the steps above apply.
Old stains are harder to remove than fresh ones, so treat it soon after you spot it.
Shower Curtain Liner
A liner is not always the same material as a curtain, and it may not take the same treatment. Pink slime on a liner is usually Serratia marcescens, so check the liner's label or packaging first, then try the vinegar soak on a small hidden spot before doing the whole liner.
If the liner does not take the soak or the pink does not fade, stop, since a little staining is better than damage. Keep the liner dry between showers to slow the return of the bacteria.
Heavy or long-standing buildup
Old stains are harder to remove than fresh ones, and some will not come out completely. If the curtain has already been washed and dried with the stain in it, expect it to fade rather than vanish.
A dried stain usually responds to the same soaks, so give the oxygen bleach soak its full 30 minutes before you judge it. If iron is still visible, a commercial rust remover applied per its label is the next option, but wear rubber gloves, since oxalic acid is poisonous.
If it is still there after all this, it may simply not come out, and a faint mark can be the best realistic result. Do not keep repeating the same soaks past that point, because each round adds handling to the fabric.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on orange on curtains & blinds?
Plenty of household remedies get passed around for these stains, but only some suit curtains. Most household remedies are too harsh for curtains, so stick with water, a gentle soak and oxygen bleach.
Works4Skip2
Chemical safety
Never mix these
Some products in this guide react dangerously with each other. Use them one at a time and rinse with water in between.
Oxygen bleach (OxiClean) + Vinegar
OxiClean's maker says it should not be mixed with household chemicals other than detergent in the wash.
Oxygen bleach (OxiClean) + Rubbing alcohol
OxiClean's maker says it should not be mixed with household chemicals other than detergent in the wash.
If they mix by accident: Don't use the mixture; ventilate the room and avoid breathing fumes or touching it; call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for disposal advice or if anyone feels unwell.
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't use chlorine bleach
Chlorine bleach sets iron stains and makes them darker, so it is the wrong fix for orange and red marks. Never mix it with vinegar or acidic cleaners, since that releases chlorine gas.
Don't rub or brush the stain
Rubbing or brushing spreads a stain and can damage the fabric, so press and lift instead. Blot gently with a clean cloth between the soaks.
Don't overwet the whole curtain
Soaking more of the curtain than the stained section spreads the color and can weaken the fabric. Keep each soak to the area that is stained.
When to call a professional
Use a professional dry cleaner when the care label says dry clean only, or when a test on a hidden area shows the color transferring. Ask the cleaner whether they can treat the stain before you hand the curtain over.
Questions
Is the stain iron or bacteria?
Orange to reddish-brown marks are most often iron, from water or rusting metal, while slimy pink-red marks are usually bacteria. A quick look at the texture and where the mark sits usually tells you which one you are dealing with.
How long do the soaks take?
The oxygen bleach soak runs 15 to 30 minutes, and the vinegar soak runs 15 minutes. Check the stain partway through the oxygen bleach soak, and stop once it has faded.
Does white vinegar work on orange stains?
Yes, but only as a vinegar soak that comes after the oxygen bleach soak and wash. Use only white vinegar, and do not use it on its own.
Why does the pink keep coming back?
If the pink is slimy and pink-red, it is usually Serratia marcescens, and it returns when the curtain stays damp. Let the curtain dry between showers and let the bathroom air out after each one.
Can I clean a liner the same way as a curtain?
Not without checking first. Liners are often a different material, so read the packaging or label, then test a small hidden spot before treating the whole liner.
Can an old stain on a curtain come out completely?
Sometimes, but not always. Old stains are harder to remove than fresh ones, so a faint mark may be the realistic result after the soaks.
Orange on other materials
Other stains on curtains & blinds
Start from the bigger picture
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.