Learn More About Non-Toxic Shower Curtains

Click on bolded statements for links to research and more information.

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. Here’s what I recommend for how to choose between an organic fabric shower curtain and a plastic shower curtain:

• If your bathroom has good ventilation, and you are up for regular maintenance, choose a plastic-free shower curtain liner made of organic fabric. Either coat it in wax to make it waterproof, or wash it weekly (or more often, depending on how humid your bathroom climate is).

• If your bathroom has good ventilation, and you do not want to wax, choose a hemp fabric, which dries faster than cotton or linen. Wash weekly.

• If your bathroom has OK or bad ventilation, and you’re up for weekly washes, choose an OEKO TEX shower curtain liner made with certified polyester, because it is resistant to water, mold, and mildew.

• Finally, if your bathroom has OK or bad ventilation, or you know you’re not up for maintenance, choose a PEVA or EVA liner that doesn’t off-gas. While these are less healthy than natural fabrics or polyester, they are a relatively low-touch surface, and healthier than PVC or a moldy curtain.

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 frequently to remove build up.

3. You live in a very dry climate and the shower curtain isn’t touching anything that would keep it damp all day (like the side of a tub, for example.)

What is PEVA material?

PEVA (polyethylene vinyl acetate), also known as EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate), is a polymer-based fabric. That means it comes from petroleum, and is made in a factory. It is very similar to polyester in some ways — it is a long, repeating chain of polymer molecules that make a soft, flexible fabric.

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 is PVC so bad?

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

If you use just a shower curtain liner, 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 every-other-week laundry 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 that isn’t the life for you, most people will need to 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.