March 19, 2024

Dangers of Shower Curtains & Bath Safety Mats

It’s the start of a new year and many of us have made resolutions we may or may not have already given up on.  I gave up on making resolutions a long time ago but I do still try to make positive changes to my life on a regulartoxin rubber duck basis.  New information frequently makes me change something I’m doing or thinking.

Which brings me to today’s topic…

Toxins!  Specifically shower curtains and bath safety mats made with PVC.

In the Home and Garden section of Sunday’s edition of the Post & Courier, yes I still get the newspaper, I found an article that gave me some concern. Now I’m not a germaphobe or anything like that.  I don’t freak out upon reading something that scares me but I am willing to make changes when it makes sense to do so.

I do enjoy keeping up with things and pretty much everything in my home has a place.  I’m a bit of a neat freak but by no stretch of the imagination am I an ecophile but I do feel responsible for doing my part.  I try to be environmentally conscious and I’m always baffled as to why I’m the only one on my street who sets out recycling every Wednesday night and so on.

That being said, the previously mentioned article made me want to run screaming and tear down my shower curtain!

Did you know that Polyvinyl chloride, more commonly known as PVC is suspected of causing developmental delays, liver damage, and respiratory problems?  Do you realize that this same PVC is used in plastic shower curtains and bath safety mats as well as many other plastics in your home?  I didn’t!  I knew about the piping of course but honestly, I never gave any of it much thought.

Evidently, I need to replace my vinyl shower curtain liner with one labeled PVC-Free.  They are made with a safer plastic known as EVA.  The second option of course is to use a cotton or polyester liner. Now I don’t know whether my shower curtain has pvc in it.  I may not.  I don’t know because there is no way to tell once you’ve thrown the packaging away.  I’ll pay more attention in the future.

In any event, I’m doing a lot of updates around my house right now and now is as good a time as any to get a fresh shower curtain liner and bath mat.

I browsed around the web, checked out the  Target website and finally decided on a extra long shower curtain liner at Amazon.   Although, I’m big on reading reviews and there is only one review for this product, it was given a 5 star rating by the reviewer.  She really likes it and says she would buy again in the future.  It looks like what I need anyway.  Soft Sensations Clear PVC-free Extra Long Shower Curtain Liner.  It’s mildew resistant and I always buy the extra long shower curtains because I make a mess otherwise.  This one is great because along with all that, it’s pvc free.

Ikea Kids Patrull Bathtub Mat Crocodile GreenI looked over the bathmats and didn’t see anything I was crazy about until I saw the Ikea Kids Patrull Bathtub Mat Crocodile Green  I just couldn’t resist how much fun it would be to have it!  I’m always musing about what people think when they look behind my shower curtain anyway.  This will sure surprise them.  You know who you are!  🙂

One last thing, while we are on the topic of toxins in the bathroom, if you are like me and have a thyroid problem, you might want to swap out your soap.  According to the article, Triclosan is the main ingredient found in many antibacterial hand soaps, gels and body washes.  There is evidence that the ingredient interferes with thyroid function and, if that’s not enough or you don’t have a thyroid problem, Triclosan is also linked to creating “superbugs” that are resistant to antibiotics.

So what’s the alternative and possibly more healthy way to suds up?  It turns out to be a very simple solution actually.  According to the FDA, “there is no evidence that Triclosan in antibacterial soaps and body washes provides any benefit over washing with regular soap and water.”  So there you go.  Sometimes the old stuff IS still the best stuff!

Well, that’s it for today.  I feel better about my own bathroom and about letting you know about the secret dangers lurking in your own bathroom.  Shouldn’t the packaging have to give a warning about this or am I just being over sensitive?

Happy Showering,

Leigha sig

 

 

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P.S.S.  Be sure to share this info with anyone who has children.  This knowledge might save some family a lot of heartache.

 

 

Comments

  1. I never knew about this until now. Thanks a lot for sharing. I certainly wouldn’t want to put my family at risk for certain illnesses that PVC can cause.

    • Really? Your link says that you are a mat company. It’s sad and scary that you weren’t aware of these facts!

  2. Today, I went to tһe beaⅽh front with my ϲhildren. I found ɑ sea shell and gave it to my 4 year oⅼd ԁaughter and
    said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She put the shell to
    her ear ɑnd screameԀ. There was a hermit
    crab inside and it pinched her ear. She never wants to go back!
    LoL I know this is totally off topic but I had to tell someone!

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