New Shower Curtains

Archive for the ‘Care & Repair’ Category

For your own unique spin on decorative shower curtains you can opt to give yours a paint job.

There are hundreds of shower curtain options, both vinyl and fabric. There are some color combination’s, like purple and orange, and some themes, such as toes, that aren’t common in the decorating world. For this reason, you may find you need to create your own design on your shower curtain. If fabric makes you nervous or you like the ability to bleach away mold, mildew and germs, you need a vinyl shower curtain.

Spray Paint Method
The spray paint method is best for abstract or geometric designs rather than realistic pictures.

1. Start with a white, clear or accent color vinyl curtain
2. Pick up a few cans of Krylon Plastic spray paint in the colors you will need for your design.
3. Gather supplies like newspaper or tarp, masking tape, permanent markers.
4. Wash your curtain in very hot water, then dry flat. If wrinkles remain, place in clothes dryer for three to five minutes, then lay flat.
5. In a ventilated space large enough to spread your shower curtain flat, lay out newspaper or tarp to protect ground or floor.
6. Lay our shower curtain out on the tarp or newspaper, tape down in the corners and in a few spots along each side.
7. Tape off the design you need for the first paint color.
8. Shake spray paint can until bead is audible.
9. Spray all areas your first color should appear.
10. Remove tape, let dry for about 20 minutes.
11. Repeat taping, spraying, drying process as many times as needed for desired effect.

Latex Paint Method
This is great for a more detailed scene.

1. Start with a vinyl curtain
2. Pick one can of Plastic Primer spray paint
3. Gather supplies like newspaper or tarp, tape, permanent markers, latex paints, paint brushes.
4. See step 4 above
5. See step 5 above
6. See step 6 above
7. Spray entire curtain with primer, let dry for 1 hour
8. Paint your design on curtain, let dry 1 hour between coats

While a little sewing skill won’t hurt, you don’t need to be a seamstress to make your own shower curtains.

If you are planning on renovating your bathroom, perhaps you have chosen a color scheme and just can’t quite find the right shower curtains to match your new décor. Perhaps it is best to make your own shower curtains. While this may seem like a daunting task, it isn’t. Even a novice sewer can make shower curtains.

First, you need to purchase materials for your shower curtains. You will want a waterproof inside, usually vinyl. You can purchase these pre-made in a wide variety of colors, so you may not have to make one of these curtain liners yourself, however you would follow essentially the same steps to make a vinyl liner as the fabric curtain.

Secondly, you need to measure for the length of curtains you will need. Measure from the shower curtain rod to the floor. Add three inches for the top, and two for the bottom—a total of five inches added to the length. Measure the width of your shower space to determine how wide your curtains need to be. If they are wider than the material, you will have to make panels and sew them together.

Once you have the measurements, it’s time to cut the material. Assuming you only need one panel, cut to the length you need, remembering to include five inches. Sew the bottom first, giving a two inch hem on the bottom.

For the top, you have two options. One is to make a sliding curtain—one that slides on the rod through a sleeve of material at the top, or to install rings.

If you are choosing to use the sleeve method, then fold over the three inches and press it into a crease. Fold about one half an inch in on the ragged edge inside, and press it down. Sew this to the main part of the curtain, and then slide the rod through the created sleeve.

If you choose to use rings, make a triple folded hem at the top of the curtain and sew top and bottom. Using the same method as for making button holes, make eight to 10 evenly spaced ‘holes’ through the top hem. Insert rings through the holes and hang onto the shower curtain rod.

Simple and easy tips to repair old or damaged shower curtains.

Whether your favorite shower curtains are old and worn-out and you’re just not ready to replace them or your newer shower curtains aren’t as sturdy or as good quality as you thought they were, shower curtains can rip and get wrecked. The good news is, if you don’t want to throw them out yet, you can easily learn how to fix your shower curtains yourself.

The most common problem with shower curtains is that they can rip in the holes used to hang them up. There are several things you can try to fix ripped shower curtain holes. One suggestion is simply stapling the ripped part of the curtain hole with a regular stapler. The rings of the shower curtain should hide the staples. Another way to fix ripped holes in your shower curtains is to use duct tape, heavy plastic tape or other sturdy tape by folding a piece of it over both sides of the hole and punching through it with a paper puncher to create a new hole—you can even use clear duct tape so the repair is not as noticeable.

Another ripped-hole solution involves plastic cards, such as old department store credit cards. First, cut out two equal small circles (you may want to trace a bigger coin) about one inch in diameter. Then punch a hold through the middle of each circle to create a new hole for the shower curtain hook. Next, apply waterproof adhesive to the cut-out circles and attach them over the rip in the shower curtain hole—on both sides—and finally, let dry before re-hanging.

A similar approach involves applying actual shower curtain hole reinforcements, in either plastic or vinyl. One online company sells circular peel-off plastic reinforcements called “Curtain Savers” at $7.95 US for a 12-pack.

Try one or some of these tips for repairing yours. If your curtains seem to be beyond help, however, perhaps it’s time to consider throwing them out and purchasing some new ones.

The way you will care for your shower curtain is largely dependent on what type of material the curtain is made out of.

Is caring for your shower curtain any different than caring for regular clothing? In some ways, yes, in other ways, no. The way you will care for your shower curtain is largely dependent on what type of material the curtain is made out of.

For care as they hang, shower curtains need to be dried out after each shower or bath that is taken in the bathroom. Whether you have a vinyl liner or not, your shower curtain will be damp from the moisture in the bathroom. In order to keep them long lasting and in good shape, and to keep mildew from growing on your shower curtain, close the curtain after each shower to allow it to air dry. You can also spray your shower curtain with a mildew inhibitor, which will stop mildew from growing and keep your shower curtain smelling fresh and clean.

When it is time to wash your shower curtain, again, it will depend largely on the type of material your curtain is made of. For example, if the material is delicate, such as lace, then you will need to wash them as you would delicate clothing—usually by hand using a gentle detergent, or in the delicate cycle on your washing machine.

If the material is heavier, then you can wash your shower curtain in the washing machine on a regular cycle. It is important to remember to take the shower curtain rings off the shower curtain before placing them in the washer or dryer. Plastic shower curtain rings can melt in the heat of a dryer.

You can either tumble dry or hang dry your shower curtains. Some shower curtains can be ironed, but not if they are vinyl lined. Vinyl lined shower curtains will melt under the heat of a iron.

Your vinyl shower curtain liner can be sprayed clean with mildew cleaner or bathroom cleaner, or it can be washed in hot water in the washing machine on a delicate cycle. You can add bleach to the water for the liner as well to help kill any mildew and wash off hard-water spots on the liner.

If yours are store bought, refer to the tag to see how they can be washed, and follow those directions.

Vinyl shower curtains and liners don’t have to be replaced just because they get dirty.

There are a few different tried and true methods for cleaning, depending on your preference and strength of the vinyl.

If your shower curtain or liner is thick, heavy duty vinyl (usually $15 or more from a discount store), hand washing is recommended. The agitation and folding in most washing machines is simply too rough on really thick vinyl.

If your shower curtain or liner is thinner vinyl, the washing machine method should be all you need.

Hand Washing Method
Hand washing is a two step process. First, you should spray the curtain or liner no less than once per week and no more than once per use with one of the solutions below:

* 1 part bleach to 10 parts water, applied with a spray bottle (most effective against mold and mildew)
* 1 part vinegar and 2 parts water, applied with spray bottle (most effective against water spots)
* Table salt and scrubber (helps with soap scum)
* A commercial shower cleaner like “Shower Power”

Once every two or three months, you’ll need to take your shower curtain or liner off the hooks or rings and scrub well. There will likely be enough soap stuck to the vinyl to create enough suds. If you have problems with soap scum, water spots and mold or mildew, clean in this order:

* Liberally sprinkle table salt onto vinyl
* Pour or spray on full strength vinegar
* Scrub with scouring pad
* Rinse well
* Spray with full strength bleach
* Let dry completely
* Re-hang

Leave out any steps that do not concern your curtain or liner (salt for soap scum, vinegar for water spots, bleach for mildew or mold)

Machine Washing Method

* Remove liner or curtain from rings
* Place in washing machine with a few towels
* Run hot water cycle, adding 1/4 cup of vinegar during the rinse cycle
* Place in dryer for 3-5 minutes, then hang to dry