Non Toxic Shower Curtain Liner

More About Non-Toxic Shower Curtains

What is the best shower curtain liner material?

Plastic shower curtain liners are notoriously toxic, but natural shower curtain liners are susceptible to mold and mildew when they get wet, which is toxic in itself. The best shower curtain liner material for you will depend on how well ventilated and dry your bathroom is, and what kind of cleaning maintenance you are able to commit to. Here is how to choose between an organic fabric shower curtain and a plastic shower curtain:

• If your bathroom has good ventilation, and you are able to do laundry weekly: Choose a plastic-free shower curtain liner made of natural or organic fabric. Hemp fabric dries faster than cotton and linen, so may be the best choice for you. Wash your fabric shower curtain liner weekly (or more often, depending on how humid your bathroom climate is). You can also consider purchasing 2-3 shower curtain liners and rotate through them while you’re washing the others.

• If your bathroom has good or OK ventilation, and you are able to wax your shower curtain liner to make it waterproof: Choose a plastic-free shower curtain made of natural or organic fabric like cotton, linen, or hemp. Coat it in wax using this method to make it waterproof. You can clean it regularly with spray, and check occasionally that the wax barrier is intact, instead of washing it weekly.

• If your bathroom has OK or poor ventilation, and you’re able to do laundry weekly: Choose an OEKO TEX -certified shower curtain liner made of 100% polyester without any PFAS or antibacterial coatings. These are resistant to water, mold, and mildew, don’t need to be waxed, and can be washed with oxygen bleach easily.

• If your bathroom has OK or poor ventilation, and you’re not able to do laundry weekly, choose a PEVA or EVA liner that doesn’t off-gas. These are less healthy than natural fabrics or polyester, but are much healthier than PVC, or a moldy curtain. These are easy to clean with cleaning spray and a scrubber or cloth.

Do fabric shower curtains need a liner?

Yes, fabric shower curtains need a liner to reduce your exposure to mold, mildew, and bacteria. However, there are 3 exceptions:

1. You wax your fabric shower curtain to make it naturally waterproof.

2. You are able to wash your fabric shower curtain weekly to remove any build up of mold, mildew, or bacteria.

3. You live in a very dry climate and the shower curtain isn’t touching anything that would keep it damp, like the side of a tub, so it dries completely every day.

What is PEVA material?

PEVA (polyethylene vinyl acetate), also known as EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate), is a non-toxic plastic. It is a long, repeating chain of polymer molecules that make a soft, flexible fabric. It comes from petroleum, but is much safer for you than PVC because it doesn’t off-gas and it doesn’t require phthalates to soften it.

What is EVA?

PEVA and EVA are the same thing when it comes to shower curtains; the P just stands for poly.

Is PEVA safe? Is PEVA toxic?

It falls somewhere in the middle. PEVA was not found to be cancerous or have other effects on human health by various agencies including the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), OSHA, or National Toxicology Program (NTP). On the other hand, one study done in 2014 by Tingzhu Teresa Meng suggests it might be toxic.

Interestingly, if you click on the “Author Information” section of this study, Tingzhu Teresa Meng was a highschool student at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics. The study was done on Lumbriculus variegatus, a worm. Squares of a PEVA shower curtain were added to a water bath and heated to 150 degrees Fahrenheit. The VOCs emitted from it were captured, and the worms were exposed to it. This was compared to worms exposed to regular water, and worms exposed to the VOCs that come from PVC. The PEVA-exposed worms showed stress reactions higher than those in the water group, and lower than those in the PVC group. To the best of my knowledge, no other studies on PEVA toxicity have been done. None have been done in humans at the temperatures and time lengths for normal bathroom exposure to PEVA shower curtains.

PEVA is certainly less toxic than PVC, because it doesn’t require phthalates like BPA to make it a soft and flexible fabric, and it doesn’t require chlorine in its production. It is probably not as toxic as the worms in the above-referenced study experienced, since our bathrooms are never drawing VOCs out of it at 150 degrees Fahrenheit. It is probably also not as safe as a natural fiber, and it is certainly less eco-friendly. I think it deserves more study to ensure that it is truly safe, not just meeting the thresholds of “non-carcinogenic.” I would like to see more, and updated, information on it.

So, I do not recommend cuddling with a PEVA shower curtain or heating it up to 150 degrees and breathing in its VOCs. However, I do see it as a safer option than PVC for waterproofing applications like shower curtains or other situations, because protecting from mold or water damage is very important to your health.

What is the difference between PEVA vs. PVC?

PEVA (polyethylene vinyl acetate) is a polymer-based fabric that is naturally flexible. Unlike PVC, it doesn’t require the addition of phthalates to make it soft and bendable. It also doesn’t contain chlorine like PVC does, which is one of the main health issues PVC poses.

Are plastic shower curtains toxic?

They can be. If they’re made of PVC, they certainly are, because they’re made with polyvinyl chloride and have been softened with BPA and other chemicals. Even a polyester (a type of plastic) shower curtain can have waterproof coatings added to their surface, which are made of PFAS. But, plastic shower curtains are great at resisting mold, mildew, and water in your bathroom, so look for an OEKO TEX certified PEVA, EVA, or polyester one (examples above).

Why are PVC shower curtains toxic?

Vinyl fabrics, or PVC-coated fabrics are more common in outdoor furniture, for their extreme water resistance. PVC is a priority chemical to avoid, as agreed upon by international groups because of its toxicity during its entire lifecycle— the production, use, and degradation stages. The US Green Building Council declares that PVC is “consistently among the worst materials for human health impacts.”

Vinyl chloride, the molecule used to make PVC, is an established carcinogen that causes lung, brain, liver, and rare cancers such as hepatic angiosarcoma. This is why the vinyl chloride spill in Ohio in 2023 was such cause for concern.

Surprisingly, lead is still commonly added to PVC to make it more flexible. Phthalates are also added, as well as other chemicals to alter its rigidity, transparency, or softness. These are not chemically bound within the PVC structure, and easily leach out for absorption into the body.

Finally, when people throw away PVC products into their trash, it is burned in municipal waste incinerators, releasing dioxins into the air. Dioxins are one of the most hazardous chemicals for people and the planet.

How often should I replace my shower curtain?

If you have a separate shower curtain and shower curtain liner, you can keep your outer shower curtain forever— just remember to wash it at least monthly to remove the dust and bacteria that settle on it.

If you use only a shower curtain liner, without an outer shower curtain, how often you replace it depends on the material it is made out of, and what your bathroom environment is like:

• If your shower curtain liner is made out of polyester, which is machine washable, you do not need to replace it, as long as you are washing it every time you see mold or mildew start to build up on it. How often this happens will depend on how well ventilated your bathroom is and what kind of climate you live in. You can also consider it part of your weekly or bi-weekly laundry routine if you want to be safe.

• If your shower curtain liner is made of PEVA, you can scrub it with vinegar and baking soda. If you know you won’t be able to do this, replace it every 6 months. If you use your shower frequently or have a high humidity bathroom with high mildew and mold risk, you should consider replacing it more often. If it is in a guest room or you have a dry climate with good bathroom ventilation, you may be able to stretch it out to 9 months. The key is to pay attention to your liner and check for mold and mildew frequently.