shower curtain ettiquette
In last week’s issue of The New Yorker, there was a humorous essay by Ian Fraiser called How to Operate the Shower Curtain. It’s an hysterical, detailed guide for overnight guests on the workings of the bathroom’s most crucial accessory. “When detaching shower curtain from clinging to you or when exiting tub during a change in water temperature, bear in mind that there are seventeen mostly empty plastic bottles of shampoo on tub edge next to wall,” writes Fraiser.
Though tongue-in-cheek, the piece hit a note of truth at our homes, where we care quite passionately about our shower curtains. Here are our simple rules to make sure the one in your bathroom lives a long, useful life:
1) While showering, the curtain should always be inside the tub.
2) Shower curtains need to be open gently, so as not to rip the delicate plastic holes.
3) There is only one kind of shower curtain ring worth using: Roller Rings, 12 for $11 at Bed, Bath and Beyond.
4) After exiting the tub, draw the shower curtain closed once more, so it will dry evenly, and to avoid, as Fraiser says “the gray substance in some of the inner pleat folds” which is “a kind of insignificant mildew, less toxic than what is found on some foreign cheeses.”
5) If you want to always have a towel in reach, without getting wet, consider the Duo shower curtain rod, $40 at Comfort House.
6) And finally, peeing the shower is not okay, but if you must, please make sure you are in the shower alone and that you aim into the drain.
Read How to Use The Shower Curtain here.
Photo by Chad Hunt
January 9th, 2007 at 7:00 pm
When we moved into our current home, the bathroom had NO towel racks! So I simply hung another shower rod below, and slightly further outside the one that the shower curtain hangs from, so we would have a place to hang towels. It turned out to be quite delightful to be able to grab a bathtowel when done showering before getting out of the tub. We did eventally put up a towel rack for hand towels, but left the second shower rod as well. (and another shower rod is much cheaper than the $40 “Duo rod”
January 9th, 2007 at 8:38 pm
I whole-heartedly endorse the Roller Ring – they are by far the best shower curtain ring…
(De-lurking in honor of De-Lurking Week)
January 10th, 2007 at 8:29 am
I love the roller rings- but they constantly get hung up on the junction point of the rod. I don’t want to use a cover across the rod as it’s brushed aluminum and really goes with the decor of the whole room. Does anyone have a solution for that issue?
January 10th, 2007 at 5:43 pm
I hate roller rings! They remind me of the gym showers in high school!
January 12th, 2007 at 12:19 am
I’m really not obsessed with the roller ring. I prefer glass shower doors (they don’t block the light! you don’t have to make any decorating decisions between “ugly” and “uglier”, as with most shower curtains! but downside = tracks to clean!). If I have to have a curtain, there’s nothing about the rings that’s a pain in the butt as long as the appropriate number of rings are always kept on each side of the rod join (if there is one). The bathroom that I use that has a shower curtain just has rings that match the curtain really well: it’s one of those things made of antiqued tulle lace with tiny embroidered red and pink flowers and green leaves and vines, and the curtain rings are shaped like green leaves. Not my style, ordinarily, but it all works together.
What I *am* vaguely passionate about in bathrooms is the “hotel” shower liner. They’re made of a lightweight textured fabric that dries quickly and doesn’t tend to get anywhere near as gross as the plastic kind. They don’t get moldy as long as you pull them down and wash them every few months.
January 12th, 2007 at 12:21 am
Also, not that I *endorse* peeing in the shower – there’s a psychological grossness factor – but urine is sterile. So it’s not really a big deal if someone lets it fly, as long as it only gets on the floor and is washed away.
February 15th, 2007 at 11:24 pm
[...] I just love the blog post that I read at http://www.shelterrific.com. It’s about shower curtain etiquette, and I am so happy that there are people out there who want to have a cleaner and safer bathroom just like me. I believe that one sound way to have a healthy lifestyle is to have a tidy shower curtain. Let me share to you some important pointers from the article that I read about how to use the shower curtain properly. One thing that I think every one must do is to keep the curtain inside the tub while showering, otherwise, the floor will be all wet. Then, always gently hold the curtain so that the fragile plastic holes will not rip. Additionally, when leaving the tub, close the curtain so it can dry evenly. Last and most definitely not the least, never ever pee on the shower. That is pretty gross and considered as an unethical act in bathroom manners. However, if you can’t help it, please try your best to aim into the drain. I am certain that those simple guidelines that I mentioned will help us maintain our home perfectly clean. I believe that the bathroom reflects the personality of the person who uses it, so let us keep our shower room neat. Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. [...]
September 8th, 2008 at 12:14 am
I’ve just bought the most amazing and beuatiful shower curtain from http://www.ilmaofsweden.com. No more ugly shower curtains!