apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time


Bathroom Tip: Wax Paper Helps Your Curtain Run Smooth

3-19-wax-paper-tip-2.jpg In addition to showing off my smurf-blue bathroom (yes, the tub and toilet are also blue), I'd love to share a quick and easy tip with AT readers. SarahC's post on Rolling Shower Curtain Rings reminded us of this great tip we picked up working in retail: rub wax paper on a metal bar to make metal hangers glide smoothly and with less squeaks. The same concept works with a shower curtain with metal rings and rod...

3-19-wax-paper-thumbs.jpg


A single sheet of wax paper is usually enough, but if your curtain is especially screechy, it might take two.
3-19-wax-paper-tip-2.jpg

Just grasp the shower rod with wax paper and rub...
3-19-wax-paper-tip-3.jpg

The paper will get gritty as it picks up the fine metallic dust...
3-19-wax-paper-tip-4.jpg

It's that easy...a smoothly running curtain with less ear-piercing screeches.
3-19-wax-paper-tip-1.jpg

Comments (17)

i like those curtain hangers. where are those from?

posted by andrasklang on 2008-03-19 10:28:46
view andrasklang's profile

That's just the way we used to wax the slide at the playground. Good trick.

posted by Joan A. on 2008-03-19 10:30:24
view Joan A.'s profile

Wax also helps with windows that are hard to open/close and helps drawers with wood glides open & close more smoothly.

posted by robyn on 2008-03-19 10:49:16
view robyn's profile

I think it's hillarious how DETAILED the *how-to* pictures are on this website. Like did we really need to see a step by step pictorial of how to rub a sheet of wax paper on a curtain rod?

I love it though. I really do!

posted by spossberg on 2008-03-19 10:57:00
view spossberg's profile

The curtain runs smoothly, not smooth. : )

posted by jenzoe on 2008-03-19 10:57:55
view jenzoe's profile

love the play-by-play! and yeah, you've got some good lookin' shower curtain hanger hook thingies.

posted by kdkaboom on 2008-03-19 10:59:20
view kdkaboom's profile

I learned that trick in my retail days...great tip!!

posted by bkrafi on 2008-03-19 11:13:06
view bkrafi's profile

Similarly...I rub bar soap to make the drawers on my vintage dresser open and close with ease.

posted by I Love Upstate on 2008-03-19 11:28:13
view I Love Upstate's profile

My bathroom is the same, except it's green, the tile is green, the tub is green, and yes, the toilet is green. (And all different versions of green.)

posted by jgee on 2008-03-19 11:41:29
view jgee's profile

spossberg, I used to work in an office that had a sign in the bathroom on 10 Steps to Washing Hands. Who knew there were 10 steps! I thought it was so funny I took it off the wall and brought it home. Note to self - frame and hang in bathroom.

posted by anne on 2008-03-19 13:45:41
view anne's profile

Is this really a problem in anyone's life - the deafening screech of their shower-curtain rings? Does anyone else remember the one-eyed crazy woman in Twin Peaks who devoted herself to designing completely silent curtain rods?

posted by pyewacket on 2008-03-19 14:50:41
view pyewacket's profile

I have the same blur in my bathroom. Thanks for the tip about the wax. Where is your curtain rod from? I looking for something really simple like that.

posted by superrenee on 2008-03-19 15:14:58
view superrenee's profile

pyewacket - Oh yeah, Nadine. I think this idea is a good deal less crazy than her revolutionary silent curtain system.

posted by jennifer in sf on 2008-03-19 16:17:44
view jennifer in sf's profile

I have always used baby oil to do the same trick, and for the playground try coating the slide with silicone lube kids wont know what hit them.... (of course wait for the lube to dry before sliding)

posted by frequencydip on 2008-03-19 19:35:25
view frequencydip's profile

ok, thats a great tip, we just moved into a place with a metal rack and I got metal rings and they catch and it's driving me bonkers, I am going to go do this now, thanks!

posted by gibbylet on 2008-03-20 00:26:04
view gibbylet's profile

Thanks for the tip! It totally worked.

posted by ashleym on 2008-03-22 10:11:24
view ashleym's profile

I second ashleym. Worked like a charm!

posted by themonkrat on 2008-04-20 18:55:07
view themonkrat's profile
Buy Text Ads