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Best Products: Rolling Shower Curtain Rings

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Maxwell posted these a few years ago, but we thought we'd bring them up again for bathroom month. Rolling shower curtain rings are a small indulgence that makes a big difference in the bathroom. With these rings, opening and closing the shower curtain becomes a smooth, streamlined movement. The basic metal design holds up for a long time, and you can find them lots of places: hardware and home improvements stores, design stores, and big chains...

They're usually available in a pack of 12 for around $12 - $15. We purchased ours at CB2 for $11.95. The ones shown above are from West Elm for $12. We also spotted them at Brookstone ($14.95), Bed Bath Store ($11.99), and Pottery Barn Kids ($14).

Comments (14)

Just make sure you don't buy sliders that are too big for the curtain rod that you have: they will constantly flip upside down and become the opposite of easy.

posted by marlo on 2008-03-11 11:42:24
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these are the best. they are totally worth it and I would never use any others.

posted by Pixie on 2008-03-11 11:51:24
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Following Maxwell's advice in the book, I bought a set of these and installed them this past weekend. I loved the look of my old rings, but it really was a pain to slide the curtain open--I'd have to grasp the rings and shove them aside. A friend who had these rings said she love their ease, but hated the noise. She asked for a review after I'd tried them awhile. Having used them a few times, they really don't make any more noise than rings that stick to the rod while you struggle to open your curtain. I'm defintely keeping these! I got a set of 12 at Ross for $4.99, and Target had different styles starting at $6.

posted by OneWallKitchen on 2008-03-11 11:52:04
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i have a double shower curtain rod (which is awesomeness) - on the curtain i have these rolly ball things, but the liner has plain hooks. i hate the friggin hooks, man. sooo annoying. i just haven't picked up another set of rolly ball things as everytime i see them i remark on how expensive they are. so i don't buy them. dur. big dur. i need to just get over it.

posted by kdkaboom on 2008-03-11 12:00:29
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Metal Beaded Chain is generally less expensive and just as effective:

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=howTo&p=HomeDecor/ci_0904_bigLooks&print=true
(See idea #3)

posted by bepsf on 2008-03-11 12:21:32
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had a set. they rusted. viva plastic.

posted by matt in kc on 2008-03-11 12:41:03
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wouldn't use anything else! i like the noise they make too, very satisfying.

posted by open_skies on 2008-03-11 12:53:52
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Big fan of these... I have used them for years. I used ball chain back in the 90s, but it was a pain to take the curtain on and off for laundering. These rolly things make it super simple to remove the curtain for cleaning. I have never had them rust.

posted by Devyn on 2008-03-11 13:06:11
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Love them!

posted by luvdecor on 2008-03-11 13:14:50
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$12???? I think I bought mine at Target for $4 :)
Although, I wasn't paying attention (too excited about $4 awesome curtain rings) and I picked up a pack that had been opened and was missing one ring, so I only have an 11-pack.
Anyone know where you can get just ONE ring? Hehe.

posted by sparkle on 2008-03-11 14:01:45
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I second Pixie.

I had a far too lengthy conversation with a friend who is 5Xs more anal retentive than I - about how she spent an entire weekend looking for the shower curtain rings to go with her new shower curtain.

I scoffed and said... just buy the metal roller ball ones... they're the best.

She scoffed back and said no... she can't stand for the rings to get tangled.

DOOFUS! That's what the roller balls are for!! I've had mine for at least 6 years and they never tangled ONCE.
This whole conversation was at lunch with some men... their jaws were on the table!! ha ha!

In fact I have two sets -- because there is a big window in my shower... so I cut down another shower curtain to cover the window/ privacy... so SPARKLE .... I can send you one ring if you like!

posted by clickchick on 2008-03-11 14:20:59
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I'd been looking for some of these for the past couple months - I kept looking Target and Walmart, but they never had any. I finally found some at TJMaxx (of all places!). $6 - worth every penny!

posted by bunny on 2008-03-11 15:31:18
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just want to add my love for these. i have an extra set (for heaven only knows what reason). i also use them as a key chain for spare house keys that i give to guests.

posted by loislane on 2008-03-11 15:50:22
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sparkle! just find the company contact info on the web and e-mail them! my package had 1 broken and 1 missing and they sent me 2! (bought in canada and the company was canadian, fwiw, but I had this experience across borders too :-) )

posted by olya on 2008-03-12 09:26:56
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