There are various products on the market advertised to clean mirrors and glass to a sparkling and streak-free finish. Eco-friendly types will swear that homemade mixtures of vinegar and water or rubbing alcohol will do the job just as well. Here are tips for cleaning glass that may surprise Héloise herself.
Cleaning Mirrors
Everyone has experienced cleaning their mirror in the bathroom only to look back and see unsightly streaks and cloudy areas. Then, after a second or third wipe down, the mirror looks even worse. What product is best? Is a cloth or a paper towel better? These are questions everyone wonders as they are looking at the mess they just made on the mirror.
Actually, the solution is easier than one might imagine. According to the Glass Association of North America, the best solution to use on a mirror is plain water. Yes, just water. Here are their directions:
- Saturate a clean, lint-free cloth with warm tap water
- Wring most of the water from cloth
- Wipe spots and grime off mirror
- Dry and polish with second-lint free cloth
It really works! The lint-free cloth is very important and works better than paper towels. A microfiber cloth is even better, but not necessary. Try it. It costs nothing! Then, goodbye window cleaner!
Keeping Fiberglass Showers and Doors Clean
Cleaning the fiberglass shower stall is easy if it's kept up. Use a mild cleaner and water, such as dish detergent or Clorox’s Green Works natural dilutable cleaner. Put a couple squirts of dish detergent or a capful of the Green Works cleaner into a spray bottle and fill with warm tap water. Spray on shower walls and floor and use a wet sponge to wipe down.
If the shower stall needs a little elbow grease, use a cleaning sponge that has a sponge on one side and a non-abrasive scrubber on the other. If a grease monkey uses the shower and there are especially grimey spots, put a little Bon Ami on the scrubber side of the wet sponge and work to a pasty substance and then scrub away!
For the shower doors, the best way to keep them looking clean and clear is to invest in a bath squeegee and squeegee down the doors after every shower. It takes just a minute and very little effort. The squeegee can be used on the shower stall as well.
If the doors have water buildup, work on them with the Green Works solution first. If the doors are not coming clean easily, use Cerama-Bryte (the cleaner for smooth cooktops) rinse, and polish dry. Then invest in a nice looking squeegee with a hanging hook.
Cleaning Glass Vases and Candle Holders
Glass vases that are dusty or clouded from the inside aren’t very attractive. Periodically, run glass vases through a dishwasher cycle and rub off any remaining spots.
For glass candleholders that have wax residue and grime etched on the inside, Cerama Bryte is the ultimate for cleaning them! Just remove as much of the wax as possible, squirt a little Cerama Bryte into the candle holder and scrub with the scrubber side of a wet cleaning sponge. The glass candle holder will look like new! (If glass vases have a hard water line, the Cerama Bryte will remove that as well.)
It really doesn’t take an arsenal of cleaning products to clean the glass in a home. By using these simple techniques regularly, a home's glass will sparkle!
Other articles of interest:
"Setting up a Bachelor's Kitchen"
Resources:
Glass Association of North America
Jan Peterson - I'm a retired banker, published songwriter, cyber journalist, and member of the advisory board for the Arizona Music & Entertainment Hall ...
Join the Conversation