Have you noticed that your mirrors are often one of the first things to get dirty in your home? These beautiful items always seem to end up with streaks, dust, or fingerprints. How often have you stopped to check your reflection, only to be distracted by some marks on the mirror?
There is nothing like a dirty mirror that can ruin the look of your home. It can make your bathroom look messy, and your home appear unkempt. Having a clean mirror is one of those little details that can add so much to your home. When you have a shiny and streak-free mirror, it can reflect the light around your home better, making everything seem brighter and bigger. It’s amazing to see the difference that a clean mirror can bring to your space.
Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to know how to best clean a mirror. Without a good technique, you could be left with a mucky, streaky mess on your mirrors.
When it comes to getting your mirrors clean, there are several things you should not do, including:
- Wiping steamy mirrors with a towel after a shower: Some people think that this is a good way to clean off all the dust and buildup, but it will only leave your mirror looking worse for wear. This is because towels often end up leaving dust behind. Without a proper glass cleaner, your mirror can also get streaks from this approach.
- Using a newspaper to clean your mirror: Although it was once a reliable way to get a good look from your mirror, the ink from modern-day papers can leave residue behind. This can leave a streaky mess on your mirror.
- Wiping your mirrors with a paper towel: Unfortunately, paper towels can leave behind little pieces of dust. Rather, you need a good cloth that is lint-free.
- Using chemicals that aren’t specifically made for window or glass cleaning: If you find that your mirrors and glass have a hazy look to them, then you know you are not using the right cleaner for the job. Anything that has been marked as a glass cleaner has special chemicals that won’t leave streaks behind.
While avoiding these practices can help, there are some more steps you can take to deep clean your mirrors properly.
Tips to Get a Streak-Free Mirror
One of the most important aspects of cleaning your mirror is the tools that you use. That doesn’t mean you have to spend a lot of money on new cleaning products and equipment. Some of these items may already be lying around your home. Equip yourself with:
- Microfibre cloths: It’s best to use flatter ones, as the thicker ones can collect lint and leave it behind, basically ruining your clean mirror look
- Cleaning solution, such as a glass cleaner or a simple water-vinegar mix
- Cotton pad
- Rubbing alcohol
Now that you have the right tools, it’s time to get the right technique. There are many techniques and approaches that people say will work, but in reality, they don’t. Here is a five-step process that you can rely on:
- Tackle the messiest part of the mirror first. That means dried-on toothpaste, hair products, etc. The best approach to get rid of this grime is to pour the rubbing alcohol on the cotton pad and start wiping. You may need to use a lot of elbow grease to get the buildup off, but try not to scratch the mirror in the process. It’s important to work fast because rubbing alcohol can dry quickly. Consider this the pre-wash phase, similar to treating the stains on your fabrics before you throw them in the washing machine.
- Next, use your cleaning solution by spraying it on the mirror. The trick is not to overdo it — just a little mist will get the job done. If you put too much on the mirror, it will start to drip, which will make even more of a mess for you to clean up.
- Once you have a mist sprayed on the mirror, take a microfibre cloth and fold it two times. This gives you a few layers to use during the cleaning process.
- Starting at the top, left-hand side of your mirror, and wipe the cloth to the right. Then, without lifting your cloth, wipe back to the left but use a downward angle. Continue using this wiping pattern until you reach the bottom of the mirror. It should be a zig zag or Z-type pattern, so it’s easy to follow. Remember that if your cloth collects too much dust or solution, you can fold it again and use a drier and cleaner corner of the microfibre cloth.
- Finally, look at your mirror from different angles to see if you can spot any stains or streaks. You can buff these out by using a clean side of your microfibre cloth and a little cleaning solution. However, in this step, don’t re-apply the solution to the mirror. Instead, spray it on your cloth and then gently wipe the streak until it’s gone.
This technique can be used for any of the mirrors or glass in your home. It should help you enjoy a streak-free clean for a long time.
Conclusion
If you find that your mirrors are one of the first things that get dirty in your home, or if they always seem to have streaks, dust, or fingerprints on them, there is a proper way to clean them and get your mirrors sparkling.
Mirrors are one of those understated decorative items in your home that have a lot more impact than most people realize. If your mirrors are dirty, they can give guests the impression of a messy home. However, when they are cleaned properly, mirrors can add light and depth to your space. It can be amazing to see how much of a difference a clean mirror can make.
For more information about the best cleaning practices, call Sunrise Cleaning at 289-814-1824 or contact us here.