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Mirror Cleaning: What’s the Best Way to Do It?

A women with short blonde hair looking at herself in the mirror as she brushes her hair.
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Mirrors are an important part of modern life. In addition to helping us comb our hair and drive our cars, they play important roles in science and medicine. And much like traditional glass, mirrors get dirty and need cleaning. So what’s the best way to clean a mirror?

In addition to their functional uses, mirrors can also be decorative. Many homeowners put them over fireplaces or in dining rooms as a design centerpiece. If you’re in the market for mirrors, many of the affiliates at Glass.com are deeply knowledgeable about these products because most of them are made out of glass. They can help you pick the best options for your taste and budget.

They might also have advice on the best way to clean a mirror, a topic we’re going to explore in this article.

So What’s a Mirror, Anyway?

First of all, a mirror reflects light so that it keeps a lot of the physical characteristics of the original light. That’s why things in mirrors look so much like the objects they’re reflecting.

While the majority of mirrors today are made of glass, they can be made of anything that serves as a reflecting surface. What most people today call a mirror was traditionally a piece of metal that had been polished until it reflected. Today, mirrors are nearly always glass with a metallic backing.

The Best Way to Clean a Mirror

While there’s no hard and fast technique for cleaning a mirror, there are a few tips that can ensure you’ll be satisfied with the outcome.

First, it’s important to remember that mirrors can be frustrating to clean because even the smallest imperfections are hard to miss. One of the biggest mistakes many people make is using paper towels. Paper towels will leave behind tiny streaks and particles that make the mirror appear dusty. For better results, use a microfiber towel. It won’t leave any remnants behind. Additionally, use newspaper for a streak-free clean, but you’ll want to wear gloves or wash your hands after because the ink can be messy.

Spray the towel with glass cleaner, then wipe the mirror in a circular motion to get rid of all the spots. Use a cotton swab or toothbrush to get into the corners, the buff the mirror dry with a clean towel.

How To Clean A Hazy Mirror

Vinegar can be a great solution for cleaning a hazy mirror. Unlike most cleaning with vinegar, don’t dilute it with water. Use full-strength distilled white vinegar to dampen newspaper or a microfiber cloth, then wipe the mirror. Afterward, use water to get rid of the vinegar smell. Follow up with a regular glass cleaner for a streak-free shine.

Glass Cleaners Work, Too

While vinegar is a great all-purpose cleaner, there are many products on the market that will make your mirrors shine. When shopping, look in the section for glass cleaners. Check and make sure that the one you select can be used on mirrors, and you should be good to go. Otherwise, you could damage it.

When In Doubt…

If you’re still stumped about the best way to clean a mirror, reach out to one of the affiliates on Glass.com. They can the give you the best advice for making that reflective surface sparkle. They can also provide you with top-notch glass-cleaning products. And, if you’re ever in the market for these kind of products, they can help you find exactly what you want.

Please note, this article may contain links to Amazon products. As an Amazon Associate, Glass.com earns from qualifying purchases.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Trey Barrineau

Trey Barrineau was the editor of Door & Window Market magazine (DWM). He edits and writes a wide range of content, from breaking-news items and first-person blog posts for the Web to 4,000-word, deeply researched features for print. He also manages DWM's social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. He came to DWM in December 2014 from USA Today. During his time at Key, Trey’s work has received national and regional recognition from the publishing industry. His 2016 coverage of Venezuela’s takeover of a U.S. glass factory was a 2017 finalist for the Jesse H. Neal Awards in the Best News Coverage category. In 2016, he won a silver medal from the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE) Awards of Excellence for the Mid-Atlantic Region for a 2015 feature article on the lack of skilled labor in the door and window industry. Prior to joining DWM, Trey was a multiplatform editor and writer in USA Today's Life section from September 2000 to December 2014. While there, he won more than a dozen awards for outstanding headlines. Before that, he worked for more than 10 years covering news and sports at daily newspapers in North Carolina. Trey is a 1988 graduate of Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C., with a bachelor’s degree in Communications. In 2016, he earned the Fenestration Associate professional certification from the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA). He lives with his wife Jacqui and their occasional office-dog Siri in Northern Virginia. Find out more about Trey on Linkedin.

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