What is a good way to recycle my plastic shower curtain?

Question

Its an okay shower cutain besides the small minute tears by the magnets on the bottom, its molding easily & I don't want to just throw it away b/c I don't even know if it can be recycled at the Recycling Centers...

Anybody got any ideas on what I can do with it?

~M~

Answer 1

I simply wash mine in the machine with a little bleach and

then put it in the dryer for 3 minutes and hang it back up.

It looks like new !!!

Answer 2

rap a corpse in it

Answer 3

If you have kids, there are many ideas.  A drop cloth if the kids are painting.  Put it under the kitchen table if you have a real messy eater.  Or use it to protect your table if the kids are doing crafts on the table.  Use it to cover furniture if you are painting a wall or ceiling.

Answer 4

That kind of plastic can not be recycled... but ... those plastic shower curtains have all sorts of uses around the yard and house.

We take them along when picnicking to cover up nasty looking park picnic tables. They also work well as protectors  beneath tents.

They can also be used as:

a painting drop cloth

For covering up a table for crafting

Covering out door furniture or bikes when it's raining

car trunk liner

making a craft apron for kids

placemats for pet food bowls

table protectors when used beneath a cloth tablecloth

Here's a link to an article with 12 other uses :)

Answer 5

I cut some  of the bottom off of mine and mounted it with a spring rod inside of my glass shower door. Glass stays clean and curtain can be washed in washing machine;  but DO NOT put it in the dryer L*O*L

Answer 6

We cut one in half and used it to cover a lawn mower and a pressure washer, which we keep outside.

Answer 7

Actually, there are many different things that you can do with one that still has good useable areas.  I'm known by most who know me as a "recycle queen".  I hope these suggestions will be of help to you.   :o)

1.  Table cloth or water proof cover under neath a plant.

2.  Waterproof pillow cover.  Easily made using a straight or zigzag stitch on a sewing machine or even yet, a serger with long serging stitches.  Insert a zipper, and it becomes removable, or just stitch the end closed after inserting the pillow.  

3. Laundry hamper liner.   Again, use a sewing machine, or it can actually be done by hand with running stitches, as can the pillow cover, by drawing an outline of the bottom of the container on plastic, measure around the top and add about 2 inches, then measure the height and add about 3 inches to that.   Then stitch the sides of the plastic together to make a tube.   Now stitch the bottom to the tube.  (There may be some fullness that will need to be eased into the seams or formed into tiny pleats at the corners to make the sides fit the bottom.   Baskets or trash cans may be used for these hampers.   Insert the liner into the receptacle and fold the top edges over the top.   Wa-la --- you have a hamper liner that can easily be cleaned and will protect clothes from snags on baskets.

4.  Similarly, stitch up pot and basket covers to put over the outside of them for plants to make ugly ones more pleasing to the eye or fit better into a particular decor.

5.  Again, using this same approach, the old shower curtains make great counter-top appliance covers.

6.  Cut pieces to desired or needed dimentions and use them as shelf liners under sinks and vanities.

7.  Window curtains in laundry room or for an exterior door,

in a bathroom with a window over the tub/shower area or

where rain and water affects the curtain.   Cut the desired finished length plus 3 inches.   Stitch across the top and make a tube to insert the rod.   You have a curtain.

8.  Using a crib sheet as a pattern, they make great baby matterss covers and can be removed and washed as needed.

9.  Laundry bags for carrying clothes to a laundramat.  Cut and make a large tube, similar to the hamper liner.  Double stitch the bottom for extra strength but use long running stitches.   Then, turn down the top and make a tube or casing, insert a drawstring, and you have a laundry bag.   Bags like this can be made any size to fit any need for a waterproof tote bag or to store something in.

10.  Cut and stitch open-ended bags and box shapes to cover mowers and BBQ grills, washers, dryers, etc that must be left outside and exposed to weather elements.

11.  Older homes with old style lavatories can easily be dressed up by making a curtain to go around them and using sticky-back velcro to attach it to the lavatory.   Easy access is accomplished by splitting it into 2 halves and slightly over-lapping the edges in the center.   Remember to allow for the overlapping when cutting to fit around the area you need to cover or hide.

12.  Old Shelf and bookcases become "hidden" storage and closets when covering the front similarly to the lavatory and attaching at the top &/or sides with the velcro.

I hope these few suggestions will help you to get your creative senses flowing.   There are many many uses for shower curtains and similarly, plastic table clothes.

One other tip, if you wish to keep a plastic cover on an outdoor table where wind tends to blow it off, stitch elastic around the edges and let the edges then tuck up under the table.   If the table is square and has corner legs, stitch the edges into "box corners" then attach ties and tie them under or behind the table legs to secure the table cover.

Enjoy and have fun creating new things with your shower curtain.   I often buy them for the above purposes to use rather than as a shower curtain.    :o)

Gail

Answer 8

hmmm no i don't think you can recycle it

i'd say put it on ebay or have a yard sale if it wern't for the rips where the magnets were...

maybe you could have fun with a sewing machine and try to make a raincoat out of it? or once the new curtain gets old sew the two togerther in a cool pattern and boom- a new curtain!

gee wish i could have been more of a help to you!

good luck!

Answer 9

clean it up good and use it as a tablecloth for doing crafts or eating outside

Answer 10

I soak mine with bleach water then take a scrub brush and eliminate all mildew then choose whether it's reusable or not.  Typically mine are usable but if they are not there are many different ideas for use.  A couple of good ones have been mentioned already for crafts and keeping the floor clean from messes.  Another use is cleaning out a garden bed, cutting a "X" with scissors where you have each plant and using it for weed block.  Then cover with mulch or stone.

Answer 11

If you are planning on painting, or refinishing furniture they make great drop cloths.

Answer 12

I used one to make a winter cover for the window air conditioner.

Answer 13

Clean shower curtains are great for mattress covers for children who have accidents, or duct tape two (or more) together to cover mattresses and box springs when moving.  Also great to lay under an unlined rug for wet shoes to keep floors dry.

Answer 14

I have used one to lay on the ground underneath a towel while sunbathing, (the ground was a little wet, and it kept some of the bugs at bay).

I have also used one to transport grass clippings and weeds when my wheelbarrow had a flat.

Answer 15

I used mine to protect the floor when decorating or when dying my hair.

Answer 16

make reusable grocery bags from it

Answer 17

it is the same plastic as milk carton plastic ,so cut out the magnets,so shove it in one of the plastic recycling bins and use the magnets on your fridge.

alternatively use it in the garden to cover /warm the soil

Answer 18

Take it to a community or county recycling event.