Asked on Sep 02, 2016

Tension rod shower curtain issues

Anyone have any ideas as to how to keep a tension shower curtain rod up on tile without using screws. I have an expensive rod so that is not the problem but no matter it keeps slipping on the tile after use or pulling curtain. Help!
  60 answers
  • Hoffman Deanne Hoffman Deanne on Sep 02, 2016
    Use the very inexpensive closet rod SELF ADHESIVE fastners. You can pick them up in most hardware store. I suggest looking where they sell the 3M SELF ADHESIVE fastners. We use then at work and I love them
  • Pati Pati on Sep 02, 2016
    tighten it up. It should be REALLY difficult to get into place. Or try some poster putty.
  • Marilee H Marilee H on Sep 02, 2016
    I agree that it just needs tightened. I would put it in and tighten it more while it's in place. Get a helper to hold one end.
    • See 1 previous
    • Melissa Hunt-Loy Melissa Hunt-Loy on Sep 02, 2016
      Handyman came over and tightened for me. Lasted longer than before but on the floor again.
  • 153091 153091 on Sep 02, 2016
    The dollar store has a roll of shelf liner, feels like rubber and has bumps and cuts easily. Cut round circles and put under rod end to prevent slips. Also as several Hometalkers mentioned....tighten the rod.
    • See 1 previous
    • 153091 153091 on Sep 02, 2016
      So nice of you to comment on my answer, I'm so glad it worked! Don't you just enjoy Hometalk?
  • Archie Archie on Sep 02, 2016
    Hardware stores sell round brackets to hold closet clothes rods. They use a screw to hold them in place. Do not use a screw, use two sided tape to hold them in place and place the curtain rod in the bracket and tighten.
  • Angie Angie on Sep 02, 2016
    If you, truly, cannot tighten a "tension" rod to stay in place then something's wrong & I'd return it or exchange for another!
  • Claudia Claudia on Sep 02, 2016
    Try a little olive oil on the ends of the tension rod. It helps create a tight seal with the tile. You want just a very thin layer and it will not damage your tile.
  • JEWEL C JEWEL C on Sep 02, 2016
    The tile should end before it gets to the ceiling . Place the tension rod above the tile on the wall.
  • Susan Susan on Sep 02, 2016
    It slips because of the moisture when you shower. I scuffed up the spot with sandpaper. I like the bumpy shelf liner idea, too but you still might have to scuff it up a little.
  • Marilee H Marilee H on Sep 02, 2016
    I've never heard of this happening before. Sorry it didn't help!
  • Sue Sue on Sep 02, 2016
    Purchase the end caps that hold up the clothes poles in the closet, don't nail or screw them in place but use a water proof glue, put them in the place where the shower rod is to go, let them dry, the one end of the caps has an opening to slid the rod down into, it will last for years.
  • Pat Pat on Sep 02, 2016
    You could try silicon glue. You can easily peel it off the tile if you need to remove the rod later. Apply the glue to bottom of the tension rod grips, position and allow to dry before use of curtain.
  • Kathi Davis Kathi Davis on Sep 02, 2016
    Maybe it just needs some new rubber ends on it.I've never had this problem myself and mine is on tile also.Make sure you push it up far enough so that as it expands it gets tighter against the tile.Hope that makes sense..
  • Vicki Vicki on Sep 02, 2016
    I want to thank you all as I've the same problem...& kept finding the rod on the floor...finally just took it down, but would like to have it up for guests!
    • See 1 previous
    • Vicki Vicki on Sep 03, 2016
      Thanks Melissa, yes, it's that crazy tile...the builder took it too high on the wall, and I don't want to do anything that might cause it to crack or worse!:(
  • Linda Terranova Linda Terranova on Sep 02, 2016
    Gorilla Glue !!!
  • Judy Judy on Sep 02, 2016
    How about putting a felt chair pad (small) just under the end of the rod to keep it from sliding down?
  • Gaynell Thompson Duke Gaynell Thompson Duke on Sep 02, 2016
    Put rubber crutch tips on each end, it stops the rod from slipping if your tension is strong enough.
  • Tro10749885 Tro10749885 on Sep 02, 2016
    buy closet rod holder and glue them to the wall and then and put you shower curtain rod in them, that is what I did where i live now but I put 1 screw in each one.
  • DarWat DarWat on Sep 02, 2016
    I have this same problem with mine. Why did the mfg stop putting tension springs in them? I'm going to try the closet rod holder.
  • Chrislee Chrislee on Sep 02, 2016
    Hot glue on each end before putting the rod up.
  • Pam Walker Pam Walker on Sep 02, 2016
    I was gonna say what Chrislee said. Get your hot glue gun & squeeze some hot glue onto both ends & it will stick to your tiles. That's what we had to do with ours & it works. :)
  • Camilla Camilla on Sep 02, 2016
    I use the Non-Skid material cut to size - it holds & you can't see it.
  • Jennifer Knittle Rose Jennifer Knittle Rose on Sep 02, 2016
    make sure the tile is very clean, use rubbing alcohol to remove any soap residue before trying any of these other ideas. They will all work better with super clean tile.
    • Susan Susan on Sep 05, 2016
      Super clean tile is the problem...it's too slick.
  • Linda Parrish Linda Parrish on Sep 02, 2016
    I take a canning jar seal...cut it in half, paint the metal side of it a matching color to the tile, using liquid nails adhesive glue them to the tile, rubber side to the wall, where you place your rod. Allow adhesive to dry over night. Next take some double sided sticky tape and put it on the ends of your rod OR on the canning jar seal you just put up and hang rod . This will keep it securely in place until you want to take the rod down. The half canning jar seal keeps the rod from slipping since it has a slight lip around the outer edge. The tape holds the rod in place.
  • Dona Dona on Sep 02, 2016
    The tension rod for my shower curtain has rubber feet on each end and the tension is adjustable by twisting the rod. Are you sure you have the correct rod?
  • GeraldandAnn Paxton GeraldandAnn Paxton on Sep 02, 2016
    Same as Dona, the rod could be twisted just a tad bit more and I have never had one move, and it is really snug.
  • Nancy Nancy on Sep 03, 2016
    I had same problem. Finally used an indoor/outdoor glue. Not the best solution, I'm sure, but the rod has not fell down since.
  • Naisy.daisy69 Naisy.daisy69 on Sep 03, 2016
    you know the wooden dowels from your closet?? look at what is holding them up. I bought the metal holder ones from home depot and placed the tension rod into it in the bathroom, works wonderful..
  • Vicki Vicki on Sep 03, 2016
    I bought the tension rod with rubber feet and have tightened it with help numerous times, but it still slithers down and falls. It will stay up there for a while & then I'll find it on the floor...so am following. The tiles go up high. So am looking for ways to better secure it-following suggestions:) Thank you!
    • Susan Susan on Sep 05, 2016
      Try sandpaper on the spot where you want the rubber ends to go. Just scuff it up a little to make it kind of rough.
  • Melissa Hunt-Loy Melissa Hunt-Loy on Sep 03, 2016
    Someone else suggested this, but how do I affix the rod holders to the tile?
  • either put a piece of fabric plaster on the tile, or get some rubber stoppers like the end of a walking-stick
  • Judy King Judy King on Sep 03, 2016
    use some mounting tape on the ends.
  • Carol Carol on Sep 03, 2016
    Try using rubber gaskets, not plastic gaskets.
  • Jmw7947313 Jmw7947313 on Sep 03, 2016
    Those little rubber cups that go on the end of a walking cane are perfect.
  • Kcama Kcama on Sep 03, 2016
    Find some round curtain rings that the end of the rod will just set in (be sure to use something that won't warp or rust). Use a strong silicone caulk to glue the rings in the appropriate places. Pop the rod into the rings. They won't slide down. The rings can be sliced away if you want a change.
  • Charly Charly on Sep 03, 2016
    The problem seems to be with your tile. It's too clean, shiny and smooth. I had the same problem and even putting the rubber caps on the ends didn't help. So, I put the rod just above the tiles and let it rest on top of the tiles. Problem solved. No more slipping. Maybe you can do the same. Good luck.
  • Virginia Prestridge Virginia Prestridge on Sep 03, 2016
    I used liquid nail on mine. But you could use silicone gel. Just make sure it is dry and just a little dab on the ends you might have to hold it in place till the gel sets. But that won't be long
  • Gaynell Thompson Duke Gaynell Thompson Duke on Sep 03, 2016
    Rubber crutch tips and tighten you tension rod
  • Sil4229169 Sil4229169 on Sep 03, 2016
    I would use the rubber cups as already suggested,,, with blu-tac between the rubber and the tiles,,,,,,you could also use the non slip matting used in cupboards and drawers in mobile homes and boats,,,,of course cutting it to fit first .😁😁😁😁😁 good luck
  • Rdh8771221 Rdh8771221 on Sep 03, 2016
    If your tile doesn't go to your ceiling put your rod just above your tile. I had the same problem with our tub surround .
  • Kathi Davis Kathi Davis on Sep 03, 2016
    With those rods,you do know when you get it to where you want it,you have to twist the rod to tighten it...
  • Kathie Kathie on Sep 04, 2016
    Don't know if this will work, but you could try double sided carpet tape on the ends of the pole so it sticks to the wall.
  • Cve10856934 Cve10856934 on Sep 04, 2016
    Did you try glue gun on ends and around the ends?
  • Eroque022810 Eroque022810 on Sep 04, 2016
    Are you sure the tile is dry then have someone help you so you can get a tight fit. I had trouble with one of mine called in my son to pull one end before I tightened it I tried to make it move then I tightened it according to directions.
  • Patti Patti on Sep 04, 2016
    I have a really nice rod like this and it sometimes slips even on a sheetrock wall. In my case, I hope to do something more permanent soon, but can see why you don't want to drill in the tile. I'm not sure what I'm going to do because I'd like to use it since it was a little more expensive. Some of the above ideas sound promising.
  • Crystal Meyer Griffith Crystal Meyer Griffith on Sep 05, 2016
    Try sanding the rubber ends with some fine sandpaper to roughen it up. I have also placed the rod above the tile on the Sheetrock and basically tightened it in place there so that it can't slip down since the edge of the tile holds it in place.
  • Melody Melody on Sep 05, 2016
    If not of the other idea's fit your answer seeking needs try what my hubby did 4 yrs ago and it still has not come down... he took a small square block of 2x4 per each end and cut a triangle in the top middle of the board, he done two of them one for each end and then stuck them on the tiles with double sided carpet tape and set the rod in the triangle cut's to hold the rod and shower curtain... no problems and I can take the curtain down and clean it with out disturbing the holding blocks.
  • Anne silvy-harford Anne silvy-harford on Sep 05, 2016
    my son just made a 1/2 inch circle of clear silicone where each end of the rod needed to sit..it has worked for 4 years now
  • Jeris Chitwood Jeris Chitwood on Sep 05, 2016
    I bought some of those rubber chair leg protectors (that keep your floor from getting scuffed) and put over each end of my tension rod. They are soft enough rubber that they stay in place well & a nice neutral color that blends well with decor.
  • It would look cool if you got a couple of wood blocks and painted them or spruced them up in some way. You could glue the wood blocks to the tile. You could even drill a bit of a recess for the rod ends to sit in. Good luck?
  • Larry Pettijohn Larry Pettijohn on Sep 12, 2016
    make sure the tension is correct...too little it may be just enough to hold it in place until touched...expand the rod as needed until it is good and snug
  • Geri Geri on Sep 17, 2016
    make sure it's really tight, then give it one more 1/2 turn ... I've had mine up the entire 6 years we've lived here, even with removing and replacing the liner several times to wash it, there's been no movement in the rod at all.
  • Linda Linda on Feb 09, 2017

    Hot glue gun, make a couple half circles on wall below were the rod sits.

  • Dfm Dfm on Feb 09, 2017

    the walls in this 50's fixer are nowhere straight, i wound up using the rope caulk that comes in a box.....rolled a goodly amount and stuck it around both ends of the tension rod, it's held up pretty well. it only came down once in the past year. thanks to mimi the cat trying to wash her "mousey" in the tub.

  • Cheryl Cheryl on Feb 10, 2017

    Velcro is another option if it is where it won't get wet.

  • Chatycms Chatycms on Feb 17, 2017

    I have a cheapy tension rod from the dollar store. It has been up 5 years and has not fallen as yet. I measured it for the fit and increased the tension one or two extra times. The rod is on the tiles as my tiles go to the ceiling. I installed one at a friend's place for her curtains and same thing. It has not fallen. Make sure it is super tight. Test it by pulling on it after putting it up. If, when pulled on, it falls, it means the tension is not enough so give it a few turns. If, when pulled on, it does not budge then you should be good to go.

  • NiColla NiColla on Jun 24, 2018

    I don't have any patience. I just cut the bottom of my shower liner. My problem is solved!!!

  • Terry Terry on Feb 22, 2019

    You can kill two birds with one stone by using those wall hooks that have a transparent base with adhesive on the back that won't mess up your tile if you ever want to remove the hooks. I use this myself on tile in the bathroom. I wouldn't recommend it for walls, though, textured or otherwise. Attach one transparent-base hook to the tile at each end of the shower, just below where you want the end of the rod to touch the tiled wall. Then put up and tighten your rod so the ends are just above the transparent base of the hook (not the hook itself). The transparent base of the hook will then serve to catch the rod if it wants to slip. And you can periodically re-tighten the rod every few months or whenever if you want to make sure it doesn't get too loose. This idea keeps the curtain rod up AND gives you handy, strong hooks to hang towels and things. Just search Amazon or Google for "adhesive transparent hooks for towels". I even use a slightly heavier-than-usual shower curtain (plus liner) with 6 pockets used for loofah, soap, headrest, etc, and it holds up just fine.

  • Carolinagirl Carolinagirl on Feb 22, 2019

    I sanded the rubber ends and they never slipped again.

  • Reina Reina on Mar 07, 2022

    So I have this problem all the time. I am going to try velcro. I will let you know if it works.