How to clean a mirror – What not to use, step by step and infallible tips

Everyone has at least one mirror at home, most of the time more than one. These items went from being just a reflector of our image to becoming decorative objects, used to make the space very spacious and modern. Today they are in most rooms, in the bathroom, living room, bedrooms and even the kitchen. But making a mirror shine isn’t as easy as cleaning a window. That’s why it’s very important to know how to clean a mirror.

It may seem very simple and even obvious how to clean a mirror, but make no mistake, using the wrong materials and products can damage your mirror and leave it stained and dull. And nobody wants that. Mirrors are made of fragile materials, in this case glass, and therefore need specific care to avoid that unkempt and dirty appearance.

There are several products on the market for this purpose, but there are also homemade options that are even more effective. Therefore, today we will learn tips and tricks on how to clean mirrors to help you keep yours shiny and clean.

How to clean a mirror: what not to use

Before learning step by step how to clean a mirror and also homemade mixtures, let’s start with what not to use. Some products should be avoided because they stain and scratch the mirror, damaging the item. Therefore, to keep your mirrors always clean and shiny you need to use the right materials, which in this case does not include the following:

• Rough sponge;
• West;
• Steel wool;
• Ammonia;
• Chlorine;
• Bleach;
• Cloths that release lint;

Right materials to clean mirror

So, now that you know what not to use at all when cleaning mirrors, it’s time to learn about the materials suitable for this type of work. As previously mentioned, there are several mirror cleaning products, but not all of them are really effective and appropriate for this type of item.

Therefore, the best option is to actually look for homemade tricks, which in the end are much less aggressive and much more efficient. Therefore, how to clean a mirror requires the following cleaning materials:

• Rubber gloves;
• Glass squeegee;
• Neutral detergent;
• Sprayer;
• Lint-free cleaning cloths;
• Paper towel;
• Soft sponge.

Step by step on how to clean a mirror

So, now let’s learn step by step how to clean the mirror and how to remove stains.

Bathroom mirror

In the case of a bathroom mirror that tends to get dirtier, the ideal is to opt for slightly stronger products and utensils, such as degreasers or vinegar. However, the ideal is to dilute the product in water and then clean the mirror. Check out the step-by-step guide on how to clean a bathroom mirror with vinegar:

1. First, mix a cup of vinegar in 3.5 liters of water and put it in a spray bottle;
2. Once done, apply the mixture to a sponge (yellow side) or cloth to make cleaning more effective;
3. And then, start passing the sponge or cloth all over the mirror;
4. Then, use a cloth to polish the mirror using circular movements;
5. Finally, wipe with a dry, lint-free cloth and that’s it, the mirror will be clean and shining.

Wardrobe mirror

Nowadays, many wardrobes come equipped with mirrors, whether external or internal. As it is not as exposed to dirt as a bathroom mirror, in this case lighter products can be used, such as neutral detergent, for example. It is still possible to remove stubborn stains and dirt. The same can be used to clean dressing table mirrors.

1. Start by mixing 100 ml of water with 4 or 5 drops of neutral detergent;
2. Then apply the mixture to a cloth or sponge and apply it to the wardrobe mirror or dressing table;
3. Then use a dry, clean cloth to shine the mirror completely;
4. To clean the corners of the mirror, the ideal is to use a cotton swab;
5. Finally, use a paper towel to remove any remaining lint.

How to clean a stained mirror

If you use very strong products that are not suitable for this type of surface, it is very common to end up with a stained mirror. But this is completely normal and easy to resolve. So a simple way to clean a stained mirror is to use the products listed above, such as detergent, vinegar or degreaser.

In this type of situation, it is common to use newspaper to clean the mirror, but this is not ideal. Quite the contrary, using newspaper will only make stains on your mirrors worse. For a long time newspaper sheets were used to shine mirrors and glass, however, nowadays the newspaper used in this type of paper comes off more easily and ends up staining the glass. Therefore, the ideal is not to use newspaper for this purpose.

The ideal is to follow the step by step and opt for microfiber cloths that do not release lint and leave the mirrors clean and shiny.

Now if the problem is black spots, in that case there is nothing you can do to remove them. The step-by-step guide on how to clean a mirror will clean the glass but will not be able to remove these stains. This is because these stains are the result of oxidation and therefore cleaning alone cannot remove the black stains.

Tips on how to clean mirror

And finally, we have selected some infallible tips to help you when cleaning your mirrors and also preserving them for much longer.

• Clean the mirror periodically: Avoid letting the mirror get too greasy or accumulate a lot of dirt. Therefore, it is recommended to clean it once a week.
• Remove dust: Before starting the cleaning itself, the ideal is to remove some of the accumulated dust and other residues that could scratch the mirror when applying the product.
• Apply the product to the cloth or sponge: To avoid staining the mirror or damaging it, apply the product directly to the sponge or cloth and not directly to the glass. In addition to facilitating cleaning, it will protect the integrity of your mirror.
• Avoid abrasive products: The rough side of the sponge and steel wool can easily scratch the mirror, so it’s best to avoid them. As well as other very aggressive products, such as alcohol and chlorine.
• Dry the mirror immediately: If you apply a mixture like vinegar to your mirror and don’t remove it immediately, the glass tends to stain and fog up. So, the ideal is to dry the mirror immediately after applying any type of product.
• Right moves: another point that makes all the difference in how to clean a mirror and how you wipe it. The ideal is to use circular movements when polishing the glass to prevent the mirror from becoming cloudy or stained.

Anyway, what did you think of this article? In fact, take the opportunity to also check out How to clean your washing machine the right way.

Sources: Viminas Decor Fácil Viva Decora

Images: Super Lopes Viva Magazine Decora Terra Siote Casa e Festa Tua Casa Vix