Hemp Shower Curtain Site

Greetings Eco Friends!

This is my honest opinion about owning a hemp shower curtain.

Since this is a review, I will be pointing out the positive as well as the negative aspects of having a hemp shower curtain liner in your home.  If this is not what you are looking for, then you may want to look elsewhere.  There is always a cotton shower curtain if you would prefer an alternative to hemp.

I wrote this review in order to spread the word about the cost of vinyl and the benefits of an organic hemp shower curtain.

Since I am committed to leaving this world in a better condition than when I arrived, I chose to replace my toxic shower curtain with a PVC-free alternative.  I purchased an organic shower curtain and have been very pleased with it.  I feel good knowing that I am not putting my family’s health at risk and the environment does not have to suffer at the expense of vinyl when there is a safer, greener alternative such as organic hemp.  Instead of sending the old shower curtain to a landfill, I found a way to recycle it by covering up my outdoor furniture with it.

The US imports more hemp than any other country due to its ban to produce hemp in 1937. Industrial hemp is imported from all over the world including Canada, France, China, Turkey, Poland, Hungry, and Romania.

The fabric in my hemp shower curtain came from Romania. Of all the hemp available throughout the world, I love Romanian hemp the most. The fibers in Romanian hemp are the longest and strongest and thus highly sought after.  Romanian hemp is richer in textural patterns and is aesthetically pleasing in smaller spaces such as a bathroom.

Hemp from Romania is made with a natural process without the use of chemicals. Romanian hemp is made by a natural process called water-retting in which the cellular tissue of the bark and core is removed setting the hemp fibers free.  The fibers are soaked in water, dried, and combed until the fiber is broken down.  The long thin strands of hemp fiber is then spun into year and woven into fabric. This hemp fabric is then exported to the US where it can be made into a hemp shower curtain.

The workers involved in the growing and producing of Romanian fabrics earn above average wages and receive health insurance in addition to pension contributions. The workers in hemp farms and factories are not children or prison inmates. They are a small group of farmers who formed a co-operative that produce hemp as naturally as possible and continue to use traditional Romanian fabric weaving techniques.  The hemp is grown without pesticides, herbicides, or chemical fertilizers. Industrial hemp production gave needed employment to the people of Romania rejuvenating their economy from near deprivation.

Romania began producing hemp in the 7^th century. In 1989 Romania was the top country in Europe in hemp production and 4^th in the world. At one point, Romania accounted for close to 70% of the total hemp production. Romanian hemp is considered a higher quality than most other hemp and in my opinion can be made into some of the best hemp shower curtains.

Why am I writing about a hemp shower curtain?

As an educated mother and avid reader, I learned shocking facts in a 44 page report titled, “Volatile Vinyl – The New Shower Curtain’s Chemical Smell” led by the Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ), a U.S non-profit organization located in Falls Church, VA. When I learned that the shower curtain in my bathroom was toxic and environmentally harmful, I was determined to find an eco-friendly alternative that was safe for my family and for the planet.

I found out that 108 toxic chemicals were released in my bathroom using an ordinary PVC (polyvinyl chloride) vinyl shower curtain. I learned that the “new shower curtain smell” when first opening the product, is actually the odor of the toxic chemicals that have been linked to serious health concerns such as migraines, loss of coordination, nausea, respiratory irritation, cancer, and damage to the liver, kidney, central nervous system, and reproductive functions. Two alarming byproducts of PVC are Dioxin and PCB’s. Dioxin is considered to be one of the world’s most dangerous man-made chemicals!

What was more shocking is that the toxic chemicals found in a typical shower curtain were 16 times higher than the recommended guidelines for indoor air quality. Young children are especially vulnerable and exposure to these toxic chemicals may be detrimental to their health.

As a mother of two, this is especially concerning.

I also learned that heat and humidity promote the release of these toxic substances into the air my family breathes. Therefore, a hot shower with a vinyl shower curtain is a risky combination. Not only do these chemicals impact my family’s health, but they also affect the water system via my bathtub drain.

The materials in vinyl shower curtains are non-recyclable and environmentally hazardous. The typical shower curtain purchased at many stores will not decompose or biodegrade, but forever sit in a landfill.  While looking for a safer alternative, I found a hemp shower curtain, like the one found in many stores.  Hemp doesn’t have any of the drawbacks to vinyl.  Hemp is:

• Biodegradable
• Non-toxic
• Organic  (Depends on where its grown)
• Sustainably Produced

Organic hemp is easily grown and requires little oil and chemical inputs to produce when compared to a vinyl curtain. With some research on Google, one can see that organic hemp is quite environmentally friendly. Hemp shower curtains are soft and durable and can be as stylish as a quality cotton shower curtain. They are also machine washable for easy upkeep.  Hemp will also get softer the more it is washed.

Caring for a hemp shower curtain is rather simple.

You need to make sure that your bathroom has adequate ventilation.  Without it, mildew can build up on your shower curtain. Hemp is naturally resistant to mold, but if fresh air and adequate ventilation is not provided, fungus will grow just like on any other type of fabric. If you notice any type of build-up, then machine wash the shower curtain on the delicate cycle and hang to dry. The hemp shower curtain will dry quickly compared to cotton shower curtains. Cotton takes longer to dry and thus mold, mildew, and bacteria can easily build-up.

Also compared to cotton shower curtains, a plastic liner is not needed with a hemp shower curtain further reducing the number of items forever sitting in a landfill. The hemp shower curtain will get wet, but will not leak through and will not spray out of the shower.  My hemp shower curtain continues to remain free of mold, mildew, and bacteria by simply turning on the bathroom fan.  I also stretch it evenly across the rod, placing it outside the tub and keep it off the wet floor. I love my hemp shower curtain and have not experienced difficulties maintaining its cleanliness.

You need to be prepared to spend close to $100.00 for a high quality, environmentally friendly, organic hemp shower curtain. In my opinion, the benefits outweigh the cost. In essence, I can’t put a dollar amount on safe products in my home and around my children.   Hemp shower curtains last much longer than the PVC vinyl curtains do.

If you’re looking to make your home safer for your family, why not start with such a common household item?