Fabric Shower Curtains

I had a friend get married recently. Before the wedding I went with her to get registered. She picked off the usual items, like kitchenware and furnishings, but I was surprised when she picked a designer shower curtain. It seemed so unnecessary. However, she told me it was actually the item she was most hoping to get.

I have to say, this shocked me. But her explanation made a lot of sense. She simply told me that a designer shower curtain is a sign that she cares a lot about her home. She’s not willing to cut corners on anything, even something seemingly as simple as what goes in her bathroom.

It makes a lot of sense, when you think about it. A designer shower curtain is a small thing, a simple accent to a room we tend to not spend a lot of time in. The bathroom gets ignored in a lot of households, both when cleaning and decorating. Everyone wants a stellar living room, but few people think about what their bathroom says about them.

But in some ways, isn’t our bathroom the perfect metaphor for what we value? For one, it’s the room where we most often loosen up, creatively, and really let our decorating be fun and playful. For a lot of us, we don’t think about it at all. And for some, we want it as elegant as the rest of the house–designer shower curtain and all.

When my friend selected that particular registry item what she was saying is that she values taste and class, everywhere. And that’s fine, those are her values, but not necessarily mine. So afterwards I began thinking about what small things really make a room for me–what little things do I choose to value? What, in short, is my designer shower curtain?

I realized that, both in decorating and in life, I valued the handmade art prints. They might be small or large, but I love putting them up everywhere. I like for them to be handmade because I like for my art to come from someone, be they a friend or an artist I admire. I like uniqueness. And this goes beyond decorating. The people and things I value most in my life are people who really go out there, who are really themselves. My art may not be as elegant as a designer shower curtain, but it says just as much about me as my friends love of a designer shower curtain says about her.

Our homes are extensions of ourselves. They show who we are and what we value to the world. But before decorating–heck, before anything important–it’s a good idea to sit down and really figure out what our designer shower curtain is. It can help you figure out yourself a little too.

Zoe Holmes is a New York-based Midwesterner. Although she owns more artwork than anything, she did eventually buy a designer shower curtain. She doesn’t regret it.

Today many people are now choosing to make their own curtains or at least select curtain fabric and then have them tailored by a professional. The reasons behind this are complex but one of the major benefits is certainly that by selecting your own fabric you have the opportunity to create an individual window dressing that nobody else will have in their home. What follows are five popular materials used in the production of curtain fabrics.

Silk has to be one of the most luxuriant fabrics used in the manufacturing of curtains. Often woven into different patterns and styles it can be perfect for creating dressier, formal windows. It can be used either in full length panel curtains, roman shades or even balloon shades. A definite disadvantage of silk has to be the price, unless you can find a cheap dealer, it is likely that it will be expensive. Another disadvantage is that if the curtains are unlined, silk has the tendency to rot in direct sunlight.

Cotton is a much cheaper option and is an extremely versatile fabric. Cotton can also be weaved in different ways to achieve different effects, such as satin weave of plain weave. Cotton’s versatility means that it can be used for plainer, simple looks as well as classy, sophisticated styles. Cotton is easy to clean although unless the curtains are lined can hang awkwardly.

Linen has become one of the more popular types of curtain fabric in recent years. Linen can be woven into both light and heavy weaves meaning that a range of styles are available when using this material. In terms of price linen is relatively affordable in comparison to silk and wool. One downside would be the tendency of linen to wrinkle quite easily in humid environments and the fact that to clean linen curtains, dry cleaning services should be used.

Wool has the obvious benefit that it insulates excellently. When woven into heavy fabrics it also hangs effortlessly providing an elegant look. Wool is easily dyed and in terms of cost varies immensely depending upon which type of wool it is. For example some sheep’s wool is relatively cheap whereas wool from alpacas or llamas can work out rather expensive. Unfortunately wool is moisture absorbent and like linen is not the best option for humid rooms.

Synthetics such as nylon or polyester should be considered due to the fact that they are extremely stable and easily cleaned. However the cheap, plastic feel puts many homeowners off. For curtain linings however, synthetics can be considered an excellent choice.

Hopefully this article has highlighted some of the more common type of curtain fabric as well as provided an insight into their benefits and downsides. Additionally, it has also hoped to highlight how different materials used for fabric can affect that way in which curtains look, hang and feel.

Nobody wants to be taking a shower or a bath, cleaning themselves up, only to look up and see a dirty, scummy shower curtain. Unfortunately, your shower curtain is going to get dirty. Being in such damp conditions and with such soap scum build up – well, you’re going to have a dirty shower curtain on your hands. Luckily, there are some things that you can do to clean up your shower curtain.

You can wash your shower curtain in your basic everyday clothes washer. Just use about 1 cup of vinegar and 1 cup of bleach. Then add white towels and a regular amount of your normal laundry detergent and run the machine. Also use some liquid fabric softener. Do not run your machine on hot – plastic shower curtains could melt.

When you’re done washing your shower curtain, do not place it in the dryer (again, it could melt). Instead, simply hang it up in its regular place on the shower rod and let it drip dry.

No matter what your shower curtain is made out of, fabric, vinyl, or plastic, you can stick it in the washing machine with a cup of baking soda instead of bleach and vinegar. It is also a good idea to read the label on your shower curtain to check for any warnings or suggestions.

If you soak your shower curtain in salt water, it will prevent mildew (although, it could leave small crystals on your curtain if you use too much salt). Before hanging shower curtains, soak in vinegar or salt water solutions to prevent mold and mildew. To remove mold and mildew, wash in hot soapy water with a little bit of bleach. For plastic curtains, clean with laundry pre-wash spray. Spray along the top, letting it run down to cover the curtain. Allow it to sit for a few minutes, then rinse it off.

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for websites on gardening, parenting, fashion, and home decor. Her background includes teaching and gardening. For more of her articles on bathroom decor and cleaning tips, please visit Shower Curtains.