How To Clean Mirrors Without Streaks

How To Clean Mirrors Without Streaks

It can be disheartening to see an array of streaks in a mirror after cleaning it.

So, what is the trick to keeping your mirror clean and without streaks? This article will consider why there are streaks, how to clean a mirror without streaks, great cleaning products to use, and some precautions to take.

Why Are There Streaks After Cleaning?

There are a few reasons why those streaks occur.

Built-up dirt and grime

Dirt and grime can get inside the grooves of your mirror. Furthermore, they can build up on the frames or other functioning parts. Consequently, your mirrors or windows end up streaking. Moreover, this can make it difficult to clean your mirror without streaks.

Using the wrong glass cleaners

A streak-free cleaner as a cleaning tool is necessary. Many store-bought cleaners or commercial mirror and window cleaners likely include an excessive amount of soap. Consequently, applying glass cleaners like these may cause leftover residues. This leaves streaking marks.

Instead, you can use natural products as a homemade cleaning solution. Some people choose to get a glass cleaner from the market. Others, however, make use of everyday household products. Interestingly, you can use simple ingredients like white vinegar and lemon juice for your mirror and window cleaning. An example of a natural solution is an equal part mixture of vinegar and water.

Using the wrong cleaning cloths

When you use the wrong kind of glass cleaning cloth, mirror streaks may occur.

For example, terry cloths contain too much texture. As such, it accumulates grime, and because of this, it causes streaking. Likewise, paper towels or kitchen towels tend to leave bits of lint on the mirror.

Some people like using newspapers. They may advise you to use only the black and white sections. However, this may not be ideal either. Newspapers can leave ink on your mirror. Besides, they can cause streaks. So, why should you use a microfiber cloth?

It would be best if you used flat-weave microfiber cloths or microfiber towels. Much like a magnet, they help attract and hold dirt, stubborn particles of dust, and grime. Furthermore, they help remove moisture from the mirror’s surface. Clearly, this is a great help in cleaning a mirror without leaving streaks.

Using the wrong cleaning technique

It would be ideal if you used a zig-zag motion from left corners to right corners. It would be beneficial if you worked from top to bottom. In addition, you have to maintain a quick and steady motion for a streak-free mirror.

How To Clean Mirrors Without Streaks

It does not really matter what cleaning solution you are using as cleaning mirrors without streaks can be nailed down to three steps.

• First, you have to mix your cleaning solution or decide what mirror cleaner to use
• Second, you get rid of gunk and other particles in the mirrors
• Finally, you end by wiping down the mirrors

Preventing Streaking Using Rubbing Alcohol

There are many cleaning hacks out there. Rubbing alcohol is a significant component for some of them. Follow these steps to leave your mirrors streak-free and dirt-free.

1. Assemble the cleaning items

First, have the following available:

• Water
• Microfiber cloth
• Cotton pad
• Rubbing alcohol
• Toothbrush
• Spray bottle

2. Remove particle gunk and dust build-up

Before the actual cleaning of the mirror surface, you ought to remove the gunk. This includes hairspray, toothpaste, dust build-up, and any other particles. Indeed, this is true for bathroom mirrors.

Similarly, hallway mirrors do accumulate a lot of dirt and dust in certain areas. In the same vein, kitchen cleaning can involve some intensive mirror cleaning due to stubborn particles.

3. Removing stains and spots

For the actual stains and spot cleaning, first, open the bottle of rubbing alcohol. Place the cotton pad over the top and turn the bottle over. This will apply some alcohol to the pad.

Now cover the bottle and use the wet cotton to dab over stained areas of the mirror. Do ensure you scrub the stains out using a circular motion. Next, use a clean cotton pad and remove any remaining grime or alcohol.

4. Brush off grime

Next, the toothbrush comes in handy. Use it to loosen any grime or dirt in the corners of the mirrors. Simply wet the bristle of the toothbrush with rubbing alcohol. Then, brush each corner of the streaky mirrors gently.

5. The actual cleaning

You are almost done. Now, you spray the surface of the mirror lightly with bottled water. Then, use a soft lint-free cloth to wipe the glass. What technique do you use? You have to use a zig-zag motion. Remember not to use paper towels on the mirror. It will leave paper lint on the surface.

Using Lemon Juice and Vinegar

If you have a heavily soiled mirror, vinegar can be an ideal mirror cleaner. A cleaning blend of lemon juice, white vinegar, and dish soap has double advantages. First, the mirror cleanser helps you remove streaking. Second, the lemon scent gives the room a fresh aroma. Follow these simple steps to use vinegar as a cleaner for your mirror.

Gather the cleaning items needed

• Flatweave microfiber cloth
• 1/2 cup white vinegar (if you do not have white vinegar, apple cider vinegar is an option)
• Four tablespoons lemon juice
• One teaspoon dish soap
• Spray bottle

The cleaning process

Mix one or two teaspoons of dish detergent, four tablespoons of lemon juice, and half a cup of white vinegar. Mix the lemon juice, white vinegar and dish soap solution with water in a spray bottle. Be cautious so as not to add in too much dish detergent. It can cause streaks. Then, shake it gently.

Thereafter, spray the vinegar-water mixture lightly on the mirror. Next, you should fold your lint-free microfiber cloth several times. Perhaps, you can fold it into quarters. That is to say, when a section is dirty, you simply open it up for a clean area.

Now, use the microfiber cloth to wipe in a Z-shaped motion. This means that you will start at the top corner. Then move the cloth side to side and then to the bottom of the mirror. Then, find a clean section of the cloth and repeat the wiping process. This will remove the streaks.

Mirror Cleaning Using Ammonia Cleaner

You can replace vinegar with ammonia as the cleaning agent. It helps reduce the amount of grease.

Gather the cleaning items needed

• 1/4 cup ammonia
• One teaspoon dish soap
• 8 ounces rubbing alcohol
• 4 cups of water
• Spray bottle
• Soft cleaning cloths

The cleaning process

First, slowly pour the rubbing alcohol into the bottle. Pour in the dish soap and ammonia. Next, shake gently to get the mixture combined. Now you can spray a light coating of the mixture on the glass surface. Thereafter, use the soft cleaning cloth to wipe from the upper corner to the opposite corner.

Continue moving the cloth in a zig-zag motion down to the bottom. Finally, repeat the wiping process using a second cleaning cloth. This repeated process will help you clean glass or clean mirrors without leaving streaks.

Checking For Streaks Or Scuff Marks

After cleaning the mirrors, you may tilt the mirror at a 45-degree angle to check for streaks. Extra light will be shed on the mirror, and you can move to the left or right for a better view.

If you notice a smudge or stain, you can spot clean them. Simply apply a little more cleaning solution to your microfiber cloth and wipe the mirror stain off. Then, buff it dry.

Precautions When Cleaning Mirrors

Here are a few further tips for cleaning mirrors without streaks.

Avoid scratching

Do you know that wall mirrors and bathroom mirrors are more susceptible to scratching? They are more vulnerable than wood furniture or metal furniture. As such, you have to check your cleaning cloth for lint or lose particles. Remove them or better still, get a new cloth.

Avoid abrasive cleaning cloth or materials

Similarly, you should not use any material with an abrasive surface.

Check the chemical composition of cleaners

Some glass cleaners on the market produce harsh fumes. Others contain toxic chemicals. Certainly, if you have pets or children, you would not want to use such. This is one thing you should check for.

Do not scrape with blades

Even when you encounter stubborn materials stuck on the mirror, do not use a blade. Furthermore, do not use a razor to try scraping it off. This will cause permanent scratches. It can even lead to the mirror breaking subsequently.

Do not get cleaning solution on frames

Be careful not to pour cleaning solutions on the wood, vinyl frames, or fiberglass. It can mar the finish.

Clean one after the other

The final dry-up of the mirror has to be after cleaning. That is if you want to avoid streaks. Thus, if you have to clean windows and mirrors, it is best to clean them one after the other.

When To Hire Professional Cleaners

Perhaps, you are not confident in your cleaning skills. In the same vein, perhaps you just cannot get that sparkling clean mirror without streaks. Besides, you may have changed cleaning products and cleaning routine without good results. More so, you may have many other things to juggle other than getting a streak-free shine.

So, how then do you clean mirrors without streaks? You can hire a professional.

For example, if you are moving house, a good cleaning professional can clean the entire home and garden, mirrors, and window panes. This is known as end of lease cleaning. Furthermore, they can help you with spring cleaning and give you cleaning tips to solve all your mirror hassles.