I am years out from having my dream bathroom, so in the mean time, I have settled with what I do have, including the distinct lack of storage in my tiny en suite bathroom.
I am mobility limited and in chronic pain so keeping shampoo bottles on the floor in my small shower cubicle isn't an option. I didn't want to drill into the tiles and cause a leak by accident, so I took the plunge on adhesive in-shower shelves from Amazon and to my surprise, they’re not only brilliant, but have remained firmly stuck on for three years.
This brilliant small bathroom storage idea may be just the ticket if you lack space, or have a bathroom renovation coming up and need something to do the job in the mean time.
Why I rate adhesive shower storage shelves
All prices correct at time of writing.
I opted for a corner shower caddy, with hooks for my razors and loofas, as well of plenty of space for shampoos, conditioners and body wash. These ones have adhesive strips with double hooks which I have found to be the deciding on staying power.
I have a very small en suite and therefore shower, plus I have a sitting stool in there and not a lot of space for manouever. A corner bathroom shelf was what I needed and I bought one similar to the one above.
I stuck on the adhesive sheets, left it 24 hours than slotted the shelf onto it. That was it. It has lasted nearly four years and not once budged despite the shower being used daily by our household.
My advice would be to pick no-drill shelving with drainage underneath to avoid stagnating water and soap scum collecting.
Installation
I use adhesive, no-drill storage all over my home to make use of vertical storage space inside my wardrobes, in my shower and under my kitchen sink. The key to making them stick is to follow the manufacturer's instructions.
All of the ones I have in my home, including my long-lasting bathroom shelves and Amazon storage gems in my closet stress the importance of sticking them on a clean, dry surface free from grease and grime, and then crucially, leaving them on for for a full 24 hours before attaching the storage.
This allows adequate time for the adhesive to properly bond and set on the wall. Adding storage earlier will likely cause it to fall off. I tried the Joseph Joseph pan lid organizers and they have been stuck like cement inside my kitchen cabinet door, even though some of the Amazon reviews said they fell off immediately. Mine have stayed on and aren't going anywhere because I gave them the full 24 hours.
The same applies for the storage shelves. I left the adhesive pads on for 24 hours, and didn't allow it to get wet either in that time, and then loaded it up and it's been happily there for almost four years now. It hasn't budged.
Maintenance
Every two weeks, I remove the shelves, clean them as I would anywhere else in the bathroom to avoid bacteria and mold build up, using a mold and mildew bathroom cleaning spray suitable for tiles, available on Amazon. Then I clean the shower wall that is usually concealed by the shelving. This helps avoid 'pink mold', which is actually a common bathroom, from bacteria building up.
If you find pink bacteria residue or mold forms behind the adhesive, it will likely need to come off and be replaced with clean new adhesive replacements available in bulk on Amazon. Just make sure you check the dimensions match your shelving before purchasing.
What to shop
I keep a squeegee permanently in my shower and wipe down all the wall tiles and glass screens after showering. This has stopped any mold developing behind the adhesive over the years it's been up as no extra moisture runs through gaps.
I have these hooks over my bathroom door where I hang towels for my shower, and to dry afterwards in my tiny en suite. It means I don't have to have towels over the banister or on radiators whilst also not taking up vital storage space.
If you don't want to contend with adhesive on your bathroom tiles that could see mold form behind without regular upkeep and cleaning, a suction cup caddy may be the perfect solution. It's highly rated by shoppers and has hanging space.
Next, learn how to organize a bathroom with no storage. There's always a solution for every problem, trust us!
