If you want to open up a space and make it look brighter, reflective surfaces such as glass or mirrors really help. The downside, of course, is that these surfaces are easily-soiled by things like fingerprints and dust. Smudges and smears, and inadequate cleaning techniques can leave behind streaks or lint, but for clean and sparkling reflective surfaces here’s what you need to do to keep these surfaces shining
- Use the right tools
While paper towels are convenient, they will undoubtedly provide you with an inferior clean. For best results—and a streak-free shine—get your hands on a squeegee, microfiber cloth, or chamois and reserve these for your reflective surfaces.
- Use non-toxic cleaners
White distilled vinegar, distilled water, and some lemon leave windows looking crystal clear without the odors and left behind residue of harsh chemicals. A simple glass cleaning recipe is one part white vinegar, four parts distilled water, and a few drops of lemon essential oil (optional).
- Move top-down
Whenever you’re cleaning, you should always start from the top of the surface and work your way down to avoid having dust, dirt, and other debris fall down just cleaned surfaces. Starting from the bottom and moving up can disturb debris, causing it to fall over freshly cleaned areas.
- Towel-lined sills
To prevent fallen debris from settling into the crevices of windowsills, particularly wooden sills, line them with paper towels.
- Wet the cloth not the surface
Never spray the surface with cleaner when cleaning glass as this contributes to streaks if you can’t buff away the cleaner quickly enough. And drips can cause dirt to get trapped in seams and corners.
- Circular, straight-line motions
Use small circular motions for places with spots and streaks. Once removed, use straight vertical and then horizontal lines to ensure the surface is streak-free and sparkling.
- Cotton swabs for corners
For a comprehensive and detailed clean, use cotton swabs to remove dirt that’s settled or fallen into corners. You can also use a soft bristled toothbrush.
- Buff
Finish off the surface by buffing with newspaper or a soft cotton t-shirt/cloth to dry and polish.
When you’re ready for a thorough and professional clean, call N&A Commercial Cleaning for a free quote and evaluation of your commercial property.
