We’ve all smelled it. 

That strong, ultra-synthetic, plastic-doll smell that bursts forth from a new plastic shower curtain liner and can last for weeks.

That smell is from toxic VOCs from PVC vinyl, and is not something you want lingering in your bathroom and home.

Fortunately, non-toxic shower curtain liners are available in a variety of fabrics and low-tox, PVC-free options.

Here, you’ll learn the best fabrics for non-toxic shower curtain liners and PVC-free alternatives, their pros and cons, and our favorite brands.

Why Bother With A Non-Toxic Or Low-Tox Shower Curtain Liner?

PVC vinyl shower curtain liners are a hotbed of chemicals, including:

• Toxic VOCs: The chemicals you smell that create sick building syndrome, brain fog, organ damage, allergies, headaches, respiratory issues, and more.[1][2]
  
• Plasticizers, including phthalates, BPA, BPB, BPS, and others, disrupt the endocrine system, with many linked to hormone-driven diseases, including cancers.[2]
  
• Forever chemicals: Endocrine-disrupting PFAS are used on PVC, and even some natural fiber shower curtains to create a water-resistant finish. [4]
  
• Antimicrobial chemicals: Some shower curtains are treated with synthetic antimicrobial chemicals to help prevent the buildup of mold, mildew, and other debris. Antimicrobials can cause or contribute to various health issues due to their harmful effects on the human microbiome and their role in promoting antibiotic resistance.[5][6]
  
• SVOCs: The chemicals you don’t smell but that ride on dust, linger in the air and on surfaces. Phthalates, for example, are a type of SVOC. Although less studied than VOCs, various levels of exposure have been linked to allergic symptoms, impaired reproductive development, altered semen quality, and lower birth weight.[7]
  
• Heavy metals: Some types of PVC shower curtains contain neurotoxic heavy metals, such as lead and cadmium, which are used as stabilizers.[8]
  
• Dioxanes: These cancer-causing chemicals are used in the production of PVC, and can offgas from your shower curtain or shower curtain liner.[9]

In addition, heat and humidity increase offgassing of VOCs, SVOCs, and other chemicals, creating a low-grade toxic soup every time you shower.

Fortunately, there are non-toxic and low-tox alternatives that are easy to find, affordable, and stylish.

The Best Non-Toxic Shower Curtain Liner Fabrics & Alternatives

If you’re not ready to upgrade to a glass shower door, don’t fret! There are many alternatives to PVC shower curtain liners.

Let’s examine the options and their pros and cons.

1: Go Without A Shower Curtain Liner

There is no law stating you must use a shower curtain liner, and a good shower curtain can stand on its own.

If you opt for this route, we recommend investing in either a linen or hemp shower curtain, which have natural antifungal properties.

Cotton or cotton-linen, cotton-hemp blends are healthy options too, but you’ll need to wash it more often to prevent mold build-up.

Pros of going liner-free

• It simplifies your setup
  
• No exposure to shower curtain liner chemicals
  
• It can be economical
  

Cons of going liner-free

• These fabrics are typically slow-drying, and you’ll want to make sure they dry out after every use to prevent mold and mildew
  
• Natural fiber curtains and liners are more expensive than synthetic brands
  
• Natural fiber shower curtains require more care and cleaning, such as weekly or bi-monthly laundering (depending on use) to prevent mold, mildew, or grime build-up
  
• If you don’t clean it regularly and mold sets in, it can be challenging (although typically not impossible) to remove naturally

If you want to go the minimalist route and have time to spend on extra care, this is a perfect option.

2: Opt For A Natural Fabric Liner

If you already have a shower curtain you love, you can buy a natural linen or hemp fabric liner to replace PVC or plastic versions.

Just make sure it’s not treated with antimicrobial or water-resistant chemicals.

The same pros and cons apply as with going liner-free, but you get to keep your shower curtain.

3: Go For An Affordable Synthetic, PVC-free liner

We consider this a “better,” not “best” option, but it is the most practical and affordable for most people.

PVC shower curtains are the absolute worst for offgassing VOCs and other chemicals you just learned about. Avoid these, period!

However, alternative synthetic shower curtain liners made from PEVA, EVA, nylon, and polyester are PVC, chlorine, and phthalate-free, making them a safer option. 

They are often odorless, apart from scents picked up during shipping and storage, and can be easily off-gassed of VOCs in the sun.

That said, these are still plastics, so there are pros and cons to using them.

Here are more details to help you make an informed decision.

PEVA (polyethylene vinyl acetate) and EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) 

These are popular and safer plastic alternatives to PVC vinyl, as they offer comparable flexibility and feel.

PEVA is a variation of EVA that is slightly less flexible than EVA. 

However, manufacturers may add other plasticizers, including endocrine-disrupting SVOCs, to increase flexibility.

Pros:

• Affordable
  
• Free from PVC, chlorine, and phthalates
  
• Easy to off-gas most of the VOCs
  
• Lower-maintenance and can be easier to clean than natural liners

Cons:

• Will still contain plasticizer chemicals, including SVOCs
  
• May be treated with biocides or PFAS to increase water-resistance and prevent mold/mildew buildup
  
• May be stiffer than PVC or natural fabrics
  

Nylon And Polyester Liners 

These synthetic fabrics do not contain plasticizers and have some inherent resistance to mold and mildew.

Polyester is more water-resistant than nylon, but neither material is waterproof.

However, they are petroleum-based, and therefore will contain SVOCs and various other petroleum chemicals and/or byproducts. Many may also be treated with PFAS or antimicrobial finishes.

Heat and humidity will increase these chemical emissions.

Pros:

• Do not contain plasticizers, like phthalates
  
• Affordable and available in endless colors and prints
  
• Have some inherent resistance to mold and mildew
  
• Easy to off-gas before use
  
• Polyester is naturally water-resistant, and this increases with thread count
  
• Lots of options for colors and styles
  
• Lower-maintenance and can be easier to clean than natural liners
  
• According to current research, nylon might have an edge over polyester, as it has been shown to emit fewer microplastics and may outgas fewer SVOCs.[10]

Cons:

• Both come from petroleum products and therefore, are not eco-friendly and will harbor some level of chemicals
  
• Do contains SVOCs
  
• May be treated with biocides and PFASs to enhance water- and mold/mildew-resistance
  
• Can be higher maintenance than PEVA or EVA
  
• Mold can be challenging to remove if it sets in
  
• Will release microplastics into the environment when washed (we recommend using a GuppyFriend bag to prevent this)

As you can see, there are pros and cons to each alternative, but all are better than PVC liners.

The best option for you depends on your or your family’s level of sensitivity to chemical off-gassing, your overall health, your health goals, your budget, and the amount of time you can devote to maintaining a shower curtain. 

Your ability to control humidity in your bathroom is also a factor, as a lack of circulation (such as no windows, multiple people using the same bathroom, or a poor exhaust fan) will allow mold to set in quickly.

Our Favorite Non-Toxic Shower Curtain Brands

Now for the good stuff, the best non-toxic shower curtain and curtain liner brands!

At this stage in my life, using a natural fiber shower curtain is a no-brainer.

However, if you’re in a season of life where the extra care and effort seem too much (babies, kids, lack of household support, or just too much to do and no time to do it), then go for one of the “better” synthetic alternatives.

No judgments here!

Here are our favorite non-toxic shower curtain brands that offer hemp and linen curtains and liners:

• Rawganique has 100% linen, hemp, and linen-cotton blended shower curtains
  
• Brooklinen offers shower curtains made from 100% cotton and linen. There’s even a kid’s cotton version that would pair well with a natural or low-tox liner
  
• Quince: This affordable chic brand offers 100% European linen and 100% organic cotton shower curtains in a bunch of cute colors for a great price
  
• Crate & Barrel offers 100% cotton and organic cotton shower curtains
  
• Parachute Shower Curtain Liner is 100% polyester with no antimicrobial chemicals or PFAS
  
• Olde Church Emporium offers 100% cotton duck cloth, which does not require a liner

You can find numerous options for 100% polyester or nylon liners on Amazon or other major retailers. 

Just be sure they’re free from PFAS and antimicrobial chemicals, and ensure they're off-gassed before use. 

Learn how in: Sunning: How to Take Advantage Of The Summer Sun by Outgassing (AKA Offgassing).

So, Which Type Of Shower Liner Should You Choose?

In a perfect world, we’d recommend natural fiber shower curtains and liners to everyone.

They’re made from natural, renewable resources, will last for years if cared for properly, and won’t offgas VOCs or other harmful chemicals.

However, we know this option isn’t realistic for everyone during every season of life, especially if you’re short on time, have a house full of people who don’t care about drying your shower curtain properly, or are on a limited budget.

In this case, synthetic and PVC-free liners are safer alternatives that you can feel better about.

The right choice for you is yours, and we hope this information has helped you make an informed decision.

Looking For More Non-Toxic Home & Bathroom Solutions?

At Branch Basics, we’re on a mission to empower you to achieve greater health by removing harmful products from your home and replacing them with safer, yet equally effective solutions.

Our MADE SAFE-certified, human-safe, biodegradable, plant- and mineral-based all-in-one cleaning system is a testament to that commitment.

Just one Concentrate plus water in a refillable glass or plastic bottle creates enough cleaning products (All-Purpose, Bathroom, Streak-Free, Foaming Wash, & Laundry) to replace every synthetic chemical cleaner in your home.

Simple, plant- and mineral-based, biodegradable, human- and pet-safe, and affordable (what’s not to like?!).

We also offer our Toss The Toxins Online Course. Created by our co-founder and healthy home expert, Marilee Nelson, this course guides you through how to eliminate toxins room by room, category by category, and product by product, until your whole home is clean and as toxin-free as possible.

We also offer an extensive library of free resources.

Some related articles include:

• Our Non-Toxic Wedding Registry
  
• 7 Best Bleach Alternatives for Bathroom Cleaning
  
• Our Natural And Safe Baby Registry
  
• How To Remove Mold From Shower Grout Naturally
  
• Comparing Branch Basics Laundry Detergent Vs. Laundry Dilution: What’s The Difference?

References:

1. https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/technical-overview-volatile-organic-compounds#3
   
2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0045653523018374?via%3Dihub
   
3. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412023004981 
   
4. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12028640/ 
   
5. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.6b00262 
   
6. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0154632 
   
7. https://iaqscience.lbl.gov/svocs-and-health 
   
8. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412021002476 
   
9. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0734242X15590651 
   
10. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749124011692