Let's take a look at the bathroom. What is your shower curtain made of? Most homes use a vinyl shower curtain liner becuase let's face it, it's cheap and easy to replace right? But is it safe?
The answer is no. It is not safe. That liner you're using contains phthalates. What the heck are phthalates?! In simple terms it's a chemical used to turn hard plastic into flexible plastic. According to Center4Research.org, animals exposed to phthalates are more likely to develop cancer and phthalates may alter human sperm DNA and semen quality. Vinyl shower curtains release chemical gases that may cause nausea, dizziness and other side effects. We certainly don't want that around our children, or ourselves for that matter.
So what's a mom to do? Ditch that vinyl, pvc, whatever you want to call it. You have a few options when it comes to replacing. Obviously using nothing at all won't work unless you want to spend lots of time mopping up after your shower! [Which just might lead to a cleaner bathroom ;0) ] You could go with cotton, hemp or other natural fibers. These will still grow mold and mildew, even the hemp which is naturally a mold resistant fabric. A cotton liner is cheap and can be laundered in your washer, as long as you stay on top of washing when necessary, you should be good with it for awhile at least.
Enter EnviroCurtain, 100% recycled polyester. Polyester does not absorb moisture, does not contribute to mold and mildew growth, has no odors and is very durable. It can be machine washed and dried as needed. They are pricey, but should last awhile and as we know, investment is worth it. You can get your new EnviroCurtain at Healthgoods.com for $70, they do come in a variety of colors!
As for my household, we picked up a few cotton shower curtains on clearance at Target. I needed a replacement quick and didn't want to wait to order online. I don't expect them to last forever and when it comes time to replace them, I'll be leaning towards the Envirocurtain.