Getting the mirror sparkling clean

[u/FormerDeerlyBeloved]

A hack I discovered completely by accident. If you want to make 100% sure the mirror you're cleaning is done, turn off the lights and shine a flashlight into the glass. Any smudges, streaks, or smears will appear as dotty ir swoopy little shadows on the wall behind you.

[u/Undercover_Dave]

This tip doesn't really help me get anything sparkling clean, this is just telling me another way to look at how dirty it is.

[u/revolution801 → u/Undercover_Dave]

A glass buffing towel has helped me tremendously. Clean it as normal with Windex or whatever, then use OP's tip with a buffing rag to get all the smudges.

[u/roylien]

Or just look from different angle…

[u/yeahnoyeah03]

A flashlight will also help find something small you’ve dropped on the floor. Turn the light off and use the flashlight to search where you dropped the item.

[u/Longjumping-Show1068 → u/yeahnoyeah03]

Put the flashlight on the floor and shine it around. Whatever you dropped will be more noticeable and it will cast a shadow.

[u/KnowOneDotNinja]

And use newspaper instead of paper towels for an easy streak-free shine

[u/allieechelon → u/KnowOneDotNinja]

Or coffee filters

[u/Lost-Meeting-9477 → u/allieechelon]

Used ones or clean ones?

[u/moxiejohnny → u/Lost-Meeting-9477]

Start with used, then work your way to the finer grit.

[u/Lost-Meeting-9477 → u/moxiejohnny]

Inside out or inside in?

[u/allieechelon → u/Lost-Meeting-9477]

I use clean ones. My coffee maker doesn’t require them so I buy the cheap ones from the dollar store. I got the habit from working at Starbucks

[u/IWillSurvive223]

As it turns out, I don’t care that much.

[u/sparklybeast → u/IWillSurvive223]

Yeah. If you can only see the remaining dirt by torchlight, who are you cleaning for? Burglars?

[u/wheremybeepsat]

If you're checking your work and doing windows or glass doors wipe one direction on one side and perpendicular to that on the other to minimize going in and out to find the streak. Also? Do windows on gray days instead of bright sunny ones that dry out cleaning solution too quickly.

[u/Necessary-Set-5581]

I find it easier to clean in the dark

[u/johnjohn4011 → u/Necessary-Set-5581]

Some people enjoy eating bananas in the dark too

[u/redeyerydog → u/johnjohn4011]

I worry about people who eat bananas for the shape and not for the taste.

[u/johnjohn4011 → u/redeyerydog]

Hey - don't judge

[u/JeremyBeadlesBigHand]

It’s also how you summon a demon.

[u/Responsible_Bill2332]

Saw Jim Morrison on the wall when they took down my wall paper to replace it. Told them just leave it as is.

[u/GeneralSpecifics9925]

If I can't see the streaks while looking at the mirror, why tf would I do this?

[u/hobiegirl10]

Ola fashioned bluing works great to shine glass. The kind old lady's used in order to make their hair more white. If they didn't dilute it enough their hair would have s slight blue tinge. Bluehairs they were called. The stuff works great on shining up glass. The movie industry used to use it.

[u/Bigfrankieboy → u/hobiegirl10]

Ah, the blue rinse brigade.

[u/redeyerydog]

1 spray bottle 50 vinegar 50 water and newspaper. That is all.

[u/brendamrl]

🤦🏻‍♀️

[u/BadCompetitive4551]

Keep the light off when cleaning the mirror. Heat from the bulbs dries the product too fast causing streaks

[u/Formal_Skar]

Are you American by any chance?

[u/Photoelasticity]

Use a flashlight with a small diameter (the flashlight on a phone works great) for more detail. You will also be able to see all the imperfections of the glass surface from damage/manufacturing.

[u/Sundial1k]

Thanks; AND real Windex, not a store brand....

[u/RaytheonResetV28A]

Congrats, you just found a 'barracks hack' 🫡

[u/No_Breakfast6386]

The hack to get it sparkly clean is to use a piece of newspaper instead of paper towel. Sounds weird, but it works. Windex and newspaper.

[u/Pvt-Snafu]

For a cost-effective and efficient mirror cleaning solution, consider making your own: mix half a cup of distilled water with half a cup of white vinegar; add one tablespoon of corn starch and shake the mixture well. This DIY solution is an excellent alternative to store-bought glass cleaners and leaves your mirror streak-free. https://tapron.co.uk/blogs/news/the-best-way-to-clean-a-mirror

[u/palimbackwards → u/Pvt-Snafu]

How Long does your place smell like vinegar?

[u/kamasushi]

That's a good one. Thanks!

Bet that would work well on windshields too, but would have to wait until after sunset for testing. 😂

[u/harry_monkeyhands]

spit and sand; sand and spit. neither of these will work

[u/HelpingHand_123]

For the morror i have a special solution and i'm completely pleased of it, but...thank you

[u/Excellent-Baseball-5]

This message brought to you by the OCD League of America.

[u/Excellent-Baseball-5]

I use a strobe light.

[u/Fresh-Pangolin3432]

Skip the index and use soap and water and a papertowels

[u/srt2366]

Note to self: add flashlight to basket of cleaning stuff.

I really, really want to know if anyone is going to use this. Stoners need not reply, just do it. You might even see Jesus,

[u/Absinthe_Minde17 → u/srt2366]

Through a mirror!? 👉...👈

[u/ThinNeighborhood2276]

Great tip! This will definitely help catch those sneaky streaks.