Vintage bathtub appliques

[Aunt Marg]

Do these bring back memories for anyone?

I remember when nearly every home I visited had them in the bathtub, and after years of use, a sort of dirty looking shadow formed around the flower pedals, and no matter how hard one worked at getting the bathtub to look clean, it didn't.

 

[Pepper]

I have them, and also ducks! Years ago I wanted assurance that my mother would be safe in the shower as she lived alone. I can't find new ones; these are deteriorating, but there is still enough left not to slip.

 

[Aunt Marg]

Pepper, what about something like this?

 

[Pepper]

Ugh, no thanks. Those sticky things on the bottom rot. I like the appliques because they were permanent.

 

[Aunt Marg]

Ugh, no thanks. Those sticky things on the bottom rot. I like the appliques because they were permanent.

If I could, I'd transport you back to 1969 to buy these, Pepper!

The Rubbermaid ones were the best I'm gathering.

 

[Aunt Marg]

Ugh, no thanks. Those sticky things on the bottom rot. I like the appliques because they were permanent.

Keep yours eyes peeled (pardon the pun) on Etsy, Pepper.

 

[Fyrefox]

I remember those appliqués, as well as bath mats. They were hard to keep clean, and tended to deteriorate after a time. The suction cups on the mats became slimy, and then tended to mold, posing a cleaning nightmare or necessitating replacement...

 

[Autumn]

I have them, and also ducks! Years ago I wanted assurance that my mother would be safe in the shower as she lived alone. I can't find new ones; these are deteriorating, but there is still enough left not to slip.

Ducks! I remember them from years ago, I hadn't thought of them in years...

 

[win231]

I remember those appliqués, as well as bath mats. They were hard to keep clean, and tended to deteriorate after a time. The suction cups on the mats became slimy, and then tended to mold, posing a cleaning nightmare or necessitating replacement...

Rubber mats can't be left in the tub, or they get moldy and very slippery. I pull up mine after every 2nd shower & leave it upside down so the suction cups and the tub floor dry. And every few weeks, I use a "Turbo Scrub" with cleaner on the underside.

 

[Devi]

As @win231 mentioned, leaving rubber mats in the tub can make them moldy and/or slippery. After use, we pull them up and drape over the edge of the tub, suction-cup side up. This allows them to dry without going moldy. At least, so far so good.

 

[Lewkat]

We had both. I did use a bath mat in the shower, but took it up when I was finished showering and let it dry out over one of my safety bars.

 

[Aunt Marg]

Well, thanks to you guys, I have had a change of heart getting a rubber bath mat.

I'll look at whatever other options are out there, but that's what I love about started thread topics as this, because every now and then they have a way of evolving into a learning experience.