How to Install Command Shower Caddy | Stick It Right the First Time

A Command shower caddy installs without tools or drilling, but the one step most people skip — a 24-hour adhesive cure — is what makes it stay put.

Getting a Command Shower Caddy mounted straight and securely comes down to surface prep and patience. The adhesive strips Command uses are surprisingly strong, but only if the wall is surgically clean and you give the bond enough time to set before loading up shampoo bottles. Here is the exact sequence that works, whether you are mounting inside the shower stall or on a tiled wall outside it.

What You Need Before You Start

The caddy package includes the caddy itself and four water-resistant adhesive strips — enough for the four mounting bases already attached to the caddy’s back. You will also need isopropyl rubbing alcohol and a clean cloth. No drill, no screws, no wall anchors.

Step-by-Step Installation Sequence

Command’s project documentation and the 3M instructional video agree on the same seven-step process. Do not shortcut the waiting periods — those separate a caddy that stays up from one that ends up on the shower floor.

1. Clean the mounting surface. Wipe the wall area with isopropyl rubbing alcohol and let it dry completely. Any soap scum, moisture, or residue weakens the adhesive bond.
2. Attach the mounting bases to the caddy. Fit each of the four plastic bases into the slots on the back of the caddy, working from the bottom up, until they snap into place.
3. Apply adhesive strips to the bases. Remove the red liner from one side of each strip and press that side firmly onto the mounting base. The black liner (the side touching the wall) stays on for now.
4. Press the caddy to the wall for 5 seconds. Remove the black liners and hold the caddy against the wall in its final position for five seconds. Do not slide or adjust it once it contacts the surface.
5. Slide the caddy off and reinforce each base. Lift the caddy straight up off the mounting bases, then press each base firmly for 30 seconds — top, middle, and bottom — using your thumb. This is critical for maximum holding strength.
6. Wait before re-attaching. If mounted inside the shower or tub area, use the shower at least once and wait 24 hours before sliding the caddy back onto the bases. If mounted outside, a one-hour wait is sufficient.
7. Slide the caddy back on. Once the wait period is up, align the caddy’s slots with the mounted bases and slide it downward until it snaps into place. Avoid loading to full capacity for the first few days until the bond fully cures.

Mounting Inside vs. Outside the Shower

The only difference is wait time. When mounted inside the shower or tub area, use the shower at least once and wait 24 hours before re-attaching the caddy. The steam and moisture help the adhesive settle. Outside, one hour is enough since no moisture challenges the bond.

Removing and Re-Mounting Later

You can slide the caddy up off its bases without disturbing the adhesive strips still on the wall. To remove the bases later, pull the tab at the bottom of each strip downward slowly, parallel to the wall, until the adhesive releases. The caddy is top-rack dishwasher safe. If you are setting up a new bathroom and comparing options, our roundup of the best bathroom shampoo holders covers drilled, suction, and adhesive models side by side.

Common Mistakes That Make It Fail

The most frequent reason a Command caddy falls is skipping the alcohol-cleaning step. A surface that looks clean can still have a film of soap or oil that prevents bonding. The second most common mistake is loading the caddy right away — the adhesive has not reached full strength for 24 hours. A third oversight is confusing the two sides of the strip: one side mounts to the caddy’s plastic base and the other to the wall. If you apply both red liners to the same surface, the strip cannot grip both sides.

When peeling the black liner off, pull from the bottom tab to avoid lifting the corner of the adhesive strip. Uneven peeling can cause a small wrinkle that reduces contact area.