Cleaning windows is a common chore, and many people will schedule an entire day or more to it during spring or annual cleaning. It involves removing screens, climbing up on ladders, stepping over shrubbery, a little huffing and puffing, among other challenges.
When cleaning your windows, don’t forget the interior glass that can get neglected. That’s right, the mirrors in your home. If you keep your mirrors clean, you might even look better when you gaze at yourself!
Cleaning mirrors may seem like a simple task… but like with all household tasks, there are proper, best-practice steps that make the job easier, better, and save you time as well.
Supplies
As with window washing, you can use a scrub tool and squeegee on mirrors, but that’s not very effective on smaller surfaces and especially those not perfectly flat.
Most will opt for a quality glass cleaner, one that limits streaking. You can find plenty of options at your grocery or department store.
If you are the do-it-yourself type of person, you can also make your own. Most cleaning products are, after all, water based. In a trigger sprayer, mixing up a few cups of water with a few drops of dishwashing detergent and about a cup of rubbing alcohol makes a great homemade alternative as a glass cleaner. The rubbing alcohol helps with evaporation. Some recipes call for a few drops of vinegar as well. Can’t hurt!
You also need lint-free towels. Many use disposable paper towels but make sure they are higher quality as you don’t want them falling apart when you use them. Wiping off edges and streaks is essential to a good glass cleaning job.
Cleaning tips
The actual cleaning is pretty simple, but you must be thorough. Apply/mist on a small amount of solution, wetting out the entire surface. Using your towels, work over the surface until all the moisture is evaporated and then keep wiping. Use a zig-zag pattern, turning over the towel and using the dryer side when you can. A final wiping with a clean, unused towel should finish off the job.
Make sure the room is well-lit. Look at the glass from all angles. What might look fine from one side of the room may look terrible from the other side.
For all your best cleaning tips, and to get some help with all your cleaning tasks, call your favorite cleaning company. After all, it pays to call a pro!