Yeah, I ran into the same issue with frosted glass in my last place. Looked sharp at first, but man, it turned into a magnet for water spots and gunk—especially with the humidity we get here. Tried vinegar, fancy sprays, you name it. Honestly, plain glass is easier to keep up with, even if it means a little more effort on privacy. Sometimes the low-tech way just wins out.
I totally get where you’re coming from. I went with frosted glass in my last bathroom reno because I figured it’d save me the hassle of putting up blinds or curtains. Looked great for about a month, but wow, the cleaning routine got old fast. Here’s what finally worked (sorta): I started wiping it down with a microfiber cloth after every shower—just a quick swipe to keep water spots from setting in. Then, every couple weeks, I’d spray it with a little diluted dish soap and warm water, let it sit, and rinse. Not glamorous, but it helped.
Honestly though, if I was doing it again, I might go for plain glass with a privacy film. Those films are surprisingly easy to apply and swap out if you want a new look. Plus, less texture means less stuff clings to it. Privacy’s important, but not at the cost of constant scrubbing... At least for me.
I hear you on the cleaning hassle, but honestly, I’d still pick frosted over film. Had privacy film peel at the edges after a year or two—humidity did it in. At least frosted glass won’t bubble or need reapplying. Tradeoff is the scrubbing, but I’ll take that over constant maintenance.
That’s actually reassuring to hear—I’ve been on the fence between privacy film and just going for frosted glass. I get what you mean about the film peeling. I’ve seen that happen in rentals and it always looked kind of tacky after a while, especially in humid spots like the bathroom. Makes me wonder if it’s ever really “set and forget” like people claim.
The cleaning part does sound like a pain, but I feel like you can’t really avoid some kind of maintenance either way. At least with glass, you know what you’re dealing with. I’m all for low-maintenance stuff, but I’d rather scrub once in a while than mess with reapplying film or having it look rough around the edges.
Honestly, I think you made the right call. It’s your house—you want something that’ll last and not make you regret it after a year. Sure, a little elbow grease is annoying, but I’d take that over peeling corners any day.
- Totally get where you’re coming from—
Couldn’t agree more.“I’d rather scrub once in a while than mess with reapplying film or having it look rough around the edges.”
- Frosted glass is a one-time install, no peeling, no bubbling, and it holds up way better in humid spots.
- Only real downside is the upfront cost and maybe a bit more elbow grease to keep it looking clean, but honestly, it’s worth not having to deal with film corners curling up.
- I’ve swapped out film for frosted glass in a few bathrooms over the years—never had anyone regret it after the fact.
- If you want something that lasts and looks good long-term, you made a solid call.
Honestly, I used to mess with that stick-on film stuff and it drove me nuts—edges peeling, corners collecting grime... it looked rough after a year or two. Switched to frosted glass in our main bathroom last winter. Wasn’t cheap upfront, but I don’t have to babysit it anymore. Just wipe it down every so often and it’s good as new. Only thing is, fingerprints show up if you touch it a lot, but that’s pretty minor. Way less hassle overall.
That sounds like a solid upgrade. I totally get what you mean about the stick-on film—ours started bubbling at the edges after one summer, and it just looked messy. Frosted glass is definitely pricier upfront, but from an energy standpoint, it can help a bit with insulation if you get the right type. The cleaning is way less of a pain too. Fingerprints are kind of inevitable, but I’ll take that over peeling film any day.
I get the appeal, but honestly, I’m not convinced frosted glass does much for insulation unless you’re going for the double- or triple-glazed stuff. Most single-pane privacy glass isn’t a huge step up from regular windows energy-wise. If insulation’s a big concern, I’d look at adding a proper storm window or even thermal curtains—ugly, maybe, but they actually make a difference in winter. The frosted look is nice though, no denying that.
Most single-pane privacy glass isn’t a huge step up from regular windows energy-wise.
That lines up with what I've seen—unless you’re paying for the high-end double-glazed stuff, frosted glass is really just about looks and privacy. I’ve swapped out a few in older homes, and honestly, clients were surprised how little difference they felt in winter. Have you tried any of those peel-and-stick window films? They’re not much for insulation either, but at least they’re cheap if you just want the frosted look without a whole new window.
- Swapped to privacy glass in my bathroom a couple years back—honestly, the main perk was not needing curtains.
- Didn’t notice any change in warmth or drafts, though.
- Tried those frosted films too... super easy to put on, but yeah, they don’t do much for insulation.
- For me, it’s all about privacy and keeping things low-maintenance. If you’re hoping for energy savings, probably not worth the upgrade unless you go double-pane.