My $12 shower caddy finally stopped rusting after 3 store swaps

I kept buying cheap wire caddies from the same big box store and they'd leave orange streaks on the tile in like 2 months. Last one I picked up at an Ace Hardware in Portland instead, and it's been 7 months with zero rust spots. Turns out the coating thickness was the difference, the other ones had a thin spray that flaked off fast. Any tips for keeping the seams from collecting soap scum, or should I just drill extra holes?

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baker.christopher6d agoMost Upvoted

My dad had a shower caddy from the 80s that outlived two house remodels and a divorce, and I swear the secret was he never cleaned it. That thing had a solid layer of soap scum so thick it basically became a protective shell. I finally scraped it off with a plastic putty knife and the metal underneath was perfect. But to your actual question, I drilled extra holes in mine and it just made the rust problem worse because water got trapped in the new spots. Maybe just accept the scum, or hit the seams with a toothbrush and some vinegar once a month. Honestly, the coating trick is the real win here, cheap ones are a scam.