Updated March 22, 2022 – There are a few common ways to make your bathtub and shower less slippery. One is to use a non-slip mat or stickers on the bottom of the tub or shower. You can also put a rug in front of the tub or shower to provide more traction. And lastly, you can use an anti-slip paint that will create a slippery barrier on the floor.
Whichever method you choose, it’s important to create a non-slip surface in areas of your home like your shower and bathtub. These are excellent preventative measures and the easiest way to helping you and other senior loved ones from falling.
Bathtubs and showers are an easy way to relax and refresh your body. After all, the word bath comes from an ancient Greek word meaning “to wash or clean.” But they are also known for very slippery surfaces.
But a slippery floor is not just a problem in the tub or shower, it’s also a problem on bathroom floors. They can be dangerous places too! Especially for elderly people.
There’s no doubt that smooth surfaces combined with soap and water can create a slippery hazard. Most any wet floor can.
Slippery bathtub and shower floors can cause you to lose your balance and fall. Which in turn can cause you to injure yourself. This is especially true if the senior person has problems with balance and/or strength.
According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention), millions of people in the US suffer life-threatening injuries from bathtub falls and shower floors.
Homesmitten.com
There is no one best way to make a bathtub or shower floor less slippery. But there are a few things you can do to help make them safer.
Fear not! There are ways to make a bathtub or shower safer for them. The best part is that they are fairly inexpensive You can purchase many of these products at hardware stores or online.
Here are some effective ways and products that you can use to help make your bathtub or shower floor safer.
Anti-Slip Shower Mat
One great way to make your bathtub less slippery is to add a bath mat. Although shower mats do have some downsides, if you want to use a mat I would recommend this Gorilla Grip shower mat. It has that extra grip to help keep you safe.
This classic mat simply sits at the bottom of your bathtub / shower and grips onto the floor so that it won’t move while you’re on it.
It comes in different colors to match your decor. It’s a simple and inexpensive solution for any slippery area.
BUT I WOULD CAUTION – that some shower / tub mats don’t adhere to the surface as well as they should and as a result they can end up sliding and actually end up causing an accident.
I have discovered another downside to mats.
- Moisture and soap scum can get stuck between the mat and floor–it’s nearly impossible not to have some wetness in your bathroom under a shower mat so you need wash it regularly or else risk bacteria, mold, mildew build-up.
- Another problem with these mats is that the suction cups can be difficult to clean and getting into every nook-and-cranny requires more effort than one would expect.
Rubber Mats
If you prefer a more decorative mat or one made of rubber instead of plastic, then consider this anti slip bathtub mat by the Othway store. It’s made of natural rubber and is very comfortable.
Secopad Bathtub Stickers
Some people combat slippery surfaces by using adhesive treads or stickers on the floor of the bathtub or shower. These help to create a bit of a rough surface. This will provide more traction and reduce the risk of slipping.
Most of us remember these types of flower shaped stickers that our mothers placed on the floor of our bathtubs / showers.
This set comes with 4 but I would recommend to use at least 8 to make sure the floor is as safe as possible.
Modern Adhesive Stickers
Or, you can go a bit modern with these adhesive stickers. This set comes with 21 pieces that you can place in your own pattern on your bathtub or shower floor.
If you want to use anti-slip stickers and you feel you need more to cover the entire floor, I would strongly recommend to purchase 2 sets. It’s a small price to pay for staying safe.
There are many different varieties of adhesive stickers that you can choose from.
Clear Adhesive Strips
Yet, another simple solution if you want to avoid any type of design are these clear adhesive strips that you can place individually.
This set comes with 12 pieces but again, I would recommend to purchase 2 sets and place them throughout the entire floor area of your bathtub / shower.
Anti-Slip Formula
Believe it or not, there’s an anti-slip formula (like a paint) that you can apply to your bathtub and shower floors which can help to make them less slippery. The one we recommend is by Tub Guard. It’s an excellent anti slip treatment.
The Tub Guard anti-slip coating comes in clear or white and has a very light texture to it. It can be applied to surfaces of cast iron, steel, porcelain tiles, fiberglass, acrylic, ceramic tiles and more!
So go ahead and try this on the floor of the tub or the shower, in your acrylic tubs, etc.
The one precaution I would give here is to avoid cleaning with harsh chemicals like bleach or scrubbing it with anything that’s abrasive.
Bath Mat
For best results in regards to safety, add this beautiful and very comfortable slip resistant bath mat outside the shower and bathtub. It makes getting into and out of the bathtub and shower safer too. It has a sticky bottom, dries quickly and is very gentle on your feet.
Don’t Forget Grab Bars
There are many different kinds of grab bars and the one shown here is just one type of grab bar that you can choose from. Add these to your shower and bathtub surroundings. Making the floors less slippery is one way to add safety to a bathroom but grab bars should not be ignored.
Here’s a link to more information about grab bars in a bathroom setting.
All of these are very inexpensive solutions to making your bathtub or shower floor less slippery and safer for you and your loved ones.
After all, wet surfaces are more slippery and dangerous than dry surfaces. This is why it’s important to take precautions when using a bathtub or shower, and to be especially careful when the area is wet.
There are more designs and options available and you can see them here.
There are many ways to keep your bathroom floor safe, but not everything works. Consider every product and method you can find that will best fit all of the needs in your home.
When you finally have it narrowed down to one great solution, there’s nothing left for anyone in your household or guest list fear about slipping on the floors when they use the restroom!
