Glass shower enclosures look better. There's no credible aesthetic argument for shower curtains in a premium bathroom. But in Indian hard water cities, the choice has a significant maintenance dimension that most interior designers and bathroom showrooms don't discuss.
The Case for Glass --- Despite Hard Water
Toughened or tempered glass is a hard, non-porous surface. When properly maintained with regular acid treatment, it can look immaculate indefinitely. Scale on glass, while problematic if left untreated, is fully removable - acid dissolves it completely and the underlying glass surface is restored. A 10-year-old glass enclosure maintained with weekly acid treatment can look like new.
Glass also doesn't harbour bacteria or mould in the surface itself (though the frames and seals can). It's hygienic, easy to inspect, and its cleanliness - or lack thereof - is immediately visible, which provides ongoing maintenance motivation.
The Case for Curtains in High-TDS Contexts
Shower curtains avoid the scale-on-glass problem entirely. Water runs off a plastic or fabric curtain and doesn't leave visible mineral deposits in the same way. The maintenance challenge shifts to preventing mildew and soap scum on the curtain surface - a different but arguably easier problem. A badly mildewed curtain can be replaced for Rs.500--Rs.1,500. A badly etched glass enclosure that has been abrasively cleaned for years needs professional glass restoration or replacement at Rs.15,000--Rs.50,000.
For rental properties where maintenance quality is uncertain and the occupant or owner doesn't want the upkeep responsibility, a curtain is pragmatically sensible. For owner-occupied homes where proper maintenance is practised, glass is the superior long-term choice.
The Honest Recommendation
Choose glass if: you're willing to commit to weekly acid treatment, you'll squeegee after each shower, and you understand that glass maintenance in a hard water city is a weekly discipline, not an occasional chore.
Choose curtains if: you'd rather replace something every 2--3 years than maintain something weekly, you're renting, or the maintenance commitment feels unrealistic for your lifestyle.
In both cases, a good acid cleaner is useful - for tiles, chrome, and fixtures regardless of what covers the shower opening.
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