The Hidden Toxins in Your Shower Curtain (And the Brands That Actually Pass the Test)

When so many toxic exposures are out of our control, we gotta focus on the doable stuff!

Switching to a non-toxic shower curtain is an EASY (and relatively affordable) thing you can do to reduce you and your family’s exposure to things like VOCs and phthalates on a daily (or almost daily??) basis.

Here’s what this guide covers:

Why using plastic shower curtains is bad for your health (& why PVC is the worst)
What to use instead (hint: it’s natural fibers like cotton, linen, or hemp)
How to figure out if you actually need to use a shower curtain liner
The least bad materials for a liner
A sneaky trick to watch out for to avoid PFAS in your shower curtain
The best non-toxic shower curtain brands from both small businesses and big box stores

This guide contains product recommendations and we may receive compensation if you purchase through certain links. As always, we only make recommendations that are genuine!

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You’re Breathing In Toxic Chemicals from PVC (& Other Plastic) Shower Curtains

Many shower curtains and liners are made from PVC, which is the worst material when it comes to toxicity.

A lot of PVC contains phthalates, lead, and other harmful additives that are linked to health concerns like hormone disruption, respiratory issues, and even developmental problems in children.

As you shower, those chemicals slowly leach out of the plastic and into the air, where you either inhale them or soak them in through your skin.

In fact, chemical leaching from a shower curtain is worse than that from, say, a regular window curtain because of the hot, damp conditions. In short: heat and moisture can worsen chemical leaching.

But it’s not just PVC that’s the problem—it’s all plastic. PVC is the worst, but polyester fabric can leach toxic chemicals, too.

That’s why ideally, you’ll want to go with a natural shower curtain.

A Non-Toxic Outer Shower Curtain Is the Easy Part: Go for Natural Fabric!

To reduce your exposure to toxicants in the shower, choose a natural fabric like:

• Cotton
• Linen
• or Hemp

Organic cotton is better than conventional because it means toxic pesticides weren’t used to grow it.

However, if you can’t afford an organic option, conventional cotton is still much better than plastic. The concern with conventionally-grown cotton is more with the amount of pesticides are being put into our environment (our air, water, and soil) rather than about toxicity for the end user. In other words, I am not concerned about exposure to pesticide residue on cotton textiles like shower curtains.

Finding a Non-Toxic Shower Curtain Liner is Tricky…

None of the natural fabrics I mentioned above are water-resistant, which means you’re running the risk of developing mold, mildew, and bacteria.

Some people will go without a liner and just stick with one single curtain made from a natural fabric. That might work for you if:

• Your curtain has time to dry completely in between showers most of the time. (You have good air flow in the bathroom, not a lot of people share the bathroom, etc.)

• You will actually take the curtain down and wash it every 2-4 weeks.

This way, you’ll be able to prevent mold & mildew from building up on the curtain. And obviously, this is important, too! Mold can be toxic, and the last thing you want to do is start fostering a bathroom environment where mold can spread. Because once mold moves from your shower curtain to the walls, it’s much more difficult to deal with.

So, if you don’t want to risk it and would rather go with a more water-resistant option, then at least choose a PVC-free alternative like PEVA.

The “Least Bad” Materials for a Shower Curtain Liner Are PEVA or EVA

If you can go without plastic at all, that’s best.

But if that’s not realistic for you (and you want to be sure to prevent mold growth in your bathroom), then choose a PVC-free alternative like:

• EVA
• PEVA
• polyester

Unlike PVC, these three materials are phthalate-free and lower in VOCs (volatile organic compounds).

They don’t release as many hazardous fumes, making them a less toxic choice while still being waterproof and durable. While not perfect, they’re a much better option for reducing indoor air pollution and chemical exposure in your bathroom.

A polyester curtain can be thrown in the washing machine, whereas a PEVA or EVA curtain will need to be sprayed and wiped down. So, you might want to choose your material based on your cleaning preferences!

[BTW, if you want to get a tiny bit science-y: PEVA and EVA are not exactly the same thing, but they are similar. PEVA (polyethylene vinyl acetate) is a variation of EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) that replaces some ethylene with polyethylene. This makes it slightly less flexible but also lower in VOCs.]

Don’t Get Duped By Tricky Marketing!

There’s one more thing you’ll want to watch out for when you’re shopping.

Some shower curtains (even “natural” ones made of cotton or linen) are treated with a water-resistant finish. It’s practically impossible to know what that treatment involves (they usually don’t tell you), but it could be made out of toxic PFAS “forever chemicals”.

Take this “recycled cotton” shower curtain as an example:

Or this one:

The type of language you see on these two product pages should be a huge red flag. Things like—

• “treated with a water-coating that encourages water droplets to form and roll off quickly”
• or “water resistant technology that actively repels water and lets it slide without any absorption”

—mean that toxic PFAS could be used!

(At the time of this writing, companies do NOT have to label their textile products if PFAS are used. So consumers have no way of knowing for sure.)

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My Picks for Organic & Non-Toxic Shower Curtains

Parachute

Material Options:

• Linen (made of 100% European flax)
• Organic Turkish cotton
• Conventional Turkish cotton
• Polyester (for the liner)

Parachute tends to have good options for all kinds of bed and bath necessities. Not everything they carry is natural and/or organic, but a lot of it is! Everything I’ve tried from Parachute has always been high-quality. You can tell it’s well-made.

Their natural shower curtains are mostly available in neutral color options, like whites and tans. You can go for a totally organic one, or you can save a little money and get a conventional cotton one. Some of them come with third-party certification(s) like GOTS or OEKO-TEX and others don’t—so just be sure to check the details on the specific curtain if that’s something you want!

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Coyuchi

Material Options:

• Organic cotton

Coyuchi’s shower curtains are on the more expensive side, but they’re all made from 100% GOTS certified organic cotton.

They offer a standard waffle texture, or a Mediterranean style with tassels on the end.

These are on the thinner side, but that’s on purpose—it’s so they dry quicker! So, you may be able to use these without a liner and still prevent mold and mildew.

Coyuchi is a great place to get all your bed & bath goods, too. They’ve got lots of bedding, towels, mats, and more to choose from.

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Quiet Town

Material Options:

• Cotton canvas (conventional, USA-milled, upcycled)
• EVA (which can be used on its own or as a liner)

First of all, this is definitely the most FUN brand on this list! They have so many different fun colors and patterns to choose from.

For their natural options, Quiet Town offers a choice between linen or cotton. I really like that they offer “End Bits” curtains to reduce waste, and that some of the cotton they use is actually USA-milled. (Very little cotton is!)

Their EVA curtains are recommended for use either on their own or as a liner.

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Pottery Barn

Material Options:

• Organic cotton
• Conventional cotton
• Linen
• Cotton/polyester blends
• EVA (liner)
• Polyester (liner)

Pottery Barn offers a lot of different options, including synthetics, so make sure you check the product details to make sure you’re getting what you want.

Most of their options come with at least one third-party certification, whether that’s GOTS (organic), OEKO-TEX, or Fair Trade certified.

You can go with standard white, add a little detail, or go with a solid color.

If you do want a liner from them, you can choose between EVA or polyester. Both are PVC-free.

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Magic Linen

Material Options:

• Linen
• Polyester (for the liner part)

As their brand name indicates, Magic Linen specializes in linen home goods. I have a bath robe of theirs that I love!

Their shower curtain is actually a 2-parter: the outside part that hangs from the hooks is made from linen, and then the inner waterproof liner (which is polyester) snaps onto the outer part.

Both parts are OEKO-TEX certified and machine-washable.

I like this idea because you can easily change your mind about whether or not you want or need a liner!

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Union Salt Works

Material Options:

• Linen

Available on Etsy, these natural linen shower curtains are handmade to order in the USA (New Jersey)

They come in a lot of different sizes so you can find one that fits your shower. They’re available in natural or white.

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Outlines

Material Options:

• PEVA (combined with a cotton top)

Outlines has created a *better* way to use plastic shower curtains.

First, the top part of the curtain that hooks onto the curtain rod is made of 100% cotton. It’s reusable and machine-washable.

Then the bottom part is made of PEVA. (They say it’s “certified” by third-party labs to make sure it’s actually 100% PEVA and not actually mixed with PVC.)

It clips right onto the cotton top section so that it’s easy to remove & replace. When you’re ready to replace it, you send it back to Outlines for guaranteed recycling. You can sign up for a personalized “Replen Plan,” where they’ll send you a new one every 3-9 months based on how hard your water is, how many times a day the shower is used, and how ventilated your bathroom is. (And they have a quiz to help you figure it out.)

Oh, and if you already have another curtain you love, they also just have a standard curtain liner too.

*P.S. At the time of publication, the Outlines “system” is on backorder, but you can join the waitlist!*

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Here are some options from the big box stores, if you prefer to shop there:

Target

• Threshold (OEKO-TEX certified conventional cotton)
• Magnolia (OEKO-TEX certified conventional cotton)
• For liners:
  • Threshold (PEVA)
  • Room Essentials (PEVA or polyester/cotton blend)
  • Pillowfort (PEVA)

Walmart

• Bean Products (hemp, organic cotton, conventional cotton, or linen)
• Psoiuetr (linen option)
• For liners:
  • Barossa (PEVA)
  • Inosoo (PEVA)
  • ComfiTime (EVA)

Amazon

• Awellife (cotton/linen blend; one of the most affordable options)
• Peri Home (OEKO-TEX certified conventional cotton)
• INK + IVY (OEKO-TEX certified conventional cotton)
• Laura Ashley (conventional cotton)
• For liners:
  • Amazon Basics (PEVA; made in an OEKO-TEX certified facility)
  • AmazerBath (EVA; OEKO-TEX certified)
  • Barossa (PEVA; OEKO-TEX certified)

(I would recommend staying away from the polyester liners from Amazon at Walmart. Most of the ones I looked at are treated with a water-resistant coating, which could indicate PFAS.)

Even More Places to Get Natural & Non-Toxic Shower Curtains

I picked out my favorite options above, but there’s no shortage of brands that offer healthier shower curtains. Here are some more:

• Bean Products (hemp, organic cotton, conventional cotton, or linen) | Amazon | Walmart
• Boll & Branch (organic cotton)
• The Citizenry (linen, conventional cotton)
• Rawganique (hemp, organic cotton, or linen)
• Quince (linen, organic cotton)

What Else to Look for in Non-Toxic Shower Curtains

In addition to eco-friendly, non-toxic materials, there are a few more things to look for in safe shower curtains:

Non-Toxic Dyes

If you’re buying a colored curtain, make sure the brand has used non-toxic, low-impact, and/or organic dyes. Look for the OEKO-TEX and/or MADE SAFE certifications, which indicates that no toxic chemicals were used. Or just go with undyed if you want!

Third-Party Certifications

Third-party certifications indicate that someone outside of the company has verified the brand’s safety and environmental claims. Third-party labels come with pros & cons, but they are definitely helpful in my opinion!

Here are the three main labels you’ll see when it comes to shower curtains:

• Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS): This indicates that the material has been grown and processed without harmful chemicals such as herbicides and pesticides. GOTS also has qualifications that involve fair treatment of farmworkers and suppliers. It’s used for organic cotton.

• OEKO-TEX: This certification verifies that the final product is free from a long list of toxic chemicals.

• MADE SAFE: This one is similar to OEKO-TEX in that it ensures no toxic chemicals have been used to produce the good. MADE SAFE is a newer and smaller certification than OEKO-TEX, but has stricter standards.

It should be noted that while third-party certifications are great, they aren’t the end-all/be-all. These types of certifications can be very costly to small farmers who work with tight margins. Therefore, some farmers choose to grow crops using organic methods but skip the certification process.

Additionally, hemp and linen products often do not come with organic certifications because toxic chemical usage is actually rare. Don’t be afraid to ask brands more questions to find out more about their sourcing practices.

How to Waterproof a Natural Fabric Shower Curtain

If you’d like to skip the plastic but make your natural shower curtain more water resistant, you can try applying Otter Wax’s Waterproofing Wax to the backside of your hemp, linen, or cotton shower curtain.

These wax bars are made from natural ingredients and free from petroleum derivatives, distillates, and chemicals.

It’s simple and cheap to apply: just wax the waterside plus 10″ on the bottom of the other side (or you can technically wax both sides if you want to).

Waxed curtains are no longer machine washable, but you can just wipe them down with a damp cloth to clean them. Reapply the wax every year or two or as needed.

Related Guides You Might Also Find Helpful:

• Non-Toxic Bath Mats
• Organic Bath Towels
• Cozy Organic Robes

I hope this guide has helped you find the best non-toxic shower curtain for your home!

If you have any other questions about shower curtains that weren’t addressed here, let me know in the comments.

And if you find this sort of info helpful, sign up for my (free) weekly newsletter. I share reviews, toxin-related news, greenwashing examples, and a whole lot more.