TISKEN Towel rack with suction cup, white

Better grip for flexible storage

The moveable suction cup is a smart wall mount for flexible bathroom storage. The only problem is that it can come off after a while. Suddenly you hear a thump in the bathroom, and the shampoo bottle is on the floor. So, how do you make the suction cup attach better? Product developer Kristofer Adsegård and his colleagues – responsible for TISKEN bathroom series – wanted to find out.

Kristofer and the team started by studying in detail how a suction cup works. “It attaches because there’s a vacuum between the suction cup and the surface. But, if air comes in, the vacuum breaks and plop – your hanger comes off. It can be something small, like dirt and limescale on the wall, or tiny irregularities on the tile that eventually let air in,” says Kristofer.

Rubber that seals tight

The team found the solution in a synthetic rubber that proved to be better at attaching to different surfaces and filling out any unevenness so that air can’t get in. “We tried the suction cups with the new material, both in a test lab and in peoples homes, to make sure that a stable vacuum is created and that the suction cups stay where you want them.”

The suction cup becomes like new again

To make your TISKEN bathroom series last longer, it’s important to handle the suction cups right. Kristofer explains that you shouldn’t pull the hook or other parts to make them come off, since it can damage the grip. “To release the vacuum, it’s better to use your bank card, or some other plastic card, between the suction cup and the wall. And, if you put the suction cup in water near boiling point for a few minutes, and then air dry it, it will become almost like new again.”