A Compact-y solution to the shower curtain dilemma

Last month I wrote this post lamenting the decidedly un-compact-y nature of plastic shower curtains, and asking for reader suggestions on what to do since we needed a new one. I’m happy to report I received a plethora of fantastic ideas from my ever-brilliant and creative readers. If you missed that post and you’d like to give up plastic shower curtains for a more eco-friendly option, I encourage you to check out the comments section.

As it happens, a generous reader offered to send me a shower curtain she had recently bought at a garage sale and I took her up on it! Not only do I love our new shower curtain, it is Triple Compact-y. First, it was a gift so I paid nothing for it (frugal AND compact-y!). Second, it’s the hotel-type curtain many readers recommended, so no more plastic to get ratty and be sent to the landfill. And finally, the reader that sent it to me had bought it at a garage sale for just 50 cents, so technically she bought it secondhand. And now we’re enjoying a beautiful new shower curtain that can be laundered whenever necessary and doesn’t collect mildew as it ages.

I couldn’t be happier. Thanks Hilda, for your kindness, and thanks readers, for your earth-friendly suggestions. I see no need to ever use plastic shower curtains again. There are all kinds of other alternatives in addition to the washable polyester variety used in many hotels, including hemp and recycled polyester.

Have you given up plastic shower curtains? Are there other plastic items we all could be giving up? Please share in the Comments section.

Comments

  1. says

    This is the best thing about letting people know you like used stuff. Then people will actually GIVE you FREE stuff. Whiles sometimes this backfires on you (my children get gifted a lot of toy crap that people decided was too crappy for their own kids), mostly it is great.

  2. Carla says

    If you haven’t already, then don’t ever again buy plastics to store food! Never. It’s not only not earth friendly but food stored in glass or something similar keeps longer than germy plastic! A few years ago I pulled canning jars from the attic and began storing leftovers in them. There is rarely something which won’t fit and jars have the added advantages of being “vertical storage” in the fridge, with their small footprint, and also of being clear so you can see what is in them. Besides, glass is imminently cleanable and fits beautifully into a dishwasher for sterilization. What a win/win/win!

  3. Diane says

    This is just a thought I want to share, not a criticism. As a library volunteer, I often find great books for friends and family. So often, in fact, that they now ask me to watch for certain titles or specific authors. When I find them, I buy them, pack them up and ship them out. Surprisingly, if someone does remember to reimburse me, they never think about the postage, which can be more than the cost of the books, even using Media Mail. Recently, prior to a visit, a friend asked me for a slew of titles for her children. I found several of them and brought them along. No hint of reimbursement and I hadn’t the heart to ask. I know it seems like small thing, but I’m a frugal person on a budget. While the item(s) in question may be a screaming deal, they’re not free and neither is the postage. I always mention the cost in advance, so they know I’m not getting them free. I feel like a cheapskate asking for money, so I rarely ask.
    I am not putting words in Hilda’s mouth. I am mentioning it because this is a community of like-minded individuals. Many readers enjoy helping out their fellow Compact-ers, so if someone sends you something that was a screaming deal, but NOT a gift, please don’t forget the postage!

    • Angela says

      Hi Diane, That’s a good point. Especially when someone asks you to pick up something for them, or to look out for things. And these days postage is usually at least $5, and sometimes $10.

      I think when someone specifies that it’s a gift, they don’t expect to be reimbursed for postage. In my case, I did discuss the postage with Hilda, and I am planning to send her something I think she will enjoy.

      Thanks for your comment. I think whenever it’s not clear, it’s best to err on the side of reimbursement.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *