Are you wondering how to clean a mirror? Are you the type of person who constantly cleans the bathroom? Or do you tend to put it off for ages? Either way, I'm sure we all come across our mirror to find unsightly streaks of water, toothpaste and other unknown residues on the daily basis. It can be rather difficult to keep on top of this pesky sight!
Follow our guide on how to clean a bathroom mirror for a streak free spotless finish every time.
What you’ll need to clean your mirror properly
First of all, here are the cleaning tools you’ll need:
- Two cotton cleaning rags – preferably a flat-weave microfiber cloth. This helps to stop debris from clinging to the cloth and creates a lint-free finish
- Hot water, or distilled water rather than tap water – this prevents mineral deposits from being left on your mirror
- An empty spray bottle
Step-by-step guide to cleaning your mirror and leaving it streak free
1. PREPARE TO CLEAN
Start by lightly wetting the surface of your mirror. Use either hot water or distilled water and a little dish soap. Grab your two microfiber clothes and you are good to go.
2. START BY CLEANING TOUGHER STAINS
Mirrors that haven’t been cleaned for quite a while may have a build-up of dirt on the surface. This is especially true if you use hairspray, deodorant or any other aerosols in the bathroom. As they tend to leave droplets on the mirror without you even noticing at the time. If you’ve had some housework or redecorating done in the bathroom whilst your mirror was already installed, chances are you will have paint specks or building materials on it too.
If this is the case, then the first thing to do is to remove all the grime build-up from the surface of the mirror with a dishwashing sponge – use the scouring side and dip into some warm water with a small amount of washing-up liquid dissolved into it.
3. WIPE THE MIRROR DOWN WITH A SOFT CLOTH
Once you’ve got the surface of the mirror clean, use a lint-free, flat weave microfibre cloth to polish and buff away any marks. Microfibre cloths, although expensive initially, are great for cleaning, especially in the bathroom. Wash them regularly (without using fabric conditioner as this will make them less efficient) and make sure that you keep a couple designed primarily for glass and bathroom use only.
For regular cleaning of your mirrors, use a designated glass cleaner with a microfibre cloth folded into quarters to give you four clean surfaces for cleaning. Glass cleaner is designed not to produce suds and shouldn’t leave any streaky residue on the glass – you only need a small spray in the middle of the mirror, then use the cloth to spread it around to the outer edges. Refold the microfibre cloth and use a clean, dry patch to buff the mirror to a brilliant shine.
4. DON’T FORGET THE OTHER SURFACES
Once you have cleaned your mirror properly, you mustn't forget to clean the surrounding area underneath the mirror; there would usually be a basin or vanity unit in this place. This is important as the dust from the microfibre cloth and the chemicals in the cleaning products will have also transferred to the area below the mirror. To keep everything hygienic, we recommend working your way from the top to the bottom when cleaning your bathroom, ensuring nothing gets missed out and everything remains clean and uncontaminated.
Five tips to keep your mirror clean
1. CLEAN STAINS STRAIGHT AWAY
Cleaning your mirror straight away can save you time in the long run and keep your bathroom looking its best. Getting into a routine of wiping down your mirror every time you see a toothpaste stain or dirty fingerprint makes it less likely for the stains to build up making cleaning much quicker and easier to do!
The simplest solution would be to keep a bottle of your premade cleaning solution (solution mix above) and a microfibre cloth either under your bathroom sink or within your bathroom cabinet for easy access.
2. DON'T GO OVERBOARD WITH CLEANING PRODUCTS
You don’t need the latest gadgets or newest cleaning product to keep your bathroom mirrors sparking all year long. A lint free microfiber cloth goes a long way to tackle the everyday light stains and grime build up.
Consider natural cleaning solutions like the one listed above for your mirror. Not only are they kinder to the planet they are often cheaper than commercial windows or glass cleaners. Natural cleaners contain soaps and added fragrance which can leave your mirror with steaks and residue.
3. THE RIGHT CLOTH IS KEY
You may have heard that newspaper is the best to clean mirrors with but that is now outdated from the modern ink which is used during print production. The best type of cloth to use is a microfiber cloth which prevents lint and debris building up when cleaning.
Having the right type of cloth can cut down your cleaning time and leave your mirror streak free with ease. The small fibres of the cloths have been crafted to stick to anything they come into contact with. They will absorb and dirt, grime or dust on your mirror and the cleaning solution you use leaving you with a streak free mirror.
4. INVEST IN A MIRROR WITH A DEMISTER PAD
Save time on cleaning dirty mirror marks left by water with a built in demister pad. Our heated demister pad mirrors are not only efficient, but they can help with dampness in the bathroom. The built-in mirror demister pads safely and gently heat up your mirror to quickly clear the steam and reveal a beautifully illuminated reflection, leaving no water residue. Our blog post on demister pads explains everything you will need to know about demister pads and how safe they are for your bathroom. Read the blog post here.
5. WIPE THE MIRROR FROM SIDE TO SIDE
Don’t listen to the myths of cleaning your mirror in a circular motion. The best way to clean your mirror is to work from top to bottom and then side to side. Working from top to bottom means that if your cleaning solution starts to drip it wont leave any streaks behind. Finish off your mirror by looking at it from different angles to see if there are any leftover streaks and repeat the process of wiping top to bottom and side to side if necessary.
