home - blogs - plastic addiction

Plastic Addiction

I kind of dig the smell of brand new plastic shower curtains.  It ranks up there with the smell of new dolls and gasoline and the ink in new books.  Now, clearly, my semi-addictive attitude when smelling these things most likely stems from the fact that they are making me a little high and killing the brain cells that should be telling me to stop.  Still, pleasepleaseplease let me sniff your toxic curtain.  Please?

Because I don't have one.  Like a very good green girl, I have a nylon liner and eco-curtain so I can wash everything up and never worry about mold or PVC offgassing.  (Besides, the plastic ones are generally just plain ugly).  Not yet quite perfect - nylon is better than PVC, but still not totally sustainable - but getting there...

Still, if you have one of those natty plastic ones with bright fish all over them, will you let me come over and sniff it sometime?

-Heather... off to shower after some killer yoga...
Posted by: hstephenson on 04/04/2007
related tip
30 Comments 
Email Permalink
Bookmark and Share
Email Send to a Friend
Kris  on April 05, 2007 at 06:08 AM 1
Too funny! I do, I do have the nasty ol' blue plastic curtain with bright tropical fish all over it. I have looked at new 'safe' curtains and liners but too expensive for this girl. The rest of my life is natural and organic, time for the shower curtain to go!
Linda McFadden  on April 05, 2007 at 06:27 AM 2
I have been trying to get rid of my vinyl shower curtain liner for some time now.I recently learned about nylon liners which you mention in your daily tip. My problem is that I don't know where to get a nylon liner. You mention several sources for organic cotton shower curtains(which I have already found), but alas no mention of where to purchase a more eco friendly liner. Can you help me locate where to buy a safer than vinyl liner. I would really appreciate it.
Annette Dutro  on April 05, 2007 at 06:53 AM 3
Mention of "kitten-climbing" in this morning's bite made me laugh out loud!!!!! Thank you, Ideal Bite, for being informative AND entertaining!
Cheryl Scott  on April 05, 2007 at 07:51 AM 4
J.C Penney has a nylon liner on sale for $11.99 (regular price 19.99). I just ordered one for myself. I just figured out that the unpleasant smell in my main bath is the vinyl liner in my shower! I don't see mold or mildew on it, but something is going on with it. It certainly doesn't have that nice "new doll" smell anymore! Great tip! Thanks!
Becky  on April 05, 2007 at 08:56 AM 5
I just bought an organic cotton shower curtain on janices.com and based on a little research was going to use it without a liner. From what I've read, you can use the cotton curtain in the shower as a "wick" to draw water into the tub, then let dry outside of the tub. You're supposed to then wash the curtain once a month or so using some borax to kill/prevent mildew. Anyone else tried doing it this way?
Valerie  on April 05, 2007 at 10:36 AM 6
I, too, would like to know where to purchase a nylon liner. Please help! Thanks!
arousiak  on April 05, 2007 at 11:14 AM 7
I have an "EXCELL home fashions" 100% nylon shower curtain liner which i got at Bed bath for around 20 bucks.(you can find it cheaper i'm sure) It is sparkling white and very nice and even has fancy suction cups. and i have a lovely organic cotton curtain over it. the key is to keep the nylon IN the outer curtain OUT. and always stretch it out after a shower so that water doesn't stay in the bunches. I have had it for three years, and it works great. it says not to use detergent, but i use Seventh Gen and some hydrogen peroxide or white vinegar and it cleans up real good.
Annette Dutro  on April 05, 2007 at 11:42 AM 8
I think our clear nylon liner came from Lowes.
ShawneeOren  on April 05, 2007 at 11:54 AM 9
Ugh, I detest both the smell and the texture of plastic shower curtains. When I got my appartment I bought this lovely and simple white hotel shower curtain from Restoration Hardware (20-35$?), my mother had used it in her house and it proved quite nice. I thought it was polyester, but when I looked at it it said 100% linen! It works pretty darn well, though it does mildew if you don't spread it out to dry. I would highly recommend it.
shawneeOren  on April 05, 2007 at 11:57 AM 10
Let me clarify my above comment; it mildews a tiny bit after about three months in a humid climate and badly ventilated bathroom if you don't spread it out to dry. Wouldn't want to say bad things about my nice shower curtain...
123next ›last »

Post new comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
  • Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically.
  • Allowed HTML tags: <a> <em> <font> <strong> <cite> <code> <ul> <ol> <li> <dl> <dt> <dd> <p> <br> <img>

More information about formatting options