Best Shower Curtains 2022 | Mumsnet (2024)

A nice warm shower is one of life’s simple pleasures but cleaning puddles of water off the bathroom floor certainly isn’t. That’s where a shower curtain comes in handy – it’s one of the most practical ways of keeping water in the right place and it’s an easy way to brighten up your bathroom in an instant.

You’ll ultimately want a shower curtain that can keep your floor dry but you’ll also want to ensure that it fits your space, is easy to clean and suits your style. Whether you’re looking for a cheap curtain with a simple design or want to add a splash of colour to your bathroom, our list has you covered.

Here are the best shower curtains to buy in 2022.

1. Best overall shower curtain: iDesign Shower Curtain Liner

Price: £7 | Buy now from Amazon

This shower curtain does exactly what it needs to. The quick-drying PEVA vinyl material is odourless, chlorine- and PVC-free and only needs a quick clean with a damp cloth to stay mould-free for years.

It has mould-resistant eyelets that are easy to slide along the curtain pole and a weighted bottom to keep it hanging straight so that it sits nicely inside your bathtub ensuring that your floor stays dry. One thing to note – you’ll need to remember to buy some plastic curtain rings for it as they’re not included in the price.

Key specs

• Material: Mould-free PEVA vinyl

• Size: 180cm X 200 cm

• Machine washable: No – clean with damp cloth

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Price: £7 | Buy now from Amazon

This liner is made from clear, heavyweight vinyl, which helps it stay in place inside your bathtub. It has been pre-treated to prevent mould or mildew from taking hold and is available in two heights: either 180cm or 200cm. Each pack comes with 12 rust-proof curtain eyelets included so you can quickly and easily hang it from your curtain pole as soon as it’s delivered.

Key specs

• Material: PVC

• Size: 180cm x 180cm

• Machine washable: No (wipe clean only)

Price: £15.87 | Buy now from Amazon

The cheerful rainbow design of this shower curtain might bring a smile to your little ones’ faces (or yours!) when it’s time for your bathroom ablutions.

It’s made from quick-drying polyester, and has 12 reinforced eyelets which mean you can hang the curtain on any standard shower curtain rail, using s-shaped curtain hooks or rings. Cleaning might bring a smile to your face too – just remove it and bung it in the washing machine when it needs a spruce up.

Key specs

• Material: Polyester

• Size: 182.9cm x 182.9cm

• Machine washable: Yes

Price: £23 | Buy now from Amazon

The 19th-century designer William Morris once said: “have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful” and this pretty shower curtain certainly fits the bill!

The colourful Strawberry Thief design stands out in a world of plain curtain designs and it’s practical too with the 100% polyester fabric having been treated to be water repellent, moisture-, mould- and mildew-proof.

It comes with 12 plastic curtain hooks to easily attach to your shower curtain rail, and the 180 × 180 cm size should fit most bathrooms.

Key specs

• Material: 100% polyester

• Size: 180cm x 180cm

• Machine washable: Yes

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Price: £14 | Buy now from Amazon

This Weltrxe shower curtain proves that even for a product as simple and as functional as a shower curtain, it’s possible to bring a bit of innovation to the party. The weighted hem keeps the curtain hanging straight in order to keep your floor dry, and it has three magnets so it will stick to your (enameled steel) bathtub and keep it away from sticking to you!

It’s made from soft textured antibacterial EVA vinyl, which is 100% waterproof and can be wiped clean. The 183×183 cm size will fit most bathrooms and the pebble design adds a splash of style.

Key specs

• Material: EVA vinyl

• Size: 183cm x 183cm

• Machine washable: No

Price: £12 | Buy now from Amazon

“Shower curtain. Every time. I despise screens and cubicles. It’s not really the screen itself, it’s the fittings and surround that are so difficult to clean. Any little gaps fill up with water and dust and you can’t get a cloth in there to get all the gunk out.”

This mould-proof shower curtain from EurCross is designed to be water-repellent, antibacterial, and mildew-resistant so it should stay neat and clean for a long time with just a simple wipe from a damp cloth.

It has rust-proof eyelets for the curtain hooks, and as it’s available in multiple sizes, it's a good one to consider if you have a longer bath or a curved shower rod.

Key specs

• Material: EVA vinyl

• Size: 182cm width X 198cm length

• Machine washable: No

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Price: £9 | Buy now from Amazon

“For an over bath shower, a heavy weighted curtain works well. Rinse it with your shower head after use, and leave it drawn across the length of the bath after you've got out so it can dry fully and not go manky at the bottom.”

This transparent shower curtain is made from 100% waterproof vinyl, which is non-toxic and chlorine free. So you don’t need to worry about any harmful fumes.

It’s manufactured with rust-proof eyelets and the top section has been reinforced to prevent any rips or tears from the curtain being pulled backwards and forwards when you’re getting in and out the shower. It’s another curtain with heavy magnets to weigh the curtain down and stop it clinging and it has a 12-month warranty against build up of mildew or mould – just remember to regularly wipe it with a damp cloth. As it’s 1mm thick, it’s best used as a liner for another shower curtain.

Key specs

• Material: Vinyl

• Size: 182cm x 182cm

• Machine washable: No

Price: £15 | Buy now from Amazon

“Shower curtain preference over shower screens here too. I wash it on a quick wash once a month and it’s great. Mine is currently in the wash today and I have a spare if I fancy a change.”

As this shower curtain is made from polyester fabric with a waterproof coating, it means you can clean it in your washing machine. This liner allows good airflow and is soft, smooth, and quick-drying, which prevents mould build-up. It also comes in a wide range of colours, including sky, teal, black, light grey, and green.

Key specs

• Material: Polyester

• Size: 180cm width x 210cm height

• Machine washable: Yes

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Price: £18 | Buy now from Amazon

You don’t have to be David Attenborough to recognise that there’s too much plastic in the world and this mDesign luxury cotton shower curtain shows you don’t need to turn to PVC for your shower curtain.

The cotton is blended with polyester to make it mould- and splash-resistant, although it isn’t fully waterproof so you might want to pair it with one of the shower curtain liners in our list. The rust-proof metal eyelets make it easy to fit to your shower rail using your existing curtain rings (hooks aren’t included), and equally easy to take it off for when you want to stick it in the washing machine.

Key specs

• Material: 35% cotton, 65% polyester

• Size: 180cm x 180cm

• Machine washable: Yes

Price: £17 | Buy now from Amazon

Bathrooms come in all shapes and sizes so if you’re in need of a new shower curtain, and you’re lucky enough to have a bathroom with a high ceiling, this extra long shower curtain from EurCross could be the one for you.

With an extra long drop of 240cm, this should keep your bathroom floor dry even if other shower curtains have left you feeling short changed. It’s made from waterproof, antibacterial mould- and mildew-proof EVA plastic, and the weighted magnets should keep it hanging straight.

Key specs

• Material: EVA plastic

• Size: 180cm x 240cm

• Machine washable: No

How to choose the best shower curtain

The first thing to consider is the material in order to choose one that’s durable and easy to care for. There are three main types – natural fabric, polyester and plastic. Natural fabrics like cotton are good because you can pop them in the washing machine but they can be expensive and you also need to make sure you buy a shower curtain with a protective liner to stay dry and mildew free. Polyester is a good option if you don’t want to spend too much. Shower curtains made from polyester are also machine washable, quick drying and water-repellant and tend to last a long time. Plastic curtains are usually the cheapest option but they’re not suitable to throw in the washing machine and instead need to be wiped regularly.

The shower curtain’s style, colour and pattern is a matter of personal taste but natural fabrics tend to hang better than plastic.

Is a fabric or a plastic shower curtain better?

As mentioned above a fabric shower curtain can be popped in the washing machine and tends to last longer than a plastic shower curtain as it can't always be machine washed and may need replacing more often. Plastic is the most waterproof material for shower curtains though.

What is the best way to clean a shower curtain?

Cleaning experts Molly Maids suggest the following steps for cleaning your shower curtain:

1) Remove your shower curtain from the rail 2) Place it in your washing machine and set it to the largest load setting 3) Add a couple of drops of laundry detergent and 250ml of white vinegar 4) Toss in your cloth shower curtain on a gentle setting 5) Once the cycle is complete, hang your curtain back on the rod to air dry

Some Mumsnetters recommend adding Zoflora. to the drum too. If the shower curtain isn’t machine washable, you should be able to wipe it down with a damp cloth. Using Vanish has also been recommended on the forums.

You can find more advice on how to wash plastic shower curtains here.

What is the best shower curtain to buy?

We think the iDesign Shower Curtain Liner is the best shower curtain you can buy right now. It does exactly what it needs to. The quick-drying PEVA vinyl material is odourless, chlorine- and PVC-free and only needs a quick clean with a damp cloth to stay mould-free for years. All of these attributes make it our best buy.

How we chose our recommendations

Because we know that there’s nothing like a real recommendation, we first headed to the Mumsnet forums to find out what shower curtains were being recommended. We then did some research across the wider web, looking at what shower curtains had won accolades or been featured in ‘best buy’ lists across websites, and what customer reviews said about them. Having collated all that information, we then narrowed our list down to the best shower curtains online at the moment.

Why you should trust us

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