MOVING

[SandyinMonterey]

We're moving from California to Georgia. While we were house shopping, I was surprised how many homes did not have any shelf liners. Not in the kitchen, linen closets or bathrooms. Of course, the house we purchased has none either. Generally not that big a deal but we're going from a 1500 square foot house to over 7500 square foot house and the thought of putting all that shelf lining is daunting. Just want to put it out there....is shelf liners a must for you?
Thanks everyone!

 

[havaneselover]

I've lived in seven houses as an adult and never had shelf liners.

 

[wendow]

We bought a 20yo house a few years ago. When we moved in, that was the first thing that totally YUCKED me out! No one had used shelf liners in the kitchen or baths or anywhere. I scrubbed the 20 years worth of grime for days. I still never got all of it up but I did line my shelves immediately!

 

[Shmily1]

We've never used shelf liners and live in GA. It might be a regional thing. I don't remember seeing it at any of my friends' or family's houses.

 

[powellrj]

I only have shelves in my kitchen and bathroom and I put contact paper on them when we moved in. I can't remember if they had it on them and I had to remove it or if mine was the first.

 

[Alesia]

One of my great-grandmas used shelf liners, but I've never seen them anywhere else. I've never really understood the point.

 

[kymom99]

My mom always did and in older houses I can see why. Shelves I think were made of bare wood. Newer homes seem to have drawers and shelves that have a finish coat on them. Or they are the wire type. No liners needed.

 

[HulaHoopy]

I put new shelf liners in when I moved into my house. The previous owners had used it in some places but not others.

 

[DebbieB]

One of my great-grandmas used shelf liners, but I've never seen them anywhere else. I've never really understood the point.

You can take them out and clean them, rather than putting your kitchenware on the bare wood. I moved into my townhouse, the kitchen shelves had nice liners (ok, it was owned by an older woman).

I added them to my wire shelves in the bathroom so that smaller things didn't fall through.

 

[Pooh2]

Our cabinets are 40 years old, so we do use contact paper on them (just redid all of it this winter).
If I had nice new cabinets with a coating on the wood, I would not cover with contact paper.
The contact paper on old wood shelves is much easier to wipe down.
We had to buy contact paper online, local hardware stores no longer stock it.

 

[wendow]

It's just a cleanliness thing to me but I am a bit of a 'germaphobe'. Our house seriously had sticky residue and grime in many of the cabinets and drawers, even on the pantry shelves. I could not get it all up even with tons of scrubbing. Having shelf liners (or contact paper) would have prevented much of that.

 

[wendow]

We had to buy contact paper online, local hardware stores no longer stock it.

It's readily available at Walmart. In fact they have some made to look like granite

 

[mommajo143]

Have then, use them, but never expected builder or previous owner to provide (and never used ones left behind by previous owner - gross!). My mother always had / used and I supposed that is why I always have.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I have never used shelf liners.

 

[Allison]

Nobody does that here.

 

[DreamIsaWish]

I always put shelf liner down. Not contact paper (too hard to peel back up) but low-tack shelf liner with a slightly vinyl feel to it. I wouldn't expect it from the previous owner (and I'd replace it if it were left) but if the previous owner had shelf liner then I'd be happy because the shelves would likely be cleaner when I started. Any sticky messes would just go out with the old liner.

I even have shelf liner in some of the dresser drawers. Pretty paper liner that used to have a nice scent (scent has long since dissipated).

But, I've been called old fashioned on many occasions... Hand-written letters, paper Christmas cards, a love of black-and-white game show reruns...

 

[Minnesota!]

My house has them in the kitchen - from previous owner. I would have never done it on my own. Previous houses did not have them. Just scrub the wood if it gets dirty? I don't get the point, either.

 

[Alesia]

You can take them out and clean them, rather than putting your kitchenware on the bare wood. I moved into my townhouse, the kitchen shelves had nice liners (ok, it was owned by an older woman).

Why not just clean your shelves?

 

[tvguy]

Just dawned on me that when we remodeled our kitchen 2 years ago, DW did not put shelf lining paper in. Of course, we have nice solid wood cabinets for the first time, not porous particle board. The previous 31 years the old cabinets did have shelf liners, and our apartment most certainly did. We used to change it about every 10 years. My wife's step-sister in Texas changes the shelf paper every year when she does spring cleaning.

 

[LJSquishy]

Your new house is 7,500sqft?! I can't even begin to imagine a home that large. Why would you want a house so big?

I use non-adhesive cushion shelf liner in some of our wall cabinets where our glasses are for slight cushioning when putting them away and the solid clear non-adhesive liner in the cabinet where I store oils and vinegars to protect the shelf from residue if one has dripped down the side. I don't see a need for shelf liner in any other places. I would never use an adhesive liner...eww. I usually take everything out of the cabinets once a year to dust the shelves, and wipe down the oil/vinegar cabinet more often.