Where to turn when the towel bar that hangs between built-in ceramic tile towel bar holders breaks? Luckily, with the help of reader Kathy, we’ve found three sources for trim-to-fit, spring-loaded replacement towel bars — including a “hack” to use a chrome bar, rather than the off-the-shelf plastic solutions. No need to touch those vintage tiled-in towel bar ends!
Reader Kathy wanted to help a friend repair her original 1934 bathrooms. In her search, she found two sources for spring-loaded replacement towel bars that can be cut-to-fit.
1. Lenape Re-Place-A-Bar via distributor Eclectic-ware
First Kathy wrote:
I found a website that carries replacement white and clear plastic spring-loaded 3/4″ square towel bars to fit old ceramic towel bar holders!
Eclectic-ware has a wealth of information on the size, installation and modifications you can do using their spring-loaded replacement towel bars. The bars are available in white or clear in 12″, 24″ or 36″ lengths that can be trimmed-to-fi. Prices range from $11-$13 each.
2. Adjustable plastic towel bars via Amazon
Amazon has a few options for spring-loaded replacement towel bars in white or clear from Ez-Flo, Moen and Franklin Hardware. The bars are available in sizes from 24″ – 36″ and range in price from $5-$15 including shipping — comparable in price to the Lenape models from Eclectic-ware.
Important hack idea: Use the spring-load ends on a chrome towel bar to avoid a plastic bar:
Interestingly enough, Kathy also wondered:
I’m wondering if those spring-loaded plastic ends from Eclectic-ware/Lanape could be retrofitted into a a square metal replacement bar, or with scavenged for parts from a cheap modern towel bar.
Yup! Ez-Flow has a 36″ chrome, square towel bar that could fit the bill — and their spring loaded ends are available separately. This way you could make your own chrome, spring-loaded towel bar replacement without having extra parts from cannibalized sets left lying around.
- Ez-Flo mirror finish chrome, aluminum towel bar 3/4′ (affiliate link)
- Ez-Flo adjustable towel bar end caps — fits 5/8″ or 3/4″ bars (affiliate link)
3. Big box home improvement and hardware stores
I also found that replacement bars can be found at local brick and mortar stores like Lowe’s, Home Depot and Ace Hardware. Inventory is always shifting.
Mega thanks to reader Kathy for pointing out the availability of these replacement towel bars!
KakiMack says
I have wooden spring-loaded toilet paper roll holders—why can’t someone make a larger version of that to replace the wooden towel bars?? Our son broke one of ours (the original solid one); we replaced that with a plastic one like you mention in your article. Then he broke that one! In his defense they are super flimsy. Maybe going with a chrome one now . . .
Cara says
There are also towel bars of all sorts, plus spring-loaded ends here
http://www.homefixitparts.com/showparts.php?dept=Plumbing&cat=Bathroom Accessories&subcat=TowelBars
Apologies if this was already posted.