Unfortunately there is a lot of misinformation out there. But, while most focus entirely on design issues, it is also important to figure out which one is the best fabric for your needs. Therefore I will give you some information about different fabrics in no particular order.
- Hemp Is Anti-Bacterial Contrary to various other fabrics, hemp shower curtains do not get soaked with water easily. That alone helps to prevent the growth of bacteria significantly. But that, as good as it is, is not the only thing hemp fabrics have to offer against bacteria. Hemp contains substances that actively kill bacteria. It is therefore much more mold resistance and hygienic than any other fabric.
- Cotton Makes A Good Shower Curtain Too Cotton is a fabric that is fairly resistant to deformation, even when confronted with a mix of shower gel and hot water. Furthermore, even through it soaks water like a sponge, cotton will not let your shower head's water stream pass easily. And this, even though cotton shower curtains are normally very thin, to make them dry quickly. The biggest advantage of cotton is that it can be washed very easily, together with regular clothes. It is also a lot cheaper than other curtains. The wide variety of different patters and sizes is just another bonus.
- Vinyl Is No Threat To Your Health It is a very widespread rumor that vinyl shower curtains are carcinogenic, but for most of them it is entirely untrue. Vinyl curtains produced in developed countries follow very strict health standards and do not include any carcinogenic substances. It is true though, that vinyl of poor quality can cause cancer in the environment of a shower. Fortunately it is very easy to tell dangerous from perfectly fine vinyl, or more generally plastic. The plastic you should avoid is the one that smells strongly. It is easiest to tell that right after opening the packaging. If it has a neutral smell, it follows strict standards and is not unhealthy.
- Hemp Is Biodegradable Hemp curtains are most certainly the best choice if you care about the environment at all. Not only do they offer better properties than most other fabrics. Like being water water-repellent, but hemp is also fully biodegradable. This is a huge plus, even more so if you compare it to vinyl shower curtains. Now, you do not need to be afraid that they will rot in your shower. In your bathroom they do not get the bacteria that is needed for bio degradation.
- Silk Is Useless For This Purpose They are not particularly common anyway, still I want to warn you that silk curtains are not recommended to be used as a shower curtain. First of all, they let water pass fairly easily. Second, in context of the purpose they serve, they are way too expensive. And last but not least, they are very sensitive. That means that you cannot clean them in a way that kills all the bacteria easily. I can really not recommend them.
Having a fabric shower curtain does not mean that you have to replace it more often than a plastic shower curtain. Nowadays, manufacturers of fabric shower curtains coat the fabric with a special kind of material that ensures that the shower curtain remains water resistant and thus lasts for several years if it is taken care of properly. That way, you can have your great shower curtain for a long time and also have the elegance and exotic feel that is associated with it. Indulge yourself and buy a fabric shower curtain!
