Any item made of glass is prone to accumulating streaks, stains, and smudges, but when it comes to things like windows and mirrors, we often notice these unsightly marks a lot more, and due to their very nature, they tend to accumulate them more, too.
Bathroom mirrors in particular can get really grubby, fast, and without regular cleaning, they can quickly become a real eyesore and difficult to look into without having to move around to dodge the blemishes! Fortunately, there are a few simple but highly effective ways to stop streaky mirrors (or any glass items), and here are some of them:
Stick to good old glass cleaner
If you prefer to buy a glass cleaning product rather than make your own, you can’t go far wrong with traditional brands that have been around for a long time, such as Windex.
Start by spraying the mirror or window with the product, or spray a microfiber cloth. Wipe the glass in circular motions, taking care not to leave any product sitting on a mirrors trim or frame. You may want to give the surface a quick buff with a dry, clean cloth once done.
Use white vinegar
Dilute some distilled white vinegar by mixing it with one part water to one part vinegar, pour the solution into a spray bottle (or mix it in the bottle to begin with), and give it a good shake to mix it up. Take care to spray the solution onto a clean cloth before using it, otherwise the vinegar may tarnish or rust the glass should it seep into the layer of material behind it. If your home has hard water, you may prefer to use distilled water in the solution for the best results. Wipe using circular motions, or in an S-shape pattern, beginning at the top and working downward.
Use rubbing alcohol
If you find that your bathroom mirror, for example, is plagued with spots of toothpaste, hair product, or fingerprints, you can pretreat these stains with rubbing alcohol before tackling the mirror in its entirety. Mirrors that are streaky even when cleaned, is usually because a paper towel or cloth has spread a greasy or oily stain that a window cleaning solution alone can’t eliminate. To stop this from happening, simply dip a cotton pad in rubbing alcohol and dab at the affected areas to break up the stain and remove it. once you’ve pretreated the stubborn stain, you can go ahead and clean your mirror as usual, using the techniques mentioned above, or the final method found below.
Steam clean
A steam cleaner that has a squeegee attachment is arguably the ultimate mirror and glass cleaning solution, and can effectively loosen all manner of grime and make grubby glass sparkle, without the use of chemicals or additional products.
Simply steam the mirror with the hand nozzle and microfiber cover (or whatever glass surface you’re dealing with), to loosen dirt and debris that may be stubbornly clinging on, by rubbing at it. Then remove the steam with the squeegee attachment and gently rub at the edges to dry them off.
A grimy mirror can quickly become an unattractive focal point of any room, especially a bathroom, and without careful cleaning, may become permanently tarnished over time. Use the methods above to keep your mirrors and glass items spotlessly clean and streak-free at all times.
