We know that cleaning mirrors with Windex may be risky and simple. Ammonia is the primary component in Windex products. Ammonia is a powerful and suitably abrasive chemical. Ammonia can harm your skin, eyes, and lungs, though. Hence, this article talks about – How to clean a mirror without Windex.
Whether it’s the living room or the bathroom, a dirty mirror may detract from the beauty of the entire area. A mirror is simple to clean, but many people don’t know how to do it properly.
I’ll list the top five Windex substitutes in this article. Dish soap, vinegar, rubbing alcohol, shaving cream, and dry sheet are all you need to produce a safe and efficient glass cleaning option. These options are perfect if you want to:
- Create your cleaning solution at home with inexpensive supplies.
- Use a less chemically laden, more natural alternative.
- Use a less costly formula to save money.
For your convenience, here is a simple housekeeping tip on how to clean glass without Windex. With a few basic materials from your kitchen, you’ll be astonished at how simple it is.
Also Read: How To Clean Samsung Washer
Table of Contents
Safety precautions before you you clean the mirror without windex
These safety measures should be kept in mind before you start cleaning:
- Do not clean the mirror with any acidic or alkaline cleansers. They can damage the mirror’s backing, edges, and surface.
- Avoid using cleaning products with strong ammonia bases. These can also degrade a mirror by harming the edges and backing of the mirror.
- Never immediately spritz any cleaning onto a mirror. Instead, dab a delicate cloth with the cleanser before cleaning the mirror.
- Always clean with soft, grit-free clothes to lessen the danger of scratching a mirror.
- To ensure no cleaner touches the border and backing, fully dry all seams and edges.
- Avoid wiping off the surface of several mirrors at once. Wipe the joints in the same direction as when cleaning many mirrors mounted on a wall. By doing this, the cleaner won’t accumulate where the mirrors join.
- Keep your glass cleaner alternatives and other mixtures away from pets and children.
- Use dark-coloured glass spray bottles to stop your cleaning products from degrading too soon.
How to clean a mirror without windex?
You might be perplexed as to why you would choose a DIY cleaning solution over one like Windex. Most people stop using Windex because of its contents rather than the way it cleans their glass surfaces. Keeping ammonia-based solutions around when you have pets, or young children may be deadly.
Even though they use some of the same risk-free components as professional glass cleaners, such as water and rubbing alcohol, these secure substitutes perform just as well. Here are five straightforward Windex substitutes you may use to clean your mirrors if you’re wondering, “How can I clean my mirror without Windex?”
Method 1: Use water and dish soap
Surprisingly, dish soap works well on mirrors. This is a fairly inexpensive and generally successful approach to cleaning your windows or mirrors.
Use a lint-free substance, such as a microfiber cloth or something like that. It may be really helpful in removing the filth from your mirrors in addition to cutting through the oil on your plates.
The step-by-step guidelines are here:
- Dust your mirror first to get rid of the dust.
- Combine three drops of dish soap with one gallon of warm water. Avoid using too much detergent since it might leave streaks.
- Dampen a cloth in the bucket. To ensure the mirror is clean, wipe it down with a wet cloth, but not so wet that it drips. Spend about a minute letting it sit
- Dry the mirror with a clean microfiber towel, working your way down from the top.
- Add a few teaspoons of lemon juice for a fresh, clean smell.
Note: People got very good experience with dawn power wash cleansing agents.
Method 2: Using vinegar
Try using a solution of white vinegar and distilled water to clean your mirrors if you’re searching for a simple and efficient method. You may thoroughly clean your mirror with vinegar and water without damaging it.
Combine vinegar and water to create your cleaner at home. A spray bottle, vinegar, and water are all you need. It’s that simple.
The step-by-step guidelines are here:
- Dust your mirror to remove all the dust and other debris and make it simpler to clean.
- Fill a clean spray bottle with 1 cup of vinegar. To make this a bit simpler and cleaner, use a funnel.
- Fill the spray bottle with 1 cup of water using the same funnel.
- Spray a little of the mixture on your mirror and then clean it. The use of a microfiber cloth is advised.
Important: Vinegar can also damage your mirror if not used in the right way. Always spray the vinegar mixture first on the cloth then wipe it on the mirror.
Work your way along the mirror from top to bottom to reduce streaks. Whenever possible, use distilled water. Tap water is good, but distilled water is somewhat purer since it contains fewer minerals than tap water.
Method 3: Rubbing alcohol
Isopropyl alcohol, sometimes known as rubbing alcohol, is a potent disinfectant and germ-killer that may be used on several surfaces. When window cleaning is not an option, alcohol can efficiently clean glass.
You may clean your mirrors using alcohol and water, two common home cleansers, without damaging them. A fantastic substitute for many of these detergents and chemicals is alcohol. To clean your glass or window, you can purchase alcohol.
The step-by-step guidelines are here:
- Dust your mirror with a clean cloth to eliminate all those crumbs and simplify cleaning.
- Fill a clean spray container with 1 cup of rubbing alcohol. This may be made much simpler and less messy by using a funnel.
- Fill the spray bottle with two cups of water using the same funnel.
- After tightening the spray nozzle, give the bottle a gentle shake, and you’re ready to clean.
- Spray a tiny quantity on your mirror and wipe it down completely with a microfiber cloth. Work your way down, starting at the top.
- Using a microfiber cloth will prevent you from dealing with paper towel lint.
Method 4: Use shaving cream
Would you have ever guessed that shaving cream might be used to clean a mirror? We were also shocked. However, it truly does work well and is especially helpful for cleaning bathroom mirrors.
Did you know that using shaving cream to clean your mirror would prevent it from fogging up when you’re taking a shower in addition to just cleaning it? Cleaning your mirror with shaving cream achieves two duties in one.
The step-by-step guidelines are here:
- Rub a small shaving cream all over your mirror.
- Use a fresh microfiber towel to buff the shaving cream from the mirror.
When using shaving cream, less is more. Because you may always add more if necessary, start using a small quantity.
Method 5: Using water and a dry sheet
While thinking outside the box, using a dryer sheet is another do-it-yourself method to clean your glass surfaces without glass cleaner. Many individuals use dryer sheets to clean their shower glass doors since they are considered effective for this task.
The step-by-step guidelines are here:
- Use a dry cloth to clean your mirror and frame thoroughly. To prevent streaks on your mirror, you should remove all the dust.
- Wipe the mirror with a dry sheet in a “Z” pattern or with long strokes going from top to bottom.
- Re-do step 2 if your mirror still has any streaks or patches from dry sheet splatter.
Conclusion
A mirror and a beautiful bathroom accessory may be useful for grooming and other uses. Of course, as long as you maintain it tidy. The most effective technique to maintain a clean mirror is to give it a frequent wipe-down with a cloth or paper towel dampened with glass cleaner or a similar cleaning agent.
But it’s better not to use ammonia-based cleaners like Windex because they might harm your health and your family’s health. Additionally, there are a lot of cleaners available on the market. You can manufacture it yourself, which is healthy and natural if you’re uncomfortable. The easiest approach to clean a mirror without Windex is described above, along with how to clean mirrors without Windex.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
Can I clean the mirror with just water?
Yes, you can clean the mirror with just water. But, it’s not the best option to use. Water helps you clean the mirror up to a certain level but, it will not help you in removing stains and marks.
How to clean mirror without leaving streaks?
There are a lot of options that you can use to clean the mirror without leaving streaks. For example – dish soap, vinegar, shaving cream and rubbing alcohol are few best options.
Can I use Windex to clean the mirror?
Yes, you can use Windex to clean mirror but, it will make your mirror foggy as it contains excessive soap.