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RamblinAnne's avatar
RamblinAnne
Explorer
Feb 11, 2017

Shower Curtain

Hey all-

I'm prepping my rig for full-timing and I read so much about condensation issues, especially after a shower. Everyone says "make sure you get a fabric shower curtain" but they don't specify what kind of fabric I should be going for. Do I want a something that absorbs the moisture like cotton? I'm afraid this will cause potential mold issues. What does everyone suggest?

17 Replies

  • The idea is to get something that won't absorb a lot of moisture and will dry out fast.

    This type of shower curtain is often sold as a liner but is fine to use alone. They can be washed with some bleach and look good as new, and last for a long time. I wash mine (at home) about every 3 weeks.

    Microfiber Shower Curtain Liner

    Of course they do get wet and have to dry off. To that end, you need to run the bathroom vent fan for a good amount of time after showering. I also keep a dedicated towel for wiping down the shower walls and floor, wring it out in the sink, and then hang it outside to dry. That removes a good bit of moisture from the RV.
  • I am not sure I understand how a shower curtain will have any effect on condensation.
  • We replaced our triple glass sliding door with a curtain and liner. The liner is a heavy duty curtain liner for about $8 at Walmart. We use the same liner in our S&B. We've been using it for years in the camper without issue. We live in the camper 4 - 5 months out of the year during the summer, which translates to lots of showers. Unless it is really hot out, we usually leave the bathroom vent open with the vent fan running all the time to help dry out the bathroom.

    -Michael
  • There are many designs for shower curtains, but there are basically two types. One is the plastic type that costs about $1.95 from Dollar General, and you can find them anywhere. The other type is the "cloth" material type curtains. They are indeed made of fabric, but are treated with a water resistant treatment that prevents water from penetrating. They usually cost a bit more, can still be found in most places, and come in all kinds of colors and designs.

    As with any shower curtain, either one will hold water drops until the water drips down (cloth or plastic). There is always a residue of water left until it evaporates. That evaporated water is now in the air, and yes, it will settle somewhere else eventually, sometimes as rain, sometimes as dew, or in your camper as condensation.

    But, with either style of curtain, if you are using your camper in a normal fashion, there is almost always an influx of fresh air and an out-flux of (stale) air. If you are using your camper in a normal fashion, in the Summer, roof vents open, doors open and close, windows open and close, fans blowing, appliances running, the water evaporates from the curtain, just like in a house and has no or very little effect.

    Yes, you do need to wipe up any excess water, dry the shower / bathtub, or use a squeegie on the walls to help get rid of as much water as possible. But with just a bare minimal attention, you'll never have mold or black spots.

    If using the camper completely closed up for a long time, then yes, moisture gets trapped without any kind of ventelation, and yes, mold growth has a potential be more prominent. But even in the winter, with moderate care and attention, wiping up spills, water spots, wiping down the shower/tub helps go a long way keeping "black" off the walls and around the molding.

    Use any kind of curtain you want. You can always take them and shake them outside, toss them in the laundry to help keep them clean. And the nice thing about the cheap-o plastic ones? They don't cost much, they never last long anyway (yes, they all do begin to look nasty after a year or so, even in your house), so the el-cheap-o plastic $1.99 curtains are easy to just swap out any time.

    My previous 2 campers had nothing but plastic shower curtain, and we never had a mold or "black" problem. But we did change shower curtains every spring (and the old ones became paint, stain, and varnish drip cloths in my wood working shop.
  • IAMICHABOD wrote:
    How about getting rid of the shower curtain all together and installing one of THESE a lot of newer high end RVs have them.


    Thanks Ichabob! A great idea for a mod that I must have missed previously.
  • I use a plain nylon or polyester curtainor liner without the rippley texture. They can be washed in a washing machine. I add a little bit of bleach after the agitator starts.
  • How about getting rid of the shower curtain all together and installing one of THESE a lot of newer high end RVs have them.

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