Shower Curtains Rods Review For Bathroom

When my previous shower curtain rod was showing signs of wearing down and was slipping down from the sides of the shower wall, it was time to get a new shower curtain rod in my bathroom. I searched on online retailers to find which was the right shower curtain rod that met my criteria, in terms of functionality and aesthetics. The curtain rod needed to have a strong spring tension and a non-slip plate to prevent to it from sliding down the shower wall. It also needed to be in stainless steel color because I think it would not show any rust or dirt easily and it would look nice in the bathroom. This would help give the bathroom a more updated, modern appeal.

These are some other criteria to keep in mind when reviewing shower curtain rods:

How long it will last.
How often do you need to clean and maintain it.
Is it strong and tight enough to not slide down the bathroom walls
What is the difficulty installing the shower curtain rod.

Types of Shower Curtain Rods: Finding the Perfect Fit

Straight Curtain Rod

Straight shower curtain rods are the most basic kind of rods that can meet your showering needs. They can fit almost any kind of shower area without much issue. The setup and installation is mostly straight forward due to being just a straight rod. There are may kinds of straight shower rods like PVC, stainless steel, and brass. These rods tend to be most affordable in terms of price and you can them almost at any retail store.

There are some downsides when choosing the straight shower curtain rods. There is less free space available so there is less maneuverability with your arms and legs which can lead to hitting the curtain frequently. When showering, the water and shampoo can hit the shower curtain more frequently, leading to increased mildew growth, therefore the shower curtain will need to be cleaned more often. Finally, it may not give the bathroom a more “modern” and interesting look.

Curved Shower Curtain Rod

Curved shower curtain rods provides an interesting and more “modern” look to your bathroom. As stated in the name, curved shower curtain rods protrude outward, giving more space to take a shower in the bathroom. This protrusion/curve furthers the distance the shower curtain will catch water and shampoo, which helps it stay more clean. In some cases, the curve can be adjusted to it faces inward, which can provide some safety and more movement in the bathroom when it’s not in use.

There are some downsides to choosing curved shower curtain rods. Since they curve outward, they can take up more space in a bathroom. This probably would not be suitable in bathrooms with limited available space. The price for these curtain rods then to be higher than the straight shower curtain rods. Finally, it could be more difficult to install these curtain rods in the bathroom.

Double curved tension rods

Double curved tension rods are another option when thinking about using curved shower curtain rods. They have two curved rods that allows hanging of the liner and shower curtain on different rods. It shares some advantages with curved tension rods like more elbow room to move when showering and provides some modern aesthetics to the bath room.

There are some disadvantages with the double curved tension rods. It could require two people to install it in the bathroom. The rod length cannot be adjusted.

Fixed curtain rods are designed for a more permanent place in the bathroom. When installing this rods, measurements of the lengths of the bathroom walls would need to known in order to drill the holes and to use nails and/or screws to put it in the right place. This can make the installation a bit more difficult. However, they are more stable than the tension curtain rods.

Tension curtain rods are much more easier to install in the bathroom. They usually do not need the screws or nails to hold it in place. They use the tension in the springs to maintain stability and most have rubber tips on the end of the rods to hold it in place against the bathroom walls. They are less expensive than the fixed curtain rods, but they may not be able to hold as much weight as the fixed curtain rods.

Top Shower Curtain Rods of the Year: Reviews and Recommendations

Briofox Shower Curtain Rod

Tension, straight, stainless steel that helps it stay rust-proof
Can hold up to 30 pounds
Easy to install between bathroom walls
Rubber caps at each end of the rod to prevent scratching on the bathroom walls and to help it stay in place.
Can slip down over time, may need tightening to say in place.

Teeck Shower Adjustable Tension Shower Curtain Rod

This is similar to the Briofox shower curtain as it also a tension, straight, stainless steel rod that helps to prevent rust.
Can have adjustable width from 26 to 85 inches
Rubber caps at the ends of rod to prevent the scratching of surface of the bathroom walls and to help it stay in place

Moen Tension Curved Shower Rod

This is also another tension, stainless steel rod, but this is curved rather than straight.
The curved feature allows more elbow room and maneuverability when showering
The curve also gives a more modern, elevated look
Limited adjustable width from 57 to 60 inches
Can be more difficult to install

Quick personal review of Briofox:

I bought the Briofox shower curtain rod after reading some of the reviews on Amazon and discovering it was an Amazon’s choice product. I wanted the stainless steel look for the bathroom. Since it was a straight rod, I thought it would be an easy install process and after installing the rod, I realized the process was generally fine. It definitely made the bathroom look a bit more modern. It holds up pretty well, even with the shower curtain on it. I still have the rod in place for a few years now with no issues.

Installation and Maintenance Tips for Longevity

Installation of fixed tension rod is generally straightforward:

Twist the tension rod counterclockwise to extend it to the length of the shower walls.
Make sure the rubber caps at each rods ends is making good contact with the shower walls.
Confirm that the rod tension is good by twisting the rod clockwise to shorten it to it’s original position and repeat again. I pulled down on the rod as well to test if tension is right.
You can use a level to confirm if the rod is straight.

After installing the shower rod, it may get dirty or accumulate rust over the course of it’s lifetime. It helps to find ways to maintain the shower curtain rod so it’s rust-free, clean, and functional. Selecting a stainless shower rod can prevent rust from forming. Leaving the bathroom door open to allow good circulation helps to prevent humid air to remain in the bathroom. The rod can be cleaned with water and vinegar or it can be wiped down with a dry clean cloth.

When using any shower curtain rod, common issues may come up after using it for a long period of time. There could be dents or cracks on the rod. A lot of rust can be accumulating on the rod. This can be resolved by cleaning the rod using water and vinegar, as mentioned above, or by using a sponge. It may be sliding down or coming loose from the bathroom wall. If this happens, try readjusting the shower rod’s length and reattach it to the wall. If the rod is damaged or broken or won’t stay in place after readjusting, it may be time to find a replacement shower rod.

References:

https://www.housedigest.com/1305858/pros-cons-straight-vs-curved-shower-curtain-rod

https://bathadvisors.com/how-to-choose-a-shower-curtain-rod

https://designingidea.com/curved-vs-straight-shower-rods

https://www.hunker.com/13413447/the-pros-cons-of-curved-shower-rods

https://highshower.com/curved-vs-straight-shower-rod

https://www.homestratosphere.com/types-of-shower-rods

https://www.ironhardware.com/fixed-vs-tension-curtain-rods-the-pros-and-cons

https://www.thespruce.com/best-shower-tension-rods-7098611

https://www.bobvila.com/articles/best-shower-curtain-rod

https://www.hgtv.com/design/rooms/bathrooms/best-shower-curtain-rods

https://www.lowes.com/n/how-to/install-pick-shower-curtain-rods