# Why is there a towel bar in the shower?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-a-towel-bar-in-the-shower/660639
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [June 10, 2013, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-a-towel-bar-in-the-shower/660639 "2013-06-10T17:37:54Z")
**Posts on this page:** 16
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)
#### Post date: [June 11, 2013, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-a-towel-bar-in-the-shower/660639/21 "2013-06-11T10:43:30Z")
> [@AaronX](#):
>
> Hmm, those I are are like: [https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Impo3ekU9m4/S-6QXuxMmjI/AAAAAAAAELc/nKbkD\_FH5n0/s1000/PMBS1461.JPG](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Impo3ekU9m4/S-6QXuxMmjI/AAAAAAAAELc/nKbkD_FH5n0/s1000/PMBS1461.JPG) does that look more for towels or grabbing?
I have installed, literally, hundreds of those.
That, IMPO, (in my professional opinion) is a ‘grab bar’.
The bar is welded to a flat ring that has three pre drilled holes, and should (if properly installed) be mounted to the wall with screws long enough to reach a block of wood installed for that purpose, or the studs.
It looks like it’s about 16" long, so I would hazard the guess that it’s screwed to the 2x4 studs, with the screws on each end, penetrating a stud.
If there is nothing solid to fasten to, it is normally mounted with toggle bolts.
Both methods are sufficient to enable the bar to be used as a ‘support’ for the average adult human, and are in accordance with ADA (Americans w/Disabilities Act) specifications.
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### Author:  [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)
#### Post date: [June 11, 2013, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-a-towel-bar-in-the-shower/660639/22 "2013-06-11T10:51:15Z")
ETA Upon closer inspection of the pic that **AaronX** provided, I think the bar is probably only a 12" model.
Regardless, that type is intended as a grab bar (as evidenced by the three mounting holes), and _ **if it was mounted correctly** _, can safely be used as such. 🙂
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### Author:  [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)
#### Post date: [June 11, 2013, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-a-towel-bar-in-the-shower/660639/23 "2013-06-11T11:53:05Z")
> [@JBDivmstr](#):
>
> I have installed, literally, hundreds of those.
> That, IMPO, (in my professional opinion) is a ‘grab bar’.
> The bar is welded to a flat ring that has three pre drilled holes, and should (if properly installed) be mounted to the wall with screws long enough to reach a block of wood installed for that purpose, or the studs.
> It looks like it’s about 16" long, so I would hazard the guess that it’s screwed to the 2x4 studs, with the screws on each end, penetrating a stud.
> If there is nothing solid to fasten to, it is normally mounted with toggle bolts.
>
> Both methods are sufficient to enable the bar to be used as a ‘support’ for the average adult human, and are in accordance with ADA (Americans w/Disabilities Act) specifications.
Wow, thanks for the detailed description. I’m getting one of those if I have a bathtub, it makes getting in and out so much easier.
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### Author:  [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)
#### Post date: [June 11, 2013, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-a-towel-bar-in-the-shower/660639/24 "2013-06-11T14:19:37Z")
I had my bathroom gutted and renovated last summer.
One of the best things I did was to buy some snazzy nickel finish grab bars that matched the rest of the hardware and have the contractor install them correctly. As described above, he installed the appropriate studs and mounted the grab bars safely, so they can support my weight or that of my wife.
One of the contractors asked me “Why do you want grab bars in your bath?” to which I simply quipped “We’re not getting any younger.”
As it turns out, I use them all the time to get in and out of the shower/tub, and so does my wife. I feel so much safer not having to grab on to stuff that won’t support my weight.
The proper stylish hardware can avoid the “old people’s bathroom” look.
The only thing I like more about my new bathroom is that the shower was custom built for a 6’3" man. For the first time in my life I can stand up straight while showering and I don’t have to duck when entering the sliding door.
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### Author:  [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)
#### Post date: [June 11, 2013, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-a-towel-bar-in-the-shower/660639/25 "2013-06-11T19:52:15Z")
So you’ve never brought a beer into the shower with you?
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### Author:  [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)
#### Post date: [June 11, 2013, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-a-towel-bar-in-the-shower/660639/26 "2013-06-11T20:56:20Z")
> [@Shakes](#):
>
> I thought that was the emergency towel for when you get soap in your eyes.
How do you get soap out of your eyes with a towel? 😕
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### Author:  [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)
#### Post date: [June 11, 2013, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-a-towel-bar-in-the-shower/660639/27 "2013-06-11T21:40:07Z")
For anyone looking into placing a grab bar in your shower, take a look at[these](http://www.homedepot.com/p/MOEN-Home-Care-16-in-x-1-in-Screw-Grab-Bar-with-Shelf-in-Old-World-Bronze-LR2356DOWB/203623703?N=bz9r).
We just finished renovating a bathroom for my parents, and we put a pair of these combined grab bar/shelf into the shower, a grab bar/towel bar on the wall, and a grab bar/toilet paper holder next to the toilet. If you might grab it, we made it grab bar usable.
When we get around to remodelling our bathroom, we’ll probably use the same thing. They just make sense.
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### Author:  [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)
#### Post date: [June 12, 2013, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-a-towel-bar-in-the-shower/660639/28 "2013-06-12T01:23:40Z")
> [@AaronX](#):
>
> Wow, thanks for the detailed description. I’m getting one of those if I have a bathtub, it makes getting in and out so much easier.
You’re very welcome. 🙂
> [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](#):
>
> For anyone looking into placing a grab bar in your shower, take a look at[these](http://www.homedepot.com/p/MOEN-Home-Care-16-in-x-1-in-Screw-Grab-Bar-with-Shelf-in-Old-World-Bronze-LR2356DOWB/203623703?N=bz9r).
>
> We just finished renovating a bathroom for my parents, and we put a pair of these combined grab bar/shelf into the shower, a grab bar/towel bar on the wall, and a grab bar/toilet paper holder next to the toilet. If you might grab it, we made it grab bar usable.
>
> When we get around to remodelling our bathroom, we’ll probably use the same thing. They just make sense.
Cool! I like those! Thanks for the post! 🆒
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### Author:  [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)
#### Post date: [June 12, 2013, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-a-towel-bar-in-the-shower/660639/29 "2013-06-12T14:03:33Z")
> [@AaronX](#):
>
> Isn’t the bar mounted along the length of the tub for grabbing? They’re thicker than normal towel bars.
I would certainly never depend on one to support my weight if I slipped and fell.
I just went and looked, I don’t have one in my tub/shower.
A lot of tubs have a short, very secure bar, to help infirm people to stand up when seated in the tub.
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### Author:  [@AngelSoft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelSoft)
#### Post date: [June 12, 2013, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-a-towel-bar-in-the-shower/660639/30 "2013-06-12T16:23:43Z")
> [@pravnik](#):
>
> It’s for washcloths. You soap up the washcloth and then use it to scrub yourself rather than rubbing the community soap all over yourself. Srome people are mystified to learn that others do this, some people are horrified to learn that there are people who don’t.
Wait, people actually do that? Rub the soap all along their bodies? Ugh…that explains so much…the hairs… UGH! I don’t use a washcloth myself but I don’t just rub the soap all over my nether regions. I lather it up in my hands, put it back and then wash myself with my soapy hands. Omg, I always wondered how people got all those hairs all over the soap constantly. Great, I’m sufficiently grossed out now. Thanks.
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### Author:  [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)
#### Post date: [June 12, 2013, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-a-towel-bar-in-the-shower/660639/31 "2013-06-12T17:59:29Z")
> [@AngelSoft](#):
>
> Wait, people actually do that? Rub the soap all along their bodies? Ugh…that explains so much…the hairs… UGH! I don’t use a washcloth myself but I don’t just rub the soap all over my nether regions. I lather it up in my hands, put it back and then wash myself with my soapy hands. Omg, I always wondered how people got all those hairs all over the soap constantly. Great, I’m sufficiently grossed out now. Thanks.
Sorry. I do this. Rub the soap all over my body.
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### Author:  [@Yodalicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yodalicious)
#### Post date: [June 12, 2013, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-a-towel-bar-in-the-shower/660639/32 "2013-06-12T19:04:43Z")
> [@Sailboat](#):
>
> We also use it for a perch when bathing the cockatiels. Whichever one is waiting for a turn in the shower spray\* waits on that bar (with a hand towel in place to make it easy and comfy for little claws to grip).
>
> \*They’re actually too delicate for full-on shower spray; we use either a mister bottle or (more frequently) I just deflect shower spray with one hand, letting the lightweight scatter play on the parrots.
>
> I’m sure this is the main use for that towel bar in _every_ home.
This made me smile. Mommypants and I did this with out little cookytiel. Sometimes he’d wait on the curtain rod and wolf whistle.
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### Author:  [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)
#### Post date: [June 13, 2013, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-a-towel-bar-in-the-shower/660639/33 "2013-06-13T02:04:38Z")
> [@AngelSoft](#):
>
> Wait, people actually do that? Rub the soap all along their bodies? Ugh…that explains so much…the hairs… UGH! I don’t use a washcloth myself but I don’t just rub the soap all over my nether regions. I lather it up in my hands, put it back and then wash myself with my soapy hands. Omg, I always wondered how people got all those hairs all over the soap constantly. Great, I’m sufficiently grossed out now. Thanks.
What else is exfoliating soap for? Those with rice, salt, husks, beans? They don’t work if you use your hands to soap.
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### Author:  [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)
#### Post date: [June 13, 2013, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-a-towel-bar-in-the-shower/660639/34 "2013-06-13T04:26:02Z")
> [@AngelSoft](#):
>
> Wait, people actually do that? Rub the soap all along their bodies? Ugh…that explains so much…the hairs… UGH! I don’t use a washcloth myself but I don’t just rub the soap all over my nether regions. I lather it up in my hands, put it back and then wash myself with my soapy hands. Omg, I always wondered how people got all those hairs all over the soap constantly. Great, I’m sufficiently grossed out now. Thanks.
You have hairy soap?! :eek:
Makes me glad that I’m relatively hairless. 😃
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### Author:  [@AngelSoft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelSoft)
#### Post date: [June 13, 2013, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-a-towel-bar-in-the-shower/660639/35 "2013-06-13T16:11:19Z")
> [@JBDivmstr](#):
>
> You have hairy soap?! :eek:
> Makes me glad that I’m relatively hairless. 😃
I sure as hell don’t make it hairy. Other people I reside with do. It’s disgusting. I have to rinse off the bar of soap, holding it only by my thumb and one finger to get the hair off. It’s fine and dandy to use the soap directly on your body if you’re the only person using it, but for god’s sake, just lather it up and use your hands if there are other people in the house. At the VERY least, rinse your pubes off the damn thing once you’re done.
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### Author:  [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)
#### Post date: [June 15, 2013, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-a-towel-bar-in-the-shower/660639/36 "2013-06-15T03:44:36Z")
> [@bob\_2](#):
>
> It’s handy to grab when you slip on the soap.
If it’s strong enough to support you it’s probably a grab-bar similar to what you’d find in the handicap stall of a public restroom, and originally put there for a similar purpose. IME as far as towel racks are concerned, you’re lucky if they manage to hold themselves (and the towels) up, let alone someone grabbing onto one for support.
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