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Metal wall-mounted shower baskets - Do they hold up?

12 years ago

I'm debating between putting a niche in the shower and using one of these metal wall baskets. I'm thinking the basket might be easier to keep clean but not sure how they will hold up. If you have one, I'd like to hear your opinion. Thank you.

Here is a link that might be useful: Shower Baskets

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Comments (7)

biochem101
12 years ago
I bought an inexpensive one at Home Goods once and it rusted onto the tile. Threw it out but there is s till a small spot after years of cleaning. Heard the Ginger Splashables brand is very good, but the price is rather high.

For the amount of shelf space one gains, I have decided to have a niche built in. It will also be better in my smaller space.

I do think the baskets are pretty.
treasuretheday
12 years ago
We opted for several niches because I prefer a built-in look (and I'm not sure that baskets could handle my Costco-size bottles with the pump tops!) We designed them with a slight outward pitch so that water wouldn't pool on them, used a solid (granite) base for minimal grout lines AND kept them out of the direct line of water. We're nearing the end of our reno so I hope to know soon how well I like them... but they LOOK good!
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Redroz, you are right! I fell in love with the basket you posted. I had to work to keep from drooling all over my keyboard. Great photos of bathroom here too. Thanks! Like that vintage inspired basket. Wonder what company makes that one. Your inspiration niche is to dye for! Are you doing a stone shower? I hate dealing with soap scum but it's a necessary evil. DH is allergic to all perfumes so we use Dove and it seems to really get scummed. My shower is that monster shower whose size has me a bit worried. It's 4' wide by 7'8" long. (Don't get me started on this one.) My house is 1912 era so the baskets may be more appropriate than a niche - and there is plenty of room to put a couple in without being in the flow of the water. That said, unless you are inside the shower itself, you won't see anything except a 27" arched doorway and a bit of tile at the end of the shower. It looks like you are entering another room so much that the flooring guy started to measure it for flooring. I hope it won't be freezing in there. suero, does your 11" baskets fit Costco size bottles?
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I used blue gingham check and lined baskets leaving a rectangle of fabric hanging over the edge. Then, I embroidered the names of office supplies on each of the rectangle. One said "Note Paper" another said "pencils" etc. Then I lined the baskets up on a shelf over my desk. I also drilled holes about every 1/4 inch along the top edge of a basket and then used a blanket stitch and yarn in each of the holes. That gave me something to attach yarn to so I could crochet around the top of the basket. I double crocheted enough rounds so I had 12 inches of crochet on the top of the basket. From there, I made a crocheted chain and ran it through the top of the crochet as a draw string to close the crochet on the basket top. I use it to store my current handwork project by my chair. I also use just plain baskets on shelves to hold various things in my craft room. I like symmetry, so I bought several of the same basket and put them side-by-side on a shelf. You could do the same thing with mismatched baskets if you like the look. I use baskets on my patio to hold cutlery for BBQ's and to put pots of flowers in to dress them up a bit.
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Lots of planning, I see. Your shower will be very nice. I like your tile choices a lot! Hanging a glass door on another panel of glass requires heavy glass. If you mounted your door on the tiled wall, you would rarely open it 90 degrees to get in and out of the shower. A shorter width towel bar on that wall wouldn't look as crowded as as a double towel bar. When you say "double" do you mean one in front of the other, or say a 24" long bar? I have 3/8" glass and and the self centering hinges still allow me to put that door at any position, so it doesn't get flung back 90 degrees. Hard to explain, but it takes a little effort to open a 3/8" glass door. There was a discussion not to long ago regarding glass door bumping into towel hooks/bars and people came up with some ingenious ideas. Some put rubber feet on the ends of the hook. No one could see it when the towel was on the hook. Or a small decorative waste basket that would stop the door from going the full 90 degrees. Do consider having a 1/2" hole cut into your shower glass where you can put a hook to hold the towel while in the shower. That way you only need to open the door a crack and grab the towel, close the door, and dry your bod in the heat of the shower. Tempered glass need to have any holes or cutouts made before the glass gets tempered. After the fact you need to use Command Hooks, which do the trick. You know, hmmm, can you make a mock towel bar out of cardboard and tape it to the wall, then tape a 28" piece of something to the tile edge to see just how far you can open a door before the two connect? I always have to do these visual things, if you are an engineer you can do it on paper much more easily. -Babka Here's a similar discussion
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Comments (11)
It looks really nice, did you add a steam generator ? i think it would be a nice idea ! i installed one when i renovated my new house last month, when i moved my new shower and bathroom was looking really old and ancient, the siding was made of wood and it was really rusty and broken, i also did some repairing inside like panting, flooring, etc. changing the old doors was also in my plan, and actually the best thing on it now is the shower after i bought a generator for steam shower which makes really good steam. I think it would be really nice in your bathtub.
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shanghaimom
12 years ago
After researching this same thing, I opted for the niche. If you do go with baskets, make sure they are polished stainless steel rather than generic "chrome" plating, which will rust like Biochem's did. The good ones are very expensive and made to last.

I do love the retro/nice hotel look of the baskets!

I found a great soap drainer thingy at the Container Store that sits on the (slightly sloped) niche shelf to keep the soap from slipping out or getting mucky.
Olychick
12 years ago
I put in niches but am frustrated because I like to store my shampoo on its lid so it's easier to dispense and it won't balance on the niche (which is ever so slightly slanted). If I was doing it over, I'd try to figure out a way to accommodate that need...which might have meant one wire basket. Maybe one plus a niche.
suero
12 years ago
I have the Ginger Splashables. They have held up without any problems for 4 years now. The chrome is shiny as ever. I've used Scrubbing Bubbles and Tiles on them.
flicka001
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks everyone!
enduring
12 years ago
I believe the difference between the cheap chrome fittings and the expensive ones is that the expensive ones are made of brass with chrome plating. The cheap chrome ones are made of steel with chrome plating. Steel rust (red iron). I don't know what brass oxidizes to, but it isn't red rust. I have an old old faucet that had been chromed over brass. Now a lot of the chrome is missing and the brass is exposed, but no rusty red stains. I would think stainless steel would work. I don't know how stable stainless steel is in the shower environment. Sometimes I've seen stainless steel get small spots of rust, maybe it is the cheaper grades. This is my novice opinion only.

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