# Shower curtain - Opened or Closed after use? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 8, 2014, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shower-curtain-opened-or-closed-after-use/687991 "2014-05-08T18:03:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shower-curtain-opened-or-closed-after-use/687991/1 "2014-05-08T18:03:10Z")
Assuming that you have a shower curtain, when you are done with your shower, do you leave it open so that one can see into the shower or do you close it to hide the shower? Just curious really. We recently had our bathroom remodeled and I really like the look of our new tile so I like seeing the shower. I also like the look of our new shower curtain so I’m kind of torn. Poll coming. ---
**Author:** ![Macca26](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/13edae/32.png) [@Macca26](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Macca26)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shower-curtain-opened-or-closed-after-use/687991/2 "2014-05-08T18:06:36Z")
I close it because if you leave it all scrunched up at one end it traps residual water, making it harder to evaporate and causing a breeding ground for mildew. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shower-curtain-opened-or-closed-after-use/687991/3 "2014-05-08T18:08:50Z")
Closed so the liner dries & doesn’t get mildewy. ETA: or what that @#$% ninja **Macca26** said ---
**Author:** ![randompattern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@randompattern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randompattern)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shower-curtain-opened-or-closed-after-use/687991/4 "2014-05-08T18:10:19Z")
Closed Yep, it’s a mildew thing. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shower-curtain-opened-or-closed-after-use/687991/5 "2014-05-08T18:20:44Z")
closed until dry. then open so that you give the axe murderer fewer hiding places. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shower-curtain-opened-or-closed-after-use/687991/6 "2014-05-08T18:22:07Z")
Open. Apparently I like to live on the edge. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shower-curtain-opened-or-closed-after-use/687991/7 "2014-05-08T18:33:33Z")
My other issue with having it closed is that ISTM that blocking the airflow into the shower area might lead to prolonged moisture/humidity etc in that area which could lead to its own mildew issue. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shower-curtain-opened-or-closed-after-use/687991/8 "2014-05-08T18:34:00Z")
> [@Macca26](#): > > I close it because if you leave it all scrunched up at one end it traps residual water, making it harder to evaporate and causing a breeding ground for mildew. First answer is the correct one. Closed, so it will dry. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shower-curtain-opened-or-closed-after-use/687991/9 "2014-05-08T18:59:21Z")
I voted open but meant closed, so the whole scientific merit of this study is out the window. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shower-curtain-opened-or-closed-after-use/687991/10 "2014-05-08T19:03:04Z")
Open, so the whole shower can dry. If you are worried about the $2 shower curtain liner, half open. My wife and I have had this conversation. With the curtain closed, our shower doesn’t dry out properly, yet we still close the thing completely - because my wife wants it closed. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shower-curtain-opened-or-closed-after-use/687991/11 "2014-05-08T19:06:07Z")
But it’s a hinged shower door, not a curtain, so “open” is better for allowing both the door and the shower to dry. For shower curtains, usually “open”… but not so far that the curtain is all bunched up on itself and therefore can get a little fresh air, while (again) allowing the tub to dry out. Because cleaning mildew from a curtain involves tossing it into a washing machine, whereas cleaning mildew from an enclosure involves dangerous chemicals, elbow grease, or both. ---
**Author:** ![Haunted\_Pasta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/94ad74/32.png) [@Haunted\_Pasta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Haunted_Pasta)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shower-curtain-opened-or-closed-after-use/687991/12 "2014-05-08T19:06:12Z")
Closed, so the shower curtain can dry. My wife and I have had this conversation. With the curtain open, it doesn’t dry out properly, yet we still open it wide- because my wife wants it open. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shower-curtain-opened-or-closed-after-use/687991/13 "2014-05-08T19:14:34Z")
I haven’t commissioned a $6 million dollar study, but I feel that leaving it open makes it better for mildew for air flow reasons. The bottom of the curtain is also constantly pushed against the side of the tub, so I fail to see how _that’s_ not trapping mildew no matter what you do, unless you toss the bottom of the curtain. over the rod to dry. Shower curtain gets tossed in the wash with some white vinegar every once in awhile. That’s a lot less effort than cleaning the shower more often or redoing all the caulk. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shower-curtain-opened-or-closed-after-use/687991/14 "2014-05-08T19:49:42Z")
> [@control-z](#): > > I voted open but meant closed, so the whole scientific merit of this study is out the window. Sorry. We’ll just call you “margin of error.” ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shower-curtain-opened-or-closed-after-use/687991/15 "2014-05-08T19:53:46Z")
Half open is the correct answer. ---
**Author:** ![CannyDan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cannydan/32/548_2.png) [@CannyDan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CannyDan)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shower-curtain-opened-or-closed-after-use/687991/16 "2014-05-08T20:16:57Z")
Open. The bar thus emptied is where I hang my wet towel. It dries better there all spread out than on the much shorter towel bar where it must be either folded or crunched up. If I’m having guests, I may fold it up (when dry) and put it on the towel bar. But usually it just hangs there until I need it again. Or until the SO takes a shower and moves it. I haven’t had any problem with mildew on my shower curtain. And yes, I use my towel over again for several days. Is that OK? It’s only had clean-me in it, after all. Do we need another poll for this? ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shower-curtain-opened-or-closed-after-use/687991/17 "2014-05-08T20:19:04Z")
Closed. The tub/shower dries out fine. ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Mood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@Blue\_Mood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Mood)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shower-curtain-opened-or-closed-after-use/687991/18 "2014-05-08T20:24:46Z")
> [@control-z](#): > > I voted open but meant closed, so the whole scientific merit of this study is out the window. Sorry. I did the exact same thing. Strange. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shower-curtain-opened-or-closed-after-use/687991/19 "2014-05-08T20:39:28Z")
> [@CannyDan](#): > > Open. The bar thus emptied is where I hang my wet towel. It dries better there all spread out than on the much shorter towel bar where it must be either folded or crunched up. If I’m having guests, I may fold it up (when dry) and put it on the towel bar. But usually it just hangs there until I need it again. Or until the SO takes a shower and moves it. I haven’t had any problem with mildew on my shower curtain. > > And yes, I use my towel over again for several days. Is that OK? It’s only had clean-me in it, after all. Do we need another poll for this? Wait, are you saying that after you take a shower and the towel dries out, that you might put it on the towel rack for the guests to use? I don’t have a problem using the same towel for a few days but I wouldn’t want to dry my hands on one that I know has been used to dry off another person’s naughty bits. ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shower-curtain-opened-or-closed-after-use/687991/20 "2014-05-08T20:55:54Z")
> [@control-z](#): > > I voted open but meant closed, so the whole scientific merit of this study is out the window. Sorry. I voted closed and meant it, but I also like pie. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shower-curtain-opened-or-closed-after-use/687991.md?page=2)