Mirrors are of utmost importance in the interior. If you choose something like this wisely, it can give the room a unique charm. However, this piece of furniture will fulfill its function only if it is perfectly clean. Especially for those of our readers who love their home and dream of perfect cleanliness in it, the women's website “Beautiful and Successful” has highlighted this page, which will tell you how to wash a mirror without streaks at home without any special difficulties or equipment.
Why do divorces occur?
Every person's morning begins with the bathroom, where he washes himself, wakes up after sleep, brushes his teeth and does everything in front of the mirror.
Dirt
If you carelessly remove plaque, fingerprints, grease stains, or smear dust, streaks will remain on the reflective shiny surface.
Poor quality cleaning products
The industry produces many types of windshield wipers, which differ in price. To save money, some housewives buy cheap household chemicals. After using low-quality products, streaks form on the surface, which are difficult to wash off.
Water with impurities
Stains from cosmetics and toothpaste, when exposed to steam, contribute to the formation of a film on the mirror, which is not easy to clean. Hard water that contains impurities leaves marks on the surface.
Reasons for divorce
To remove stains effectively, you need to know why the problem occurs. Usually there are reasons such as:
- insufficiently clean water used when washing mirror surfaces;
- poor cleaning – dust and dirt still remain;
- cosmetics, splashes, toothpaste;
- fat remaining after washing;
- unsuitable low-quality cleaning solutions;
- sponges and rags that are too hard or dirty;
- poorly rinsed detergent;
- Wrong washing order.
Knowing the reasons for the formation of divorces, you can easily get rid of them.
Basic methods of washing at home
Many women have long been cleaning Fairy dishes and glass with Mr. Muscle, but they prefer to remove dust and oil stains on mirrors using familiar home remedies.
Using a newspaper
To clean glass without leaving marks, it’s worth remembering the simplest but most reliable method. First you need to rinse the surface with water and then wipe with newspaper. The lead present in printing ink adds shine, and the paper is free of fibers and lint.
A mixture of water and vinegar
In a bathroom where there is constantly high humidity, limescale forms on the mirror. To clean it without scratching the surface, mix table vinegar with water in equal parts, moisten a sponge in the solution and wash the contaminated areas, wipe dry with paper.
Vodka against greasy and cosmetic stains
Traces of varnish, ointment, cream, mascara on the mirror can be removed without the use of expensive chemical glass cleaners. Soak a sponge or cotton swab in vodka, treat each stain, and polish it until it shines with a napkin.
Tooth powder solution
If the mirror is very dirty, and this usually happens during renovation work in an apartment, in order to wash the surface, you need to prepare a special composition:
- Pour 2 tsp into a glass of warm water. vinegar.
- 20 g of tooth powder is poured into the solution.
- The mixture is filtered and freed from liquid.
- The paste is applied to the mirror.
Remaining paste can be easily removed with newspapers. You can clean the surface of dirt by combining crushed chalk with water.
See also
How and what is the best way to wash windows correctly and quickly at home without streaks
Alcohol colognes
Women manage to stain the mirror with hair and nail polish, which is unlikely to be removed with vinegar, toothpaste and water.
To deal with such stains, apply alcohol-based cologne to the shiny surface and wipe with a paper napkin.
Melamine sponge
A chemical substance that is used in the production of dyes, varnishes, adhesives, and herbicides used in agriculture. Melamine resins produce sponges with a hard structure. They clean bathtubs, plumbing fixtures, mirrors, and ceramics. Before washing surfaces:
- Put on gloves.
- Wet the sponge in warm water.
- Wipe off plaque, grease stains, ink marks, felt-tip pen marks.
- The resulting foam is removed with a napkin.
Melamine cannot be combined with chlorine and used for washing the body, dishes, vegetables and fruits. Although the substance does not cause allergies, it is necessary to keep the sponge out of the reach of children.
Steam generator
Water is poured into the container of a universal device that works like an iron. When its temperature approaches 100 °C, an air flow is formed that cleans the mirror of dust, dirt, and deposits. When using the device, no chemicals are required; the steam disinfects the surface, destroying germs.
How to choose a product
There are a huge number of professional household chemical products for washing on the market and in online stores. On store shelves there are products containing alkali, alcohols, and natural ingredients. The composition of each helps to cope with different types of dirt on the window:
- Substances containing ammonia are suitable for cleaning very dirty surfaces; they are ideal for adding shine to glass products. Ammonia evaporates quickly and leaves no streaks. Ammonia-based products such as “Mr. Muscle” and “Drop” are popular, although they have a pungent odor. If you are intolerant to it, it is better to choose another substance.
- Relatively inexpensive alcohol products “Cif” and “Clin” are especially popular. Benzyl and isopropyl alcohol are good for removing dirt, grease and dust. It is necessary to apply a very small amount of the product onto the glass, then wipe it with a natural cloth, after which the surface becomes clean and sparkling.
- Environmentally friendly products have a higher price, but they are becoming more and more in demand, as they are made on the basis of natural, plant-based surfactants. They are hypoallergenic and have a pleasant smell. Eco-friendly cleaning products are quite economical; they easily clean glass products and add shine to them. Products such as eco-sprays “Organic People”, “AlmaWin Glas & Fenster” are considered a very popular group of environmentally friendly cleaners.
- There is a large selection of wet wipes for quickly cleaning mirror or glass surfaces. Foams, gels, and sprays occupy a worthy place in the household chemicals market.
To decide on a product for high-quality cleaning of products, you need to adhere to the following basic rules:
- When choosing detergent products, you need to pay attention to the composition.
- Clean the glass with a cloth with a soft, microfiber structure.
- You can use squeegees or a scraper to clean windows.
- Folk remedies must be used carefully, because they contain large particles that can scratch the surface of the glass and frame.
- Wipe the washed glass with a dry cloth.
- When cleaning windows, you do not need to apply a large amount of solution to the glass; subsequently, large quantities of stains may remain on it.
- The presence of glycerin in water protects windows from stains after rain, and with it they remain clean longer.
Having considered the main types of washing products, we will provide you with the best cleaning products from popular manufacturers, and indicate which substance is best to buy in order to avoid mistakes when choosing a good washing product.
Popular folk remedies
Some women still prefer to wash glass and mirrors according to old recipes with ammonia, turpentine, wax, and raw potatoes.
Strong green tea
A tonic drink, which is consumed not only in the East, but almost throughout the world, helps remove stains, dust, and stains on glass surfaces. After brewing strong green tea, you need to add a little salt and wash the mirror with this mixture. There is no need to throw away the leaves, but wrap them in gauze and wipe the most contaminated areas. It is better to remove residues with nylon cloth.
Ammonia with honey
Ammonia dissolves acids and fat. A composition with a pungent odor is added to water and used to wash glass. To restore shine to a tarnished mirror, combine ammonia with a spoon of honey. Use the resulting mixture to clean the surface and rub it well.
Raw potatoes
Starch gets to the dirt that accumulates in microcracks and uneven glass, removes greasy stains without leaving marks. But if there is no powder at home, the potato tuber is peeled, cut into halves and wiped on the mirror. The juice released from the root vegetable is washed off with water and dried with a paper napkin.
Bulb
To clean dirt, remove grease stains, and restore shine to smooth glass surfaces, some women, in the old fashioned way, remove the peel from the onion, cut it in half and rub the mirror. After a few minutes, rub with a napkin until shiny.
Turpentine and melted wax
At high humidity, which is especially common in the bathroom, glass surfaces fog up and become cloudy. To eliminate this problem, clean the mirror, restore shine, melt the wax, combine it with turpentine and apply it to the surface, after a while the composition is wiped off with a napkin.
Milk
Small children paint walls and windows with a felt-tip pen and leave traces of a marker and their hands on the mirror. You can clean the surfaces by covering them with regular milk, remove the remaining liquid along with the soaked dirt with a paper napkin, and rub it with newspaper until shiny.
Blue
Until modern means for washing and bleaching clothes appeared, powder was added. When mixing a glass of water with 5 g of blue, a solution is obtained that gives the mirror a sparkling shine and leaves no traces on the surface.
Chalk
Vinegar wipes away heavy dirt and removes greasy stains on glass. Any housewife who prepares salads or wraps vegetables for the winter has this product. A spoonful of liquid is poured into a glass of water and chalk is added to make a paste, which is applied to the mirror for a few minutes. The dried mixture is wiped with newspaper.
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Capron
Ammonia, alcohol solutions, and chalk can remove stains and dirt on glass surfaces. These home remedies do not leave streaks and add shine, but the mirror shines even more if you wipe it not with a paper napkin or newspaper, but with a nylon flap.
What products are there for cleaning glass items?
When choosing cleaning products for windows or mirrors, you need to pay attention to such important factors as the chemical composition of the product and its price. Retail chains offer many different household chemical products, the main types of which are:
- Alcohol based.
In popular models of cleaning products, the main active ingredient is isopropyl alcohol. It efficiently dissolves dirt deposits and does not leave streaks on glass surfaces. The solvent properties of the alcohol base are excellent at removing light dirt and grease stains, do not require rinsing with water, and quickly evaporate from surfaces.
However, it does not always cope well with old stains. When washing heavily soiled double-glazed windows, it is better to use cleaning products with benzyl alcohol, and although it is a little more expensive, it cleans glass much more effectively.
2. Ammonia based.
Ammonia (ammonia) has long been used to remove various stains on mirror or glass surfaces. Ammonia copes well with dirt, cleans without streaks, leaving behind a characteristic glossy shine. Therefore, products made on its basis are in demand on the market.
Cleaning with substances based on ammonia is effective, but has a significant drawback - a pungent odor that is difficult to remove from the room after cleaning.
3. Based on surfactants.
The surfactant must be used in contact with oxygen. Nowadays it is actively used for cleaning; it perfectly removes all types of contaminants. However, it has disadvantages associated with high price and possible allergic reactions, so plant-based surfactants are especially in demand, which are absolutely safe, completely decompose, quickly and effectively remove stains, and do not have any odor.
The products have numerous advantages and the only drawback is the high price.
4. Based on benzyl alcohol.
A product made on its basis may additionally contain a foaming agent, which makes it easier to wash away old stains. To clean double-glazed windows, just apply the cleaner to the dirt and hold it for a minute. Then wipe with a cloth - the dirt will disappear.
Additional components
For better cleaning, additional additives are added to cleaning products, the main ones being:
- Water-repellent components. Prevents the formation of moisture on the glass, eliminates fogging of windows and the formation of dried dirt.
- Antistatic agents. Removes glass coatings from dust and small particles adhering to the glass unit.
- Silicone. Protects glass products from dust that appears immediately after cleaning.
If you need to wash a double-glazed window with existing limescale, you need to choose acid-based products that break down alkali well. Limescale and soap deposits have an alkaline base, and a universal cleaner works well with them.
When washing glass or mirror items, you need to choose the right fabric. It is advisable that she:
- absorbed water well;
- had a natural or cotton base.
When purchasing a detergent, you need to determine its purpose, which is usually indicated on the label:
- Removing plaque of intense organic pollution. We need products that clean double-glazed windows from vehicle exhaust gases, chemicals used in the fight against insects, and other contaminants that are difficult to remove. Such products are necessary for cleaning glass surfaces in the kitchen, where fatty deposits accumulate during cooking.
- Removing soap residue and limescale. Suitable for the final stage of cleaning, when laundry soap was used to wash windows. They remove stains well and are widely used for cleaning glass bags and mirrors.
- Cleaning glass surfaces with a matte finish;
- Washing glass on which a protective film is glued. Suitable for cleaning tinted car windows.
To avoid streaks on the glass, windows should not be washed in bright sun or strong wind, as alcohol quickly evaporates and water dries, leaving behind marks.
Household chemicals
Modern gels and liquids make life easier for housewives; they cope with stains and dirt, leave no marks, and add shine to surfaces.
Washable glass cleaners
For washing windows, chemical compounds are produced that tidy up plastic surfaces, tiles, and mirrors.
"Mister Muscle"
A Turkish company supplies detergent to different countries that helps get rid of stains, dirt, dust, and oil on shop windows and car windows. The composition of "Mr. Muscle" includes:
- dyes;
- organic solvent;
- ammonia;
- sodium citrate.
The liquid cleans the mirror, restores shine, and gives a pleasant smell. The product has an antibacterial effect and is available in plastic bottles with and without a sprayer.
Help
Glass cleaner with lemon scent is produced by a company from Russia based on isopryl alcohol. When turning the nozzle, it is evenly sprayed on the mirror and wiped with a cloth or paper napkin.
LOC
The product, produced by Amway in the form of a blue liquid, not only removes soot and dirt from computer and TV monitors and glass, but also restores the radiant shine to mirrors. The cleaner does not contain phosphates, chlorine, or acids that irritate the skin and respiratory tract. The product is based on herbal ingredients.
Clin
Clin brand window cleaning liquid copes with oil stains, varnish marks, dust on plastic, wooden and mirror surfaces. The product, the active component of which is alcohol, is inexpensive, but effectively performs its functions.
Frosch Glass Cleaner
The green spray, which is sold in plastic bottles with a spray dispenser and is produced in Germany, foams well and allows you to wash dirt, stains, stains from glass and mirrors from splashes. The spray contains lemon extract and is safe for use.
Ecover
The Belgian company produces hypoallergenic household products, and women are happy to use the spray, which is sold in 0.5 liter plastic bottles. “Ecover” cleans glass, plastic, bathtubs, and mirrors, disinfects from germs, does not contain chemicals, and does not cause irritation to the skin.
Synergetic
The product, recommended for washing smooth surfaces, does not contain synthetic or toxic substances. The liquid contains alcohol, essential oils, and alkyl polyglycoside. The windshield wiper has clear advantages:
- Forms a film on the surface.
- Kills bacteria.
- Does not cause allergies.
- The active components are completely decomposed.
Synergetic is sprayed over the surface and does not require the use of abrasives. The product removes dirt, but does not remove limescale.
Cif
Liquid for washing plastic and wooden windows copes with old stains on mirrors, does not form streaks, does not leave marks, dissolving any dirt. Cif attracts not only its efficiency, but also its price.
Professional mirror cleaning products
To clean glass, dishes, plumbing fixtures, and plastic, domestic and foreign companies produce liquids, sprays, pastes, and powders. Many of them are used to care for mirrors.
"Spectrum-pro"
In hotels, shops, train stations, sanatoriums and boarding houses, schools and kindergartens, crystal products, shop windows, ceramics, plastic coverings, windows and mirrors are washed with the “Special Pro” product. The liquid removes dirt, grime, grease stains, dries quickly, and repels dust. It contains no alkalis or phosphates; housewives prone to allergies are better off using this product in everyday life.
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Aquapel
Several years ago, an American company developed a professional car glass cleaner that has a water-repellent effect and removes dirt and deposits. After opening the ampoule, the liquid is applied to the mirror surface and wiped with a regular paper napkin.
Automotive varieties
Rain Brella is one of the new products in the chemical industry that effectively washes car windows, protects against environmental influences, and repels:
- dust;
- water;
- dirt.
Armol All removes soot, traces of insects, greasy film, and adds transparency and shine.
Pinco antistatic removes nicotine, dirt, and oil stains without forming streaks. The Nova windshield wiper cleans your mirrors and headlights. The drug Ravenol copes with traces of tobacco smoke and removes fat.
Monitor cleaning liquid
The Buro brand produces a gel that removes stains and fingerprints on office equipment, TV screens, laptops, and tablets. The product comes with a microfiber cloth to wipe away dirt. The glass cleaner consists of preservatives, antistatic agents, and thickeners. The liquid washes glasses, video cameras, mirrors, and is very economical.
Mirrors without streaks: special napkins
Several large companies produce such products. Napkins for cleaning mirrors without streaks are made of special microfiber fiber. They do not require the use of any cleaning liquids. Among the most popular brands are the following:
- GreenWay. The product of this company makes washing mirrors without streaks and marks a real pleasure. Using a napkin is very simple: you need to moisten it in water, squeeze out excess liquid and wipe the surface. There is no need to wipe the glass dry afterward. The cost of a napkin is about 400 rubles.
- White cat. The company's products can be classified as professional. They clean surfaces perfectly and leave no streaks at all. Good quality also costs accordingly - about 1000 rubles.
- Faberlic. Budget but reliable option. It copes well with various stains and, when used skillfully, does not leave streaks. The cost of the product is about 130 rubles.
Follow these tips for caring for your home and it will be sparkling clean.
Today you can wash a mirror without streaks using folk remedies or products from a modern household chemicals store easily and quickly. What exactly to choose is a personal matter for each housewife. The site “Beautiful and Successful” wishes each of its readers to find the best remedy for themselves. We hope our advice on this will be very useful.
Website www.sympaty.net – Beautiful and Successful. Author: Elena Burenyuk. More information about the site's authors
Rules and recommendations
To prevent streaks from forming on shiny surfaces, you must first remove stains and dirt and only then apply detergent. Do not clean the mirror with a hard sponge containing an abrasive material. After finishing washing, it is necessary to remove the remaining composition and wipe the surface with gauze or a paper napkin.
In case of significant contamination, the treatment is carried out not with the dry powder used to clean dishes, but with a liquid slurry; the residues are washed with a stream of water.
Foam cleaners for mirrors and glass
Spray foam Nihon Detergent lime
The Japanese cleaning product is effective for washing double-glazed windows and mirrors in residential and industrial premises. It cleans car windshields well from dust, dirt, and insects broken at speed. It has an antibacterial effect and removes fat deposits from any surfaces.
Nihon Detergent spray foam is easily applied via a spray bottle to glass items, then wiped with a natural cloth. The result is a clean, shiny double-glazed window, and a light citrus aroma remains in the room.
Volume: 400 ml.
Country of origin: Japan.
Cost: 115 rubles.
Spray foam Nihon Detergent lime
Advantages:
- economical consumption;
- dissolves organic contaminants;
- has a pleasant lemon aroma;
- suitable for all glass coatings;
- Cleans monitors and TV screens.
Flaws:
- small volume;
- heterogeneity of surface cleaning.
Foam spray Nordland Active Foam
Spray is a specially developed foam for cleaning various types of glass and mirror coatings. After cleaning, the products acquire a shiny appearance and no rainbow reflections.
The foam product is packaged in a stylish box with a dispenser and is supplied under pressure.
The foam spray does not contain alcohol and has a pleasant aroma.
Surfactants contain no more than 5%.
The composition includes a foaming agent (propane, butane, isobutane) and flavoring agents.
Country of origin: Italy.
Foam volume: 500 ml.
Cost: 290 rubles.
Foam spray Nordland Active Foam
Advantages:
- foam is convenient to use;
- cleanses effectively;
- dries quickly.
Flaws:
- not detected.
Secrets
Having tried various methods of cleaning glass, housewives choose a product whose use guarantees the absence of traces.
Removing limescale
It is recommended to wash off the bathroom mirror with a sponge or cotton swab dipped in cologne. If you wipe the surface with a mixture made from vinegar, chalk and water, you can get rid of limescale.
Anti-fog
Due to excess humidity, tiles and mirrors in the bathroom lose their shine. Many women cover surfaces with gelatin, dissolving 1 tsp. powder in a quarter glass of water, which prevents fogging and gives shine.
How to protect against insects
To prevent flies and bugs from contaminating the mirror, rub it with an onion cut in half. The juice of the vegetable repels parasites and removes black spots left by insect paws.
How to achieve the perfect shine
To make a mirror or glass shine, the surface is washed with laundry soap, dried with a rag, treated with blue or green tea, and wiped with a napkin.
Removing sticker marks
Melamine sponge, which has a dense structure, copes with various substances. When wetted in water, it forms a foam that washes away the glue. You can remove it with nail polish remover, solvent, or store-bought Sticker Remover.
How to quickly remove marker marks
Inscriptions on glass and mirrors made with alcohol compounds are easily dissolved with vodka, cologne, and shaving lotion. To get rid of traces of another type of marker, rub in sunflower and olive oil and remove the inscriptions with a dry cloth.
How to wash a mirror
There are several rules that will prevent the appearance of unwanted marks. A dirty mirror should be washed in the following order:
- Remove dirt and grease from the surface. Dried stains can be carefully scraped off with a blade. If the dirt is old, apply glass cleaning liquid for 10-15 minutes. Don't forget about the corners: that's where the most dirt accumulates. You can degrease the mirror using dishwashing detergent.
- Rinse off the soap solution and wipe with a clean wet cloth. Repeat if necessary.
- Polish. There will be no streaks left if you take gauze or other soft cloth and rub the surface with intense circular movements, lightly pressing on the cloth.
Attention! Mirrors should not be washed with hard sponges, powders, or abrasive substances. They leave behind scratches that spoil the look and weaken the reflectivity.