Mirrors have multiple uses in our daily lives. We use them when we brush our teeth, wash our face, try out clothes, do makeup and fix our hair.
Mirrors reflect how the world sees us. They also provide us with a sense of satisfaction because psychologically, we like admiring our own reflection.
Most people put their mirror in common areas where they are used frequently.
These include bathrooms, bedrooms, living rooms, and closets.
The products you use on a daily basis can stick or splash on your mirrors such as oil, grime, and dirt.
So if you’re looking for ways to turn your dirty mirror into a spot-free version, read on.
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How to clean mirrors
Pretreat your mirror with rubbing alcohol first before proceeding to clean products. Always use a microfiber cloth or lint-free cloth when wiping your mirror. Do not use newspapers and paper towels. Wipe your mirror in one direction and always check the corners. Wipe your mirrors immediately when you see watermarks, moist, and spilled liquid.
Step-by-Step Guide to Clean a Mirror
Step 1: rubbing alcohol
Rubbing alcohol has been proven to have a lot of cleaning properties. Not only does it kills germs, but it can also remove unwanted dirt that clings onto things.
The first step is to remove oil, grease, or dirt before wiping with a cleaning solution.
To do this, soak a cotton pad into your rubbing alcohol and gently wipe the spotted area. Do it as fast as you can because alcohol evaporates quickly.
Step 2: distilled vinegar and microfiber cloth
Vinegar is considered to be one of the most versatile household products.
In addition, vinegar is safe to use as it doesn’t contain any chemicals.
To clean a mirror with distilled vinegar, you need a spray bottle and a microfiber cloth.
Pour equal parts of distilled vinegar and water into a bottle (do not fill the bottle all the way so you can still shake the mixture).
Then spray the mixture onto the microfiber cloth, and gently wipe the problem areas.
Note:
When wiping your mirror, avoid the ‘zigzag stroke’ to prevent pushing the dirt into its corners.
Instead, wipe in one direction only. Do not directly spray the vinegar mixture onto the mirror to avoid liquid marks dripping all the way down.
This looks even messier. If there are any spots left, repeat this method as often necessary.
Other ways to clean your mirror
If household products are not enough to clean your mirror, you can try other products.
Liquid bleach – aside from making your clothes look new, bleach can be used when it comes to cleaning mirrors. Just take a clean cloth and pour a small amount of bleach onto it. Then gently wipe your mirror.
Face toner – toner will work best when cleaning stubborn dirt from your mirror. A generous amount of it soaked in a cotton pad is enough to make a mirror streak-free again.
Toothpaste – cleaning a mirror with toothpaste? Really? Ironically yes. Even though toothpaste is one cause of dirty mirrors, it can also be one way to clean it.
This is because toothpaste splashes are the culprit. Toothpaste squeezed on a microfiber cloth won’t do any harm.
To do this, take a piece of microfiber cloth and squeeze toothpaste on it. Next, evenly wiped it on the surface of your mirror and let it sit for 10-20 minutes.
Then, wipe it away with a cloth damped in water. Lastly, since you used water, you’ll have to dry it using another clean cloth.
Lemons – lemons are not just effective for a diet, but they are also effective in terms of eliminating dirt and grease.
Just squeeze lemons onto a cotton pad and wipe it carefully onto the surface of your mirror. Lastly, distribute the lemon residue using a microfiber cloth.
How to care for your mirror
Now that you’ve finally cleaned your mirror thoroughly, it’s time to prevent it from accumulating grime and grease again.
If you notice your mirror occasionally getting dirty, you may have to move it to a different location where the area is well-ventilated to prevent excess moisture.
If your mirror is installed in humid areas in your house such as a bathroom, you’ll have to wipe it regularly and keep it dry to prevent moist which can lead to stains or grease.
When wiping your mirror regularly, only use a microfiber cloth.
There’s no need to use cleaning products unless your mirror is dirty. And if you can’t find a microfiber cloth, use a lint-free cloth instead.
When you decide to move your mirror from one area to another, use gloves to avoid getting dirt or oily fingerprints onto your mirror. This will also keep your mirror safe from scratches or breakage.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cleaning a Mirror
Can I clean a mirror using newspapers?
In the past, newspapers were thought to be effective when it comes to cleaning mirrors. Well, that’s in the past, the ink that is being used nowadays is different. And since newspapers are printout materials, they may leave ink residue on your mirror. Therefore this is not a good idea.
Can I use paper towels to clean a mirror instead of a microfiber cloth?
Paper towels may leave small residues which can make your mirror look dusty. Therefore using paper towels to clean a mirror is not suggested.
Can I clean my mirror without rubbing alcohol?
Use a glass cleaner to pretreat your mirror before proceeding to other cleaning methods.