One Frugal Thing — My “New” Shower Curtain Rod
by Katy on July 22, 2025 · 62 comments
My husband and I bought our house in 1996 when every teeny purchase was a painful decision, which is how I concretely remember that our shower curtain rod was from that era. Unfortunately, time has taken its toll on poor ol’ Rusty Rod. Mind you, it was still functional, so it only truly bothered me a couple times a year when I remembered to look up. I considered painting over the rust, but knew it would only be a temporary fix, as the rolling metal curtain rings would wear away any paint.
Hardly a highlight in my 111-year-old home.
Here’s a bigger picture. The shower curtain was thrifted for maybe $3.99 and the shower curtain rings were 25¢ from a long forgotten garage sale.
So when someone in my Buy Nothing group offered a “new” shower curtain rod, I enthusiastically raised my hand for digital dibs.
Better, right?
So. Much. Better! I hadn’t realized how much the old rod annoyed me until it was no longer in my sight line.
I joke about having a second blog called “The Inoffensive Decorator” where I highlight household decor projects that replace something ugly with something neutral. Behold the inoffensive shower curtain rod!
I love that this project put someone’s unwanted item back into use, and that my acquisition of said item didn’t prompt the manufacture of something new.
Katy Wolk-Stanley
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{ 62 comments… read them below or add one }
Such an improvement and now you can enjoy your shower without thinking about that icky rod.
So.much.better. Awesome, Katy!
We had a lovely Christmas in July day on Saturday. I started the day with listening to Christmas music while I cleaned. We had a turkey in the freezer that went into the roaster, and it was delicious with lots of leftovers for future meals! We had a great dinner with my family, best friend, and her twin, then we visited while a movie played in the background (The Best Christmas Pageant Ever provided by my friend’s Starz – definitely recommend – so free!).
I’ve filled 3 saving envelopes and have half of another one.
I wanted to go for a drive last night, just to get out of the house, so my hubby suggested I find some books to donate to a little free library. That cured my wanderlust. 😉
Spent time with my free hobbies – cross stitching, reading, and enjoying my porch!
Made my postpartum daughter (and my son and I) some of her favorite breakfast treats – Copy Cat Starbuck Egg Bites. My husband found reduced eggs and cheese, cheap chopped ham pieces, and cottage cheese. This makes over 90 of the mini bites, which will keep us all in breakfast for at least a week for less than $9. I don’t go to Starbucks, but I imagine that $9 wouldn’t buy many there.
Continue to work all the overtime I can stand and trying to think of other ways to make money when I can, but I have a hard time giving up my free time, especially with the new baby.
I made it on our local tv news this morning! When Joe Snedeker (our wild and crazy meterologist) first arrived at the borough park, he was shaking hands with people. As he approached me, I stuck out my arm (I had sent him a picture right after I got the tattoo) and his eyes got real wide and he says, “You are her!”
I’ve included the link for the newscast. The clip is right near the beginning of the broadcast. Unfortunately I couldn’t just get the little segment, it’s the whole broadcast, but it’s right at the beginning of the clip. It isn’t too far into the live clip at the park where Joe shows my tattoo and I briefly tell why I got it. As for the “mustache,” this year’s theme for his 28th year of this fundraiser is the “Stache for Cash.” I crocheted myself a mustache and rigged it with quilting thread to hang from my ears. I’m wearing a yellow shirt with large flowers on it. Hope you enjoy!
https://www.wnep.com/video/news/live_stream/newswatch-16-am-7-9-am/523-f9b51864-2b70-4bdc-9ca3-17c6f3c899a7
Hey, Melissa, great story and great tattoo! Thanks for the link!
A. Marie – Welcome
Melissa, how fun! Now we have a face to go along with your name. Enjoy your fame!
Wow, a star walks among us! Thanks for sharing Melissa, great you got to meet him
I love it!!!!! Great quote and a super fun segment to watch, thank you so much for sharing it!
Melissa, I was more than a little surprised when I started reading your post as I live in Bloomsburg! It’s fun to realize that another reader of Katy’s lives so nearby!
Kate – I live about 2 miles from the Danville exit of I-80. I happen to be staying in Lightstreet through the end of this week with a friend while my DH is with her DH in Philly. Normally she goes with her DH, but she and their dog both have Dr appts this week, so she couldn’t go. I attend the white church in Lightstreet where you turn back to go to the Lightstreet Carnival. Worship begins at 10:15. Maybe you’d like to visit some Sunday morning and we can have “frugal” time in the future?
Shout out to PA readers from State College
I love having a face to put with the name of one of the members of this group! Thanks so much for posting.
Oh How FUN for you to share with us, I love the artwork that goes along with the words in your tattoo. I would, however, suggest that your temporary moustache not be put into regular rotation, lol…. Thanks for the video share, It really gave me a lovely laugh.
OK, now I have shower rod envy. Mine came with the house when DH and I bought it 40 years ago, and it’s only a little less grody than Katy’s old one. I’ll start keeping an eye peeled at my usual ports of call.
This is becoming the weirdest iteration of “keeping up with the Joneses” ever! 😉
When I was living in my guest cottage, the tension shower curtain rod always fell down and bonked my head mid-shower. I was so proud of myself when I drilled holes into the ceramic tile to install a new rod.
The new rod makes the entire room look better – well done. I also love the shower curtain.
Thanks, I’m oddly excited by this new addition to the room.
Nice! Curious, though … any plans for the old rod? Somewhere in the basement?? Outside to hang plants from?? Free pile??
Maybe a metal scrapper would pick it up?
Some 25 years ago, plastic slip covers were available to cover shower curtain rods, either for rust or to change the color. I could use one to cover the dowels that we use to replace an awkward towel bar, but I don’t think they were made after that short period of time.
I don’t know what I’m going to do with it yet, I’ve set it aside for now until I can come up with something. However, I am willing to throw it away as I don’t believe in holding onto actual garbage just because it makes me feel guilty just because I feel guilty about contributing to a landfill. I do my bit by only buying used, which helps keeps so much for the landfill already. My next garbage pickup isn’t for another two weeks, so I’ll mull it over and if I haven’t come up with an idea by then I’ll bin it.
tomato stake?
@Rose – good idea – while perhaps not a tomato stake, a stake of some sort.
The old rod had a lot of texture and details, so if you paint it with Rustoleum or something like that, you could maybe use it elsewhere as a decorative item. Put some hanging baskets on it, perhaps? Use it as a rod for some macrame decor? Slip some drapes (no hardware, just the hem) in there and let it be a regular curtain rod? Or use bedsheets for curtains, also by running it through the hem and not using hardware?
I get it! Even though I recycle like crazy and try to reuse, there are so many things WM won’t take in the recycle bin and I’m not going to keep umpteen pill bottles, etc. I’ve tried a number of resources to take things and sometimes, it just doesn’t work out.
I’ll likely remove the end caps to throw away and recycle the metal rod part.
Our animal shelter begs for cleaned and empty pill bottles with caps attached (so they don’t have to spend time searching for them). They also want toilet paper centers so that they can stuff them with hay for the mental stimulation of small creatures such hamsters. And finally, they love newspapers and old towels. Maybe your animal shelter has similar needs?
Baton? You could be a cheerleader for frugality! RAH!
You know, this is reminding me that the shower rod in my bathroom here in my rental house is kinda rusty and ugly.
I’m wondering, though…wouldn’t it be possible for me to use a rust treatment on it and then spray paint it? Hmmmm…..
Dooooo iiiiiit!
A coat of clear sealant over the paint would help it stand up to the friction of the curtain rings.
Rust-neutralizing paint is good stuff. Our chain-link back gate was covered in ivy for decades and rusted from being in the damp. I pulled the vines off, painted it with rust-stopping paint, then painted it a light gray — close to the color of the original galvanized steel. It is holding up great. The paint is made by Rustoleum.
Kristen, did you not post today? I keep calling up your Monday post about Seattle every time I visit your blog today.
Hmmm, there should be a new post up! Try clearing your cookies and refreshing the page?
Fru-gal Lisa, I occasionally have that problem, and to get around it I click The Frugal Girl link on the right side of Katy’s page.
The new shower rod looks nice! Not to be “judgy” but I noticed some black discoloration in the grout that was outside the shower curtain. My shower in Texas gets this. In Florida I get a pink discoloration. (I looked up the pink one & it is biofilm from Serratia marcescens.) I had wondered from my microbiology days if it was Serratia & it is. Anyway, I put bleach in a spray bottle & sprayed it (in TX as well as FL). My grout was white again & I cleared up the problems. Of course, if you have a shower curtain you have to take it down so that it doesn’t get bleached out.
Yeah . . . I didn’t clean the tile before taking photos, so you got a literal unsanitized glimpse of my bathroom.
texasilver,
Do you use undiluted bleach? Asking because we get the same pink/orange discoloration in our shower. Thank you!
I used undiluted bleach. However, I have used 1/2 water & 1/2 bleach on black mold & it did the job also. I think the diluted version will likely work on the pink bacteria also. I haven’t tried the dilute version yet as I just found out what it was. A science project in the shower.
Was wondering what you might do with the old rod? Use it in the garden to hang plants from? Scrap metal recycling?
If the spring action still works, it could be used in a shed or somewhere that needs a not necessarily attractive hanging rod.
Maybe hang rod in laundry area to drip dry clothes? Might need to hang on brackets to support wet clothes.
The ‘new to you’ shower rod looks so good! I’m in my declutter and just have things be ‘good enough’ era. I was always a tidy person but I’m paring down to a minimalish level. Listing stuff on Buy Nothing passes my excess on to just the right household, and leaves me with a good feeling.
Some of the best decorating advice I’ve ever heard: First, neutralize the ugly.
It’s amazing how much attending to those niggling ugly things make a difference in my enjoyment of my home. And so often, those ugly things really only need cleaning! Rarely do I need to spend money to take care of an issue like that.
I love that — so concise! Thank you!
I like that.
Definitely like the new shower rod and the price!
Hit the dented veg store. Spent about $20. Some of it was really random, like liquid smoke and also a pia to find locally (planning to put a brisket in the oven soon) some was just too good to pass up, like .50 cornmeal. I checked their prices against Aldis and in every instance they were cheaper. Looped through Aldi to finish my grocery list and buy fresh fruit. Also visited GW. Came out with 2 pairs of boys’ jeans and an organizer for our mail. All less than $10. Back to school is quickly approaching, so I’m trying to buy a few things ahead of time.
Sweet corn, green beans, and potatoes from the garden. Meat from the freezer and eggs from the hens.
Hanging up laundry. Mended a sock. Composing as per usual.
Borrowed a bull from Dad. Big Bopper is a really pleasant bull to work with. Bulls can be big and cranky and tear up fences or just plain won’t stay on the farm you put them on. He’s quit the opposite and is quite a stud to boot!
Spent the better part of 2 hours searching for 2 cows that were missing. They decided to make themselves known when the sun was setting and temps were better. They aren’t stupid! What a relief that they are ok.
My current time sheet has 108 hours for a two week period, yeesh! Took the chicks out of the brooder and put them in the range shelter. It’s full on summer hot here, with hella humidity. The crops look great, but it stinks to be an animal right now. We had 4.5 inches of rain this week. Hung the tea towel back over the kitchen window. Grateful to have a.c. Dreading the utility bill.
Bought new tires for the car and had it aligned. I’m planning to give notice mid-October and return to full time farming (fingers crossed). The tires should last longer once I’m not driving 40 min to and from work. The tires on my farm truck are good. DH replaced the strap that holds the fuel tank to the truck. It had rusted away and jerked loose the fuel fill hose. I’m so glad he’s handy.
The new-to-you shower rod looks great, Katy!
Thanks to all who comment and share on this blog.
I needed a kind distraction today. It had been a few busy (good) days with my (adult) kids, then a sudden turn for my lovely old dog, who went from toddling behind us on walks on Saturday and Sunday, to having some kind of sudden issue that led to her back legs not working properly on Sunday night.
She was so confused and uncertain – I carried all 24 kg of her down the stairs and she staggered off to pee, then I carried her up the outside stairs then through the house and up the inside stairs to my bedroom.
She settled for the night, but in the morning didn’t even try to get up, so I sent texts to the kids warning that the time was nigh. Not the kind of text one ever wants to send. Then I had a day of trying to find a travelling vet (they take holidays in the summer, imagine that! they have real lives of their own…). My eldest son showed up to support his ‘little’ brother and sister, bringing his partner and the grand baby, and I am so grateful for his attentive care of us all. He didn’t take over, he did have suggestions and questions, and he held the space so beautifully.
It was a day of many tears, and it was also a day of great gentleness with each other’s hearts. The weather was lovely, we were out on the lawn under the maple trees, in the shade, just hanging out with the dog while we said goodbye and waited for the vet.
My sons dug a final resting place for her and looked through the pots of plants I have, picking an elderberry bush to plant.
.
My house is so painfully empty now. No-one is there to pre-wash my pots and bowls, no-one is pushing on the bathroom door if I am in there too long, no-one is click-clicking after me from room to room as I go through my day…
The grief is hitting me hard and in waves, and I also am supporting my two younger children (24 and 26) who are feeling such deep loss.
I am also so very very glad that our family has conversations about things like this long before it becomes an issue: no-one has regrets, other than that she is gone. We all are at peace with the decision, and we all are hurting.
So thank you, everyone, for being a community where sharing the hard stuff is also possible. I needed to spend a few minutes reading several days of kind and engaging comments, tonight, and you came through.
I am so sorry for your loss
When our cat died I was holding her and am grateful for that. The house was so empty. I would start to talk to her and she just wasn’t there. It is hard and I feel for you all.
I’m so sorry you’re going through this hard time, sending you a big virtual hug.
Thinking of you and your family, Ecoteri. Never an easy time. Take care of yourselves…
I am sorry for your loss. Dogs are everything
Oh Ecoteri, I’m so very sorry your beloved dog is gone. It’s so hard to lose such a special family member. I will be holding you close to my heart as you grieve.
Feel so sad for you. Losing a pet is so hard. I’ve lost many dogs, and always dread the thought.
Take care
I am so sorry. We had a similar situation on Monday with our old dog. She was 18 1/2 and had a wonderful full life. But it was time. She was my MILs dog and came to live with us after MIL passed. So it was the last part of MIL left. It’s been a sad week.
Along with “ fix the ugly”, I’m big on “fix the irritant”! I put up with one broken utensil hook( out of 6), so that for 2 YEARS my slotted spoon fell off if I glanced at it too heavily.I found a hook while doing something else and had a sudden urge to use it. Folks, I glowed with virtue every time I passed it! Another outstanding victory was finding a home for the potato masher where it DIDNT jam the drawer! I simply put it in the big potato pot! ( What can I say, I’m Irish!)
I’m with you on fix the irritant! If something in our home that can be fixed bothers us frequently but is readily fixable it needs to be addressed.
I agree! I sometimes spend more time thinking about fixing or cleaning something than actually do it.
I do not recall which blog I read this saying on but I occasionally remind myself: Ten steps or 25 seconds. If something takes only that long, Do It Now!
You might want to offer the old rod up on your buy nothing group. There is a neat hack where you use the rod in a doorway and drape it with garland for a seasonal doorway topper. Since it would be covered, it would not matter that it has a bit of rust! It could have a glamorous second life!
Just have to say that the new rod is beautiful and it makes such a difference! I love how little things can make such an impact.
Thank you, I’d never before have considered that a shower rod would make such a difference.
Katy,
That is actually a very unique pattern on that iron shower curtain, I really will be interested to know how you reuse that. Iron is forever.
I really love this site and all the people that share so much wonderful stuff.
I had a very do nothing day today. Had the washer do a load of laundry at 2 AM this morning, put it on the drying rack in the house because our temperature today was almost a 100° and the humidity was pretty close to that too.
Made a quesadilla with a leftover country barbecued ribs, cheese and really large Claussen deal pickle chips.
Fed the inside and outside cats twice. And because of the heat outside, I make sure both the outside cats, front and back of the house, have large bowls of fresh water.
Cleaned out a box that’s been packed for several years, found 5 Afghans that I will donate.