Store-bought glass cleaners like Windex may work flawlessly to clean your mirrors, but there are cheaper, safer, and equally effective natural alternatives you can easily make from the comfort of your home.
So, whether you want to go green or spare yourself a trip to the store, here you’ll learn how to clean your mirrors naturally!
Step #1. Clean off dust and debris from your mirror
Dusting your mirror before wet wiping saves you time down the road, as it helps to prevent major smudges and scratches caused by dragging the dirt along while wiping.
To do it, use a dry lint-free cloth to avoid leaving any kind of residue behind. Once you wipe all the mirror’s surface, shake the cloth to get rid of excess dust. Lastly, wipe the glass again to ensure you got all the dirt.
Note. Dust and dirt can get stuck on the slits in framed mirrors. If that’s your case, remove it with a toothpick or a clip thin enough to fit in the slits.
Step #2. Make an alcohol-vinegar cleaning solution
Although this combination is unusual, it is actually an excellent—if not the best—alternative to tackle stains on glass surfaces. Besides, you won’t be in contact with any harsh chemicals!
Make this powerful solution by mixing equal parts of vinegar, alcohol (isopropyl is better for removing adhesives), and water in a spray bottle.
Will a vinegar-less solution work?
Both vinegar and alcohol serve a purpose in the solution. Alcohol removes oily and sticky stains, and vinegar takes care of chalky white spots (basically, mineral buildup). So, unless your mirror doesn’t have those chalky spots, you’ll need vinegar to remove them.
Step #3. Tackle tough spots first
You won’t get far if you don’t remove the difficult stains before wiping your mirror. So, if you’ve noticed a tough spot, spray some cleaning solution on a microfiber cloth and rub it until it’s gone. As it is such a simple step, many homeowners forget this easily—don’t skip it!
Step #4. Wipe your mirror spotless
There’s more to this step than just wiping! For example, we recommend not spraying the mirror directly. Too little solution may evaporate faster than you need, and sprinkling too much could damage the frame (on framed mirrors) or the silver backing.
Instead, spray directly on a clean microfiber cloth (these rags prevent scratches and don’t create lint residue) with your DIY cleaning solution. This way, you won’t have to worry about evaporation or dripping-related issues.
When you’re ready, wipe your mirror from top to bottom using quick zig-zag movements. This technique is excellent in avoiding scratches and smudges. It will also let you track better which areas you’ve already wiped.
Step #5. Don’t forget to dry the mirror!
Once you’re done wiping, grab another clean microfiber cloth and dry your mirror with the same z-shaped motions as before. However, there could be little smudges here and there, even after finishing. So, take a good look and buff them out before calling it a day.
What about using a newspaper to dry a mirror?
Let’s get things straight: newspapers dry glass surfaces quite well. However, some newspapers can leave smears on your mirror when wet due to the ink on them. If you want to go with the newspaper option, ensure it won’t stain your mirror.
One Click Maids will clean the mirrors (and more) for you!
Keeping your mirrors clean means constant dusting and wiping. If you don’t have the time to do it on top of other household chores, we do! Choose our house cleaning services for spotless results—mirror cleaning included! Book today!