In Partnership WithMayzon, Licensee Rubbermaid Brand

The Simple Bathroom Upgrades That Made Bath Time Easier for This Busy Mom

Courtney BalestierSenior Writer, Creative Studio
Courtney BalestierSenior Writer, Creative Studio
Courtney Balestier is the Apartment Therapy Creative Studio Senior Writer. She holds a master's degree in magazine journalism from NYU and lives in Pittsburgh, where you'll find her doing DIY projects in her new house with her dog and cat (who are not being very helpful).
published about 4 hours ago
Modern bathroom featuring dark green tile, a white shower curtain with storage pockets, and a round mirror.
Credit: Laina Grady

As Apartment Therapy’s director of strategic partnerships and mom to baby Weston, Laina Grady is an expert problem solver. So when Weston’s bath time routine started to get a little disorganized, she went looking for bathtub accessories that would make a big difference to their daily routine.

Rubbermaid® products made it easy for Laina to upgrade her bathroom in smart, practical, and simple ways. Durable and dependable — with ingenious details for everyday ease — they helped Laina make bath time better for everyone. Here’s how.

Credit: Laina Grady

Getting Organized

“Weston is new in the toy game, and he needs something in his hands (or mouth) at all times,” Laina says. Now that toys are a bigger part of bath time, having a place to store them is a must. The Rubbermaid Shower Curtain Liner with Storage Pockets features five quick-drying mesh pockets — plenty spacious for Weston’s growing collection of bath toys and other bathing tools. The liner can be hung with pockets facing in or out. Laina opted for out, to keep items accessible to her as she bathes Weston.

Credit: Laina Grady

“As a new mom, I am still learning how to only have one hand available to do things with,” Laina says. “This liner was the perfect solution for reaching all our toys and soaps. All liners should have pockets!”  

The liner is also made with rustproof metal grommets and Microban® technology to resist mildew growth. If you don’t need pockets, the Rubbermaid PEVA shower liner offers the same durable performance sans storage. In both, the creases will come out quickly after a few steamy showers.

Credit: Laina Grady

Staying Secure

Laina and her husband are currently transitioning from bathing Weston in his infant tub to holding him upright during bath time. She knew she needed to add a nonslip surface to the tub floor for this milestone, but she didn’t realize she could have one as stylish as the rest of the recently remodeled bathroom. Enter the Instamat™ tub mat: a classic basket weave design packed with clever features for improved functionality.

“Cleaning up from bath time is always a hassle, so anything that’s easy to use is a must.”

Laina Grady
Credit: Laina Grady

The BPA-free Instamat is designed for style, comfort, and durability, with drain holes that stop water from pooling and non-slip suction cups that anchor it securely to the tub floor. Its other ingenious feature? A built-in hook for hanging over the showerhead after bath time for quick drying. Like the shower curtain liner, the Instamat is treated with Microban® technology to resist mildew growth. “It was so easy to stick and unstick, and the ability to hang it up is so necessary,” Laina says.

Credit: Laina Grady

More importantly, the Instamat’s combination of flexibility and strength also meant that Laina could feel confident giving Weston his first baths without his infant tub. “I did not have to worry about him slipping,” she says. “I loved having him be able to splash around in the full tub for the first time.”

Credit: Laina Grady

Making Bath Time Better

These easy swaps have improved bath time for both Laina and Weston — and thanks to their solid construction and durable materials, they’ll keep doing just that for a long time. “Bath time is stressful, and as we’re in a growing phase of life, getting more organized (while staying stylish) is a must.”