Do people still use shower liners? (2023)

Do you really need a shower curtain liner?

Why do you need a shower curtain liner? A shower curtain liner helps prevent mildew and keeps water contained within the tub and off your floors. If you have a decorative shower curtain that isn't made from a water-resistant material, you'll need a liner to protect it from the water.

Shower curtain alternatives include hemp, cotton, shower blinds, sliding doors, pivot doors, bamboo panels, half screens, and open showers. Each alternative has it's own benefits and drawbacks and the one you choose depends on your personal situation.

In general, expect to replace a shower curtain once a year, but the actual replacement time will vary depending on the type of liner you use, how many people live in your home, and how often you launder it.

Since they prevent water from escaping, shower liners can be used on their own without a shower curtain. The only drawback to doing so would be that they aren't as aesthetically pleasing as shower curtains, which are designed to improve the décor of the bathroom.

What Kind Of Shower Curtain Does Not Need A Liner? Vinyl and some polyester shower curtains typically do not require a liner. That is because these materials are already water-resistant. However, if you want to ensure that water doesn't spill out onto the bathroom floor, the addition of a liner would be a good option.

Cotton Believe it or not, there are also cotton shower curtain liners that do help keep shower water in the shower. (They're heavyweight, made of cotton duck.) Easily washable, cotton is another great option for avoiding plastics.

In general, experts advise you should get new ones every two years. If you are still unsure, look for these signs: You have to run the towel over your body several times just to remove the water. Towel fibers inherently break down with use.

Are fabric shower curtain liners better than plastic liners? Fabric liners are quieter and typically more pleasant to use than plastic liners. Plastic liners are easy to clean and don't require machine washing. In general, fabric liners are better for the environment and don't leach chemicals.

After all, you come face to face with your shower curtain or plastic liner on an almost daily basis. Ideally, you should be washing it once a month. At the very least, however, you should aim to clean your plastic shower curtain once every three months.

Choose Your Cleaning Method

Begin by removing the plastic liner from the rod. Next, add your usual amount of laundry detergent and 1/3 cup of bleach, like Clorox Disinfecting Bleach ($4.49, target.com), in hot water on the gentle washing cycle. After you finish the load, hang the liner and let it air dry.

Do you need a liner with a cotton shower curtain?

You will, most likely, only need a liner if you have a cotton shower curtain, as cotton absorbs moisture more than the other materials mentioned. Most liners are made out of vinyl which naturally repels water. Weighted liners are also good to have, as they stay in place more easily.

How To Prevent Mold On A Shower Curtain | Cleaning Hacks Video

Polyester shower curtains are a bit softer than vinyl and also don't require a liner. Many are washer and dryer safe, which makes them simple to clean.

Shower doors are also easy to clean, and unlike shower curtains, they don't become unusable over time due to buildups of mold or mildew. Best of all, shower doors reduce or entirely eliminate the water that is splashed onto the floor of your bathroom while you shower, which reduces cleanup time.

It is possible to use a shower curtain with a walk in shower – the best style to opt for are those that are either weighted at the bottom or constructed from a heavier material.

Not only can it give a more symmetrical style to your bathtub and shower, but by also keeping those curtains open, it can make the room seem more open and airy. Also, for those bathrooms that bear the benefit of large windows behind the tub, having the two-curtain aesthetic can really turn the room's look around.

Grab a suction cup and binder clip.

You can get packs of suction cups at home improvement stores. Now, clip binder clips to the shower curtain, close to the suction cup. After you get in the shower, force the wire loop on the binder clip around the nub on the suction cup to secure the curtain.

Shower curtains and liners made with PVC plastic have been associated with respiratory irritation and even hormone disruption. Avoid vinyl curtains in your shower and scrub your bathroom using these non-toxic products to ensure a cleaning experience that's truly clean.

The best types are made of polyester, PE (polyethylene), or PEVA (polyethylene vinyl acetate). Polyester is a machine-washable, somewhat water-resistant fabric. When used as a shower curtain liner, is it also treated for mold prevention.

For the first time, our results have shown that PEVA plastic has adverse effects on living organisms, and therefore it is not a safe alternative to PVC. Further studies should identify specific compounds causing the adverse effects, and determine whether toxic effect occurs in more complex organisms, especially humans.

Is it OK to wash bath towels with kitchen towels?

Ideally, wash kitchen and bathroom towels separately — and never commingle cleaning rags with any other kind of laundry, to avoid contamination. If you do not use a fresh washcloth or bath towel every day, hang them to dry between uses to keep them from developing a musty, mildewy smell.

Washing towels with clothes can transfer germs and bacteria between items in the wash. For sanitary reasons, you should always wash bath towels separately from clothing items. Putting towels in their own load also makes it easier to adjust the setting based on color.

ALWAYS remove any tags on towels. Tags are invariably made of polyester to allow for heat transfer printing of the label. They WILL scratch. Beware of towels that claim the tag is silk and safe to use, don`t believe it for a minute.

PEVA shower curtain liners are an excellent alternative to vinyl. PEVA stands for polyethylene vinyl acetate and EVA for ethylene vinyl acetate. They are eco-friendly, containing significantly less VOCs (volatile organic compounds), they have antimicrobial properties, and are chlorine free.

PEVA: PEVA stands for polyethylene vinyl acetate. This material is commonly used to make shower curtain liners, and is considered more eco-friendly and less toxic than PVC liners. These liners have antimicrobial properties, which make them ideal for standing up to the wet and damp climate of our bathrooms.

The average shower curtain liner runs 70" by 72". Extra long liners typically run 70" by 84" or 72" by 84". Extra wide liners can run 144" by 72". There are also liners designed to fit shower stalls at 54" by 78".

Most fabric, plastic and vinyl shower curtains and liners can be cleaned in the washing machine. Curtains and plastic liners with magnets in the bottom are also usually fine to toss in the washer.

Remove the rings, then toss the curtain and the liner in the washing machine along with a couple of white towels. The towels will provide extra scrubbing for better cleaning. Add the regular amount of detergent and ½ to 1 cup of baking soda. Wash in warm or hot water at the highest level.

Clean mould and soap scum from your plastic shower curtain using white vinegar. Vinegar is a natural germ and mould killer.

You will, most likely, only need a liner if you have a cotton shower curtain, as cotton absorbs moisture more than the other materials mentioned. Most liners are made out of vinyl which naturally repels water. Weighted liners are also good to have, as they stay in place more easily.

Which is better a fabric shower liner or plastic?

Are fabric shower curtain liners better than plastic liners? Fabric liners are quieter and typically more pleasant to use than plastic liners. Plastic liners are easy to clean and don't require machine washing. In general, fabric liners are better for the environment and don't leach chemicals.

Polyester shower curtains are a bit softer than vinyl and also don't require a liner. Many are washer and dryer safe, which makes them simple to clean.

Non-toxic shower curtains will ideally be made out of natural materials. The more natural (obviously) the better. These include organic cotton, linen, and hemp. If you're set on sticking with a type of plastic for your liner, polyester or EVA are better bets (in that order).

Simply take down the curtain and toss it in your washing machine. Add a bath towel to help with scrubbing the shower liner. Make sure you keep it on the gentle setting to avoid damaging the liner. Hang the shower curtain liner to dry.

Not only can it give a more symmetrical style to your bathtub and shower, but by also keeping those curtains open, it can make the room seem more open and airy. Also, for those bathrooms that bear the benefit of large windows behind the tub, having the two-curtain aesthetic can really turn the room's look around.

“Shower curtain liners should be replaced every six months, as the lack of ventilation and accumulation of humidity will cause mold and mildew,” says Bowen. To prolong the life of your shower curtain liner, mix one part vinegar to four parts water in a spray bottle and spray the solution on the liner.

Choose Your Cleaning Method

Begin by removing the plastic liner from the rod. Next, add your usual amount of laundry detergent and 1/3 cup of bleach, like Clorox Disinfecting Bleach ($4.49, target.com), in hot water on the gentle washing cycle. After you finish the load, hang the liner and let it air dry.

Probably more often than you think. After all, you come face to face with your shower curtain or plastic liner on an almost daily basis. Ideally, you should be washing it once a month. At the very least, however, you should aim to clean your plastic shower curtain once every three months.

The average shower curtain liner runs 70" by 72". Extra long liners typically run 70" by 84" or 72" by 84". Extra wide liners can run 144" by 72". There are also liners designed to fit shower stalls at 54" by 78".

What is the heaviest gauge shower curtain liner?

PE and PEVA are plastic-like materials designed to mimic vinyl without the harmful chemicals often found in plastic or vinyl. They are naturally water repellant, and many shower curtains made out of these materials are treated for mold and mildew prevention.

Mildew growth on your shower curtain is mainly caused by moisture that remains after you shower or bathe. Although many people may discard their shower curtain and replace it with a fresh, new curtain or liner, there are preventative steps you can take on a regular basis to stop mildew growth before it occurs.

The best types are made of polyester, PE (polyethylene), or PEVA (polyethylene vinyl acetate). Polyester is a machine-washable, somewhat water-resistant fabric. When used as a shower curtain liner, is it also treated for mold prevention.