# Shower curtain liners: cloth or plastic? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 9, 2022, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shower-curtain-liners-cloth-or-plastic/964189 "2022-05-09T18:23:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![teelabrown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teelabrown/32/8412_2.png) [@teelabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teelabrown)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2022, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shower-curtain-liners-cloth-or-plastic/964189/1 "2022-05-09T18:23:29Z")
A month or two ago, I put our slightly moldy plastic shower curtain liner into the tub with some bleach. It was a wrestling match to scrub it clean and hang it back up again. And now it’s moldy again! I’d like to try a cloth shower curtain liner. I’m skeptical that they’d keep back water, though. Who has one and can tell me how they like it? Do they get moldy too? ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2022, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shower-curtain-liners-cloth-or-plastic/964189/2 "2022-05-09T18:34:17Z")
I usually see cloth shower curtains in motels/hotels, and as long as it’s draped inside the shower it always seems to work just fine, no liner just a cloth curtain At my house, Ms. Roomie takes down the shower curtain (plastic inner, cloth outer) and throws them in the washer. Her and Roomie bought the current set though, so I don’t know the brand or how thick it is(it’s a shower curtain, I look at them as disposable) ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2022, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shower-curtain-liners-cloth-or-plastic/964189/3 "2022-05-09T18:53:19Z")
We’ve got one of [these “Hookless” ones](https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/hookless-waffle-fabric-shower-curtain-and-snap-in-liner-set/3253374?brandId=1656) in our shower, and it works great. It’s the same sort you see in hotels. It’s _very_ easy to snap the liner back up, and the outer curtain gets dirty very slowly, so all that is necessary is a periodic removal of the liner, soak in bleach, wash in the washing machine, and snap it back up. It does a fine job of keeping the water in the tub- I think it relies on surface tension to keep the water in- it’s not waterproof, but as long as it’s not touching anything where the water can be wicked out or run off, it does just fine. ---
**Author:** ![TheCuse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thecuse/32/2854_2.png) [@TheCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheCuse)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2022, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shower-curtain-liners-cloth-or-plastic/964189/4 "2022-05-09T18:59:32Z")
I use the plastic ones. Kind of a pain to replace with the hooks but I buy the plastic liners at the dollar store. Just throw 'em out every few months when they start getting moldy. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2022, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shower-curtain-liners-cloth-or-plastic/964189/5 "2022-05-09T19:28:23Z")
That’s what I do too, but I’ve wondered whether the ones that are a step up from dollar-store quality are more mold-resistant. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2022, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shower-curtain-liners-cloth-or-plastic/964189/6 "2022-05-09T19:30:32Z")
> [@DorkVader](#): > > I usually see cloth shower curtains in motels/hotels, and as long as it’s draped inside the shower it always seems to work just fine, no liner just a cloth curtain This is me. Inside the tub when I’m showering, then draped outside with a fan on it to dry when I’m done. Don’t see the point of a liner, i.e., petri dish. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2022, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shower-curtain-liners-cloth-or-plastic/964189/7 "2022-05-09T19:33:16Z")
> [@bump](#): > > We’ve got one of [these “Hookless” ones](https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/hookless-waffle-fabric-shower-curtain-and-snap-in-liner-set/3253374?brandId=1656) in our shower Do you have to remove the rod from its fixtures to get the curtain changed? My shower curtain rod is more or less permanent. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2022, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shower-curtain-liners-cloth-or-plastic/964189/8 "2022-05-09T19:37:25Z")
No, if you look at this picture, you can’t see it, but there’s a gap in the “curtain ring” and a slit in the liner behind the curtain rod. So what you do is sort of twist the curtain ring, and slip it over the rod, and do the same with the next one. Easier overall than the weird little rings that they usually come with anyway. [762065\_K\_Lg.jpg (600×600) (hdsupplysolutions.com)](https://images.hdsupplysolutions.com/image/upload/d_no_image.gif,f_auto,fl_lossy,h_600,q_auto,w_600/762065_K_Lg.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2022, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shower-curtain-liners-cloth-or-plastic/964189/9 "2022-05-09T19:41:45Z")
Ah. Cool – thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Mrs\_Fairway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Mrs\_Fairway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs_Fairway)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2022, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shower-curtain-liners-cloth-or-plastic/964189/10 "2022-05-09T19:45:37Z")
When I wash my cloth liners, I find that adding some fabric softener in the rinse cycle helps them repel water better. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2022, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shower-curtain-liners-cloth-or-plastic/964189/11 "2022-05-09T20:02:48Z")
I’m horrible. I buy a new plastic liner every 6 months or so and just throw the old one away. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2022, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shower-curtain-liners-cloth-or-plastic/964189/12 "2022-05-09T20:36:56Z")
We have a zero entry shower on one end of our bathroom, **no liner or curtain**. The floor angles down in 5 different directions to a drain in the center of the shower area. Walls and floor are tiled. Dries completely within an hour. No mold or mildew. One of the best decisions when we remodeled our bathroom a few years ago. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2022, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shower-curtain-liners-cloth-or-plastic/964189/13 "2022-05-09T20:37:23Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > That’s what I do too, but I’ve wondered whether the ones that are a step up from dollar-store quality are more mold-resistant. I was buying the dollar store ones for a while but I switched to the nicer plastic ones that I’ve found on Amazon that say they are mold resistant. They do seem to be MOLD resistant but not goopy hair product or grunge resistant. And they’re not easy to clean. So I end up replacing them about once a year. They may fair better if I were to clean them with the stuff you’re supposed to spray on your shower walls every time you shower. ---
**Author:** ![alovem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@alovem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alovem)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2022, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shower-curtain-liners-cloth-or-plastic/964189/14 "2022-05-09T20:48:43Z")
Woven nylon works best for me. So far, mold seems to be much less of an issue than with the plastic ones, and I’ll just chuck it in the washing machine when the time comes. ---
**Author:** ![teelabrown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teelabrown/32/8412_2.png) [@teelabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teelabrown)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2022, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shower-curtain-liners-cloth-or-plastic/964189/15 "2022-05-09T21:14:26Z")
The woven nylon liner is the ideal situation I’m hoping for, so I think I’ll go for that option. I don’t want to give up my outer shower curtain; it has a nice pattern of branch coral and other sea life, and coordinates with some framed prints in the bathroom. The new cloth liner will be lightweight, I hope, and I can just bundle it up and put it in the washing machine with a bit of bleach if it gets moldy. ---
**Author:** ![adhemar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@adhemar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhemar)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2022, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shower-curtain-liners-cloth-or-plastic/964189/16 "2022-05-11T20:11:12Z")
my experience with the cloth only curtains even if they are supposed to be used alone will let a “mist” of water come through. I use cheap plastic liners and wash/replace periodically. (they can only be washed a couple of times before disintegrating. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2022, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shower-curtain-liners-cloth-or-plastic/964189/17 "2022-05-13T12:47:46Z")
I’ve used both; my preference is a cloth (I think it’s nylon) liner with a think, almost canvas-like cloth outer curtain. I only have problems with water escaping if I leave one end or the other gapped open. The liner is super easy to maintain; the open style hooks I use make it easy to remove it for a nice bleach washing (and soaking, if necessary). ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2022, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shower-curtain-liners-cloth-or-plastic/964189/18 "2022-05-14T20:22:53Z")
I suspect your problem is using a liner as well as a curtain, which could mean neither dries out completely, making the kind of conditions for mould to flourish. I have a cloth curtain made of some sort of woven artificial fibre, and the only problem I have with it is that limescale collects around the bottom of it, so I have to soak it in distilled vinegar every now and again - but that’s better than trying to remove limescale traces from a plastic curtain. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2022, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shower-curtain-liners-cloth-or-plastic/964189/19 "2022-05-14T21:50:39Z")
I use the plastic liner and throw it in the washer with a bunch of kitchen cloths when i’m ready to do a bleach load. Probably needs it no more than twice a year. ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2022, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shower-curtain-liners-cloth-or-plastic/964189/20 "2022-05-15T04:38:50Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > We have a zero entry shower on one end of our bathroom, I’ve long admired them, but do wonder about how they work for folks with balance or mobility issues. Could a wimp in a wheelchair be able to roll in and out without help? To the OP, when I was using plastic shower curtains, I would just toss them in the washing machine with some bleach and hang them outside to dry. After I learned about fabric shower curtains, I would just toss them in the washing machine with some bleach and hang them outside to dry. I did like the fabric curtains better, they seemed to work better to keep the water confined. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shower-curtain-liners-cloth-or-plastic/964189.md?page=2)