Small Suction Cup Shelf - Live Plants, Windows, and Bathrooms

This window sill shelf is, in my opinion, a brilliant idea - but its actual execution is a bit lacking. I really wanted to love it - and buy several more, in fact - but it's just not quite working for me. The suction cups are very strong and the shelf has stayed on the window (over 3 weeks now) without a problem. But...it tilts forward. Right now I'm using it to ripen tomatoes in the sunlight, and if it weren't for the built-in ledge on the front, they'd be rolling off onto the floor because of the tilted angle of the shelf. If it were nice and level, not only would it perform much better but it would just flat out LOOK so much nicer. Right now it kind of has a "sloppy" look - like someone just couldn't be bothered to hang it correctly. Which, of course, is not the case at all. I am a big fan of symmetry, order, organization, and all things in their rightful place. This tilting shelf looks out of place amongst the rest of my kitchen, I'm sorry to say.Now here's what I finding interesting...every single photo of this shelf on Amazon's description page shows it sitting perfectly straight and level, no matter what is sitting on it. So this leads me to think it CAN be done, but I don't have any idea why I can't get it to work that way. I did try writing to the seller to ask about it, but their only suggestion was to make sure to clean the window and suction cups first. This does help it adhere wonderfully well, but did nothing to help the tilting problem. To their credit, they offered to refund my money if I wasn't satisfied - but I've held off taking that option because I so want MY shelf to look like the photos of THEIR shelf. But so far, no luck. And quite honestly, based on the photos AND the not-inexpensive $16.00 price tag, I really think the shelf should perform the way we're led to expect it will.Again, I'd like to reiterate that I think the IDEA of this shelf is not only a brilliant one but a much-needed one as well. I've seen similar type shelves that offer additional "legs" that can be put under the shelf to keep them from tilting, and maybe that's the only alternative, I don't know. Personally I'm not a fan of the "leg" look because I think it adds too much more "stuff" to the shelf, takes up more space on the window, and just doesn't have that classy, simple look of the "floating" shelf. If there is a way to get these shelves to be LEVEL once they're attached to the window, that would make them - in my book - absolutely perfect. In the meantime, I can't wholeheartedly recommend them.

I got both this shelf and my frog platform today. They both have the same type suction cups. The frog platform has better instructions for suction cups, and I thought I should mention it. The suction cups instructions say to rinse rubber in hot water first for better suction. It also says not to reverse the suction cups. They have to be installed one way only in this order: 1. Rinse rubber in hot water and place round plastic cover on the screw to cover rubber. 2. Place holes on to screws. 3. Screw plastic nut on the screws do not overtighten. Tighter nut more suction. I love the fact that it's sturdy, and stable as long as you rinse the rubber piece of suction cups under running hot water, I'm using this as a platform for my Pleco inside my fish aquarium. So far I've just got it in and the other fish has used it but my Pleco waits till last to try anything new.

I bought two of these (large size) for some plants to sit in my living room window. Following the directions identically for both shelves, one has stayed up for a week so far with two 4 inch plants and a humidity meter on it while the second fell down with one 4 inch plant on it. It fell within four hours of installation. I have tried unsuccessfully to make the second one stay up because it falls down within 10 minutes after reinstalling.In one of the falls, part of the shelf broke off and I’m going to have to glue it back together. I think there is some kind of flaw in the suction cups making it fall down so I’ll have to find a way to replace those and see if I have any better luck with it. It is frustrating to have one that works perfectly without problem and another of the exact same size and same prep to hang it not stay up for even a few minutes—especially when there is no weight on it.Basically, if you get one that works well, it’s exactly as advertised and easy to install without problem. They look nice and my plants are happy with the extra sunlight. If you get a finicky one, it’s a royal pain in the you-know-where. I’m hoping the plant that was on the shelf when it fell will recover and I really want to figure out a way to make the second shelf work as well as the first because I love the one that has stayed up.

So I had this thing for 15 months sitting on a window with five little succulents and a small cactus. It held up pretty well but then I took it down to clean it. That was a mistake. When I put it back up the suction cups seemed to have lost their will to live. After a couple weeks the shelf fell when I wasn't home, spilling its contents. When I came back and cleaned up, it seemed that the shelf just wouldn't support any more. I even put my succulents on a scale to weigh them and it was 1.6 pounds. Unfortunately, the shelf was leaning dramatically off the window even after tightening and it was very clear that the cups would pull off the wall. It's a shame but this seems like a one-and-done thing and if you ever take it off the window it won't go back up.I will say - be smarter than I was. Unscrew the tops of the suction cups and remove the shelf that way, leaving the suction cups adhered. That way you can slide it right back over and tighten it back in place without losing the integrity of the shelf.

Have had these for about 4 months now and mostly love them but realized they have to be detached (“burped” per the manufacturer) every few weeks or they simply let go. The instructions said to do that every 6 months but mine detach after about 3 weeks. Solved this by putting clear plastic jars (with nice colored stones for stability) beneath each of them - if they let go and I’m not home, the plants just land and stay on top of the jars and don’t hit the floor (which is what happened the first time). They still look great, I just wouldn’t trust them without backup.

Do not waste your money!Bought for my child who needed somewhere to put collection of plants (2)They are now both in the garbage, and my child devistated!

I was using the shelf to hold a small stereo remote but within a month it fell off breaking the remote.I would not recommend this as the suction seems to be useless.Update: I tried other solutions such as warm water before putting against the mirror etc.. and nothing seems to work.

Unless I am doing it wrong, mine does not stay up for long. And it leave everything I put on it crashing to the ground. Im not putting a ton of stuff on it either...

Ordered this as a way to keep my aloe vera away from my kitten who likes to chew on my plants. Seems really sturdy! Popped the plant in a plastic holder just in case it falls but so far so good.

Love this!!! Very sturdy! Wish it was bigger....longer I mean. Very solid suction!