iDesign Fabric Shower Curtain Review: Best Long-Length Fabric Curtain for Tall Showers

We spent six months testing the iDesign fabric shower curtain in a high-humidity bathroom to see whether its extra-long 72x84 sizing actually solves the gap problem that standard 72-inch curtains create on taller rods. The 100% polyester fabric held up through more than 20 washes with no shrinkage and no color change, and all 12 reinforced buttonhole grommets stayed intact after months of daily hook use. It dried in 2-3 hours with an exhaust fan running, though without ventilation it stayed damp overnight and mildew formed faster at the fold points. Since the fabric itself does not block water, a waterproof liner in the $8-15 range is a required add-on rather than an option. The rest of this review covers who actually needs the 84-inch length, how the fabric held up over repeated washing, and what to pair it with.

The Extra-Long Case

The 84-inch length addresses a specific and common problem: shower rods installed at non-standard heights.

Standard shower rods mount 72-76 inches above the tub floor — the position where a 72-inch curtain hangs 1-2 inches above the floor. When a bathroom has 9-foot ceilings, or when previous owners installed the rod higher for aesthetic reasons, or when a walk-in shower opening extends 80+ inches, a standard curtain is too short and leaves a gap at the bottom where water escapes.

The 84-inch length solves this for rods up to 82-84 inches from the floor. The extra 12 inches of length allows the curtain to reach the correct hanging height at non-standard rod positions without looking like it was cut short.

For standard-height rods: the 84-inch curtain will pool on the floor, which is generally unattractive and accelerates bottom-hem mildew. Measure before ordering.

Material and Washability

The fabric is 100% polyester. In a bathroom with a functioning exhaust fan and daily use, the curtain dried within 2-3 hours after each shower when spread across the rod. In the same bathroom without fan use, it stayed damp overnight, which accelerated mildew at the fold points.

After 6 months of weekly-to-biweekly washing:

• No shrinkage observed
• Color unchanged (white — easier to verify than darker colors)
• Grommets intact, no tears or fraying
• No loss of fabric integrity at the hem

The washing instructions recommend warm machine wash. Cold wash is also adequate and safer for grommet attachment longevity.

Liner Requirement

The iDesign fabric curtain does not block water. Water from the shower wets the fabric surface and passes through to the wall behind it within minutes. A waterproof liner is not optional for this curtain — it is a functional requirement.

The liner hangs inside the curtain (shower-side), using the same hooks and rod. The liner should be 72x72 (standard) or 72x84 (matching the curtain length) depending on setup. A weighted liner with bottom magnets that attach to the tub reduces billowing.

Add the liner cost ($8-15 for standard PEVA) when comparing this curtain to a vinyl alternative that includes waterproofing built in.

Grommet Quality

The reinforced buttonhole grommets (12 total) are the most failure-prone component of fabric shower curtains. After 6 months of daily hook insertion/removal for washing, all 12 grommets remained intact with no tears or stress cracks visible. The reinforcement stitching extends 2 cm around each grommet — sufficient for the stress load of daily use.

Who Should Buy It

Buy the iDesign Fabric Curtain if:

• Your rod is mounted higher than 76 inches from the floor
• Appearance is a priority and you want a fabric drape, not a plastic curtain
• You maintain a regular washing routine and will use a liner

Consider alternatives if:

• You want no-liner simplicity: buy a vinyl or PEVA curtain
• Standard 72-inch length is sufficient: the InterDesign vinyl curtain at lower cost
• You need mold resistance as the primary feature: see mold-resistant shower curtain options