Does anyone prefer shower curtains to screens?

[yummymumtobe]

We are putting in a new bathroom and are planning to get a shower curtain rather than screen. Cue shock from the bathroom fitter who apparently can't remember the last time he worked on a bathroom without a screen! I just really don't like the idea of a screen as unless it's buffed and polished it just looks streaky and limescaly. Has anyone else actually chosen a curtain as well recently? And also does anyone know where you can get a curved shower curtain rail? Our bath won't sit between two walls but ends in the middle of the room.

I have this (recommended on here). A hidden away shower curtain. Gas strut - pull up the top bar, open ccurtain, shower, fold away wet. Once a fortnight spary with stuff and leave to dry.

Curtain without the curtain. I hate curtains. But didn't want a screen as it would be too imposing in our bathroom which is not massive (also got shower in en-suite).

www.mytub.co.uk/product_information.php?product=498541

'scuse typos.

I do!!!! We re-did our bathroom last year and I was wondering about a shower screen too, until I realised that a) our walls might not be strong enough to hold it up, b) the kids would probably break it, c) unless we got one the whole length of the bath then all the lovely hot steam from the shower would get out and leave me all cold (I like a very hot shower) and d) I might need to clean it at some point instead of just getting a new curtain when the old one gets all mouldy (housework not my forte).

We got a curved shower rail from Homebase, it was about 20 quid I think. Our bath is between 2 walls in an alcove and the curved rail means that the curtain doesn't attack you when you put your arms up to wash your hair.

I am very pleased with our decision - definitely get a curtain and curved rail. It's cheaper too, (even allowing for buying new curtains instead of cleaning them!!) and I have known shower screens to leak.

Get a water softener, then the shower screen is easy to keep clean and limescale free!

I do agree that otherwise shower screens can get streaky and lime scaly. However, having lived with curtains for many years before - they do get quite unpleasant after a very short while. I have bad memories of black mould and the bottom 12 inches always going strangely yellow/orange...

I hate shower screens but I like a cosy bathroom and to me, a shower screen is the opposite of cosy. We have had the same curtain for a year and no mould but I always leave it open to dry out. They do go orange at the bottom though and I have no idea why but whenever this happens I fill the sink (which is next to the bath) and leave it to soak in a hot water / sterilising fluid combo and the orange disappears. I like <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=roll+top+bath+%26+shower&um=1&hl=en&safe=off&sa=N&tbo=d&biw=1024&bih=475&tbm=isch&tbnid=UtjQXGM-_YQdPM:&imgrefurl=www.narratives.co.uk/Details.aspx%3FID%3D15240%26TypeID%3D1&docid=nzK3x-h2dHS19M&imgurl=www.narratives.co.uk/ImageThumbs/AC011_27/3/AC011_27_Freestanding_roll_top_bath_below_shower_canopy_in_tiled_Mariefred_bathroom_Sweden.jpg&w=320&h=480&ei=BGUIUdnIBM-Z0QWgk4DAAw&zoom=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this myself

Bathstore do a curved shower curtain pole, saw it when we went into showroom earlier this month.

I don't like shower curtains as they go mouldy tbh, and I find that the screen comes up nicely with a bit of windowlene, and it does keep me warm in the shower compared to when I step out from behind the screen.

I hate shower curtains
< shivers > as that cold wet plastic touches my body < shudder >
Give me a screen any day

We got a curtain rather than a screen as the old screen always gets a bit manky where the seal meets the bath. Difficult to keep clean right in the corner too.

This could all be put down to my slovenly cleaning habits though

You can buy basic shower curtains for a couple of quid if they start to look mouldy, whoever you can avoid this mostly by keeping curtains fully pulled until dry.

Ladykookoo that is very pretty but wouldn't suit our bathroom as we don't have a freestanding bath. It's v stylish though. I will try bathstore

I much prefer a shower curtain. They wash easily and also I can have a shower while the dc are getting ready for school (washing and teeth brushing etc) and retain a modicum of privacy.

We have both. The shower screen doesn't extend far enough along the bath to stop the spray from the shower going on the floor, so we pull the curtain too. The screen does get limescale-y but there is some stuff that you can spray on immediately after you shower, which stops the water leaving marks as it dries. I think it's Mr Muscle stuff. (I normally forget to use it though, so I need to actually clean the shower screen again, and then start using it.)

As another poster said, the curtain / screen combo keeps the steam in, so I stay nice and warm. I hate the shock of cold when I open the curtain to grab the towel!

The shower curtain is actually machine washable, I think most are now?

I prefer curtains, i chuck mine in the washing machine at the first sign of mould.

ME! I loathe screens with a passion. And cubicles. And en suite bathrooms. Sadly we have all three. Would much rather have shower over bath with curtain in family bathroom.

We have the outasight that fishfingers linked to - its brilliant, folds away looks great in a modern bathroom, nearly two years old and looks good as new. Would recommend.

We have screen at this house and had curtains at the last one. I prefer the curtains, it made it much easier for me to clean the shower tiles. I had washable cotton duck fabric curtain and could throw it through the washing machine often to prevent the nasty mildew on it. I washed it a couple times a month.

We've got a curtain rail with a small splashback, the curtain hasn't got mouldy yet but the plan is to have 2 or 3 of them so I can chuck them in the wash. It's a polyester curtain not a plastic one! this one although I'm sure we got a cheaper price from the plumber's merchant.

Ooh, Fishfingers, that curtain looks really good. What's it like? (i.e. does it look/feel nice, or plasticky and nasty?!)

It feels like/is concertina-ed (sp?) treated..well strong papery stuff. It is quite stiff due to the folds/concertinery manufacture so when you pull it out it just hangs down and doesn't waft towards you/cling/attack you/touch you.

I love it - but - and this is a caveat - we only use the shower in the bathroom a couple of times a week - the en-suite is the main showering arena in our house. I may not have chosen it/may get peed off with it if I was using it daily - only because you do have to get it out/put it back (not that is takes long mind you). I love it because it works - and then is hidden away (bliss) so the bathroom looks like a bathroom again and the focus in on our lovely double ended bath. And having a bath feels more luxurious as you are not loomed over by a curtain or screen.

Shower curtains follow you. They try and touch you. GRIM.

Get a decent screen. Ours can be pushed back across the bath so it's out of the way of the kids when they're in the bath (its a shower bath with a curved screen).

FishfingersAreOK that shower curtain looks amazing, I have even managed to find a video for it

ignore the annoying woman's voice.

I am thinking about getting one.

We replaced the manky shower screen in our bathroom with a curtain when we moved in. We're in a hard water area and I found it impossible to keep clean.
That thing that fishfingers linked to looks interesting though.

Croydex do a few curved shower curtain rails and will also custom make one for you for not too much (around £60 for the one they quoted us which almost went around the whole bath). We didn't get it in the end as they were really slow to quote and we were desperate as the shower screen was leaking badly so I can't comment on the quality.

HATE shower curtains. We are currently looking at a new bathroom and will have a screen fitted. Living in Scotland means we don't have the limescale issue.

DH cleans our bathroom weekly and I ususally get him to take the curtain down once a month and it gets shoved in the washing machine with a tiny bit of bleach. Always sparkling!

I can see the benefits of both.... but... it's a screen for me!

My friend managed to open the shower screen the wrong way in a rented house i lived in - caused the screen to come off, fall into the bath and gouge a hole in it which I then filled with sealant (and moved out soon after).
I'm planning to replace the screen with a curtain in the house we're hoping to move to - I'm thinking the screen would be in the way for toddler bathtime.

My shower screen is mouldy inside the bottom seal and I can't find any way to clean it. I'm just waiting for it to fall off the wall so I can get a nice washable curtain.

Our current screen folds up like a concertina, but it does have mouldy bits that we just can't keep clean, and the rubber seals on the bottom are now falling to bits, so looking for something else.

We have about 3 showers a day between us though, so will have to have a think if the foldout curtain thing would work for us.