FAQ Guide: How to Stop Curtain Rings Catching on Curtain Poles
Curtain rings catching, sticking or scraping on curtain poles is a common problem, especially with extendable or telescopic curtain poles. The join between the two pole sections often creates a ridge that causes curtain rings to snag, making curtains difficult to open and close. This FAQ explains the causes of catching curtain rings and the best solutions for smooth-gliding curtains.
1. Why do my curtain rings catch and scrape on the Pole?
Curtain rings can catch and scrape for a number of reasons depending on the type of rings, the type of curtain pole and the weight of your curtains. For extendable poles, rings invariably catch on the telescopic join where the two parts meet. The problem is made worse if the curtain rings are small or sharp edged. Rings on some non-telescopic poles may also catch simply because of the high friction between the edges of the ring and the pole - this is made much worse where the rings are small in comparison to the pole diameter.
2. How do I fix curtain rings that catch on the Pole?
We think Ezyglide tape is the best solution as it provides a permanent smooth surface on which the curtain rings can glide and 'pads' any joins or surface imperfections to cushion movement.
The tape runs along the entire length of the pole on the top surface, between the pole and the rings.
People tell us of several alternative solutions, although they are normally less effective than Ezyglide Tape. The most common ones are:
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Candle wax, oil or furniture polish, which are temporary solutions
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Cutting the pole so that the join is centered - which is not always possible and can be difficult for some people
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Replacing rings with alternatives that have nylon linings - these can work well on non-extendable poles, but can still be ineffective on extendable poles. The white nylon ring liners are also more visible than our glide tape.
3. Why is Ezyglide Tape the Best Solution?
Our unique tape has several special features designed to make it the best solution including:
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It's thick enough to smooth out joins in extendable curtain poles
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It has an ultra-smooth surface layer for rings to glide smoothly and quietly, even with heavy curtains
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It's thin enough and translucent so it is completely inconspicuous
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It uses a strong adhesive to ensure it is durable and hard wearing
The tape is a 5 minute DIY fix and can be done without removing the curtains, pole or rings.
Ezyglide Tape was the original tape, invented by us, and is still the best tape available despite several copies. We are trusted by major high-street retailers in the UK, including B&Q and the Range and we have been selling our tape since 2015. Our tape ships around the world, including to hotels. PLEASE BEWARE OF CHEAP COPIES.
We are also backed by our great customer service and no quibble refund guarantee for your peace of mind.
4. Does Ezyglide Tape work with heavy curtains, wooden poles eyelet curtains and bay windows?
Our curtain pole glide tape works most effectively for the following situations:
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Extendable and telescopic metal poles with standard rings (as shown in our video)
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General metal poles
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Wooden poles
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Heavy curtains
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Shower curtains
Our customers have found that the tape works very well in the vast majority of situations - our reviews speak for themselves so please check out our ratings on Amazon for detailed reviews and answers from our customers.
We do not recommend the tape in the following situations:
a) Where the diameter of your curtain rings are small compared to the diameter of the pole as our tape adds some thickness to the pole. If the rings are too small they may not slide smoothly. In this situation you may be advised to purchase some larger rings or remove the nylon inserts for our tape to work effectively.
b) We have also found some instances with eyelet curtains where the eyelet rings in the curtains tend to 'twist' and catch on the front and back of the pole rather than the top.
c) Bay windows can be problematic because of their curve, although some customers have had success using our tape,
Please contact us if you have any doubts.
Also, please note that we have a 30 day money back guarantee so we encourage you to try the tape and see for yourself!
5. How much does it cost?
Our tape costs just £7.95 inc VAT for 3 meters of tape which should be ample for most situations. We also offer 4 meter rolls. Delivery charges depend where you are based and how quickly you want the tape.
6. Where can I buy Ezyglide Tape?
The cheapest way is buy Ezyglide Tape is directly from this website (as we offer free shipping to the UK), alternatively you can purchase the tape on Ebay or Amazon.
7. How long will the tape last?
Ezyglide tape is a permanent solution and should last indefinitely. Our staff have tested our tape in their own homes for over 10 years and it is still working perfectly!
8. Do you guarantee the tape will work?
Definitely! Just contact us within 30 days for a full refund if you are not happy.
Extendable Curtain Poles - Buying & Installation Tips
As part of our work, we come across lots of curtain poles! We also do our own research as well as listening to what our customers have to say.
Here's a few of our own insights....
1. If buying extendable poles, check the join between the two parts and see how smooth it is - any significant ridge and your curtain rings are likely to catch! Look for longer smoother grommets that can help.
2. Inspect the curtain rings too - the best ones have a smooth nylon insert inside them that will help smooth the rings movement (though it doesn't always solve the catching problem).
3. If you're happy to cut and saw your extendable poles, cut the pole so any join is in the middle - again this isn't always appropriate for many people and it somewhat negates the convenience of extendable poles!
4. Try to avoid the problematic combination of extra thick poles and eyelet style curtains - the smaller clearance increases the risk of friction and catching issues.
5. Try to avoid buying lots of one type of pole before trying them first! We've heard of many people who buy several of the same style of curtain pole for their home only to find they all suffer from the same problem
6. Check the on-line reviews before buying curtain poles as they may give you insights into the problem poles (though not always).
7. Beware that many high street shops sell similarly flawed poles and it can be difficult with the packaging to see the joins. We know of some retailers that are better than others though.
Many high street retailers stock curtain poles with similar issues.
A typical extendable pole with a problematic join. Look for wider and smoother joins.