Tips on Cleaning Mirrored Furniture
Mirrored furniture gives a space irresistible sass, sophistication and high-wattage shine.It is true that mirrored furniture looks amazing in any home. If you don’t stay on top of care and maintenance, mirrored pieces will go from glam to grimy before you know it. However, we can be very wary about how exactly we maintain this form of furniture. Here are tips on keeping mirror furniture to a high standard and keeping it as shiny as possible!
You should never dive right into cleaning a mirrored furniture item, as there are many restrictions to this process. Follow these tips to keep reflective tables, dressers, case goods and other furnishings at their sparkly best.
Here are the key items you should use when cleaning this material:
Microfibre cloth to buff out the mirror to remove any finger marks, without leaving fibre residue.
Glass-friendly polish to apply regularly to the mirrored furniture to add shine.
Glass-friendly antibacterial spray will rid of any dirt or bacteria build up without harming the glass.
Distilled white vinegar combined with water for more stubborn marks.
Begin the cleaning process by dusting the mirrored furniture with a dry, soft microfibre cloth, removing the dust that would normally accumulate on the cloth whilst cleaning. Be sure not to use a duster with too coarse or brittle bristles, as this could cause scratches. Using this same cloth you can thoroughly clean your mirrored furniture. You can either use commercially sold glass cleaner, or alternatively you can create your own cleaner by mixing traces of vinegar and dish soap with warm water. The ratios should roughly be 1:1:10 respectively for these materials.
Sometimes you can see dust on mirrored furniture. Create a cleaning solution with a mixture of one part liquid fabric softener to four parts water. Store in a squirt bottle or lightly apply the solution to a soft microfibre cloth and wipe the mirrored furniture. Once this has been achieved, give it a once over with a dry cloth.
Light scratches aren’t deep enough to cause a serious problem, though it’s always good to remove them. This can be done so with a simple home remedy; all you’ll need is a soft microfibre cloth and a non-gel toothpaste. Baking soda works wonders for these scratches too, so if you have toothpaste with baking soda in it then that’s even better. First dampen the cloth, only mildly, with cold water and apply a small dollop of toothpaste to it. Next, in small circular motions, rub the toothpaste adorned cloth on the afflicted area for roughly a minute. If the entire surface could do with a clean then you can change the small circular motions to wide circular motions and spend roughly half a minute on each area; as long as each section receives that minimum amount of time on it.
However, with deep scratches, The actual solution to these scratches is paste wax furniture polish, which can be lightly applied to the afflicted area. A thin layer across these scratches, not too thin that it’s barely on there but not so thick that it leaves a noticeable rise in the surface level, should be applied. If it reflects light then it should be good to leave to dry. Once it has dried you can go at it with the buffing (whether it’s with a healthy amount of elbow grease or polishing pad attachment), though not before applying some cerium oxide. This can be found online in a variety of forms, though be sure to check the product description and/or any reviews to see how effective it is.
Benefits of Mirror
Aside from looking very modern and contemporary, metal beds and metal furniture items have their strong advantages, here’s why they make excellent additions to your home:
- Creates a highly luxurious and modern appeal to any bedroom.
- Has light-reflecting properties which creates the illusion of a larger room.
- Easily coordinated with each other or with other colours.
- Durable in structure and can last a long time, if looked after well.
- Produces a sparkling effect in your home.
- Currently on-trend which has led to a wide variation of mirrored furniture.
- Cannot be tarnished with spillage and liquid absorption.
The Dos and Don’ts of Mirror Care
Cleaning a mirrored furniture item can be daunting due to fear of causing scratches or damage, so here are some important tips of how to care for glass and mirrored furniture, as well as not what to do:
- Do buff the mirrored surface regularly to maintain shine.
- Do read all labels on cleaning products to check if they are glass-friendly prior to use.
- Do seek professional assistance for deep scratches or cracks in the furniture.
- Do not use rough cloths when cleaning glass/mirror as this could create scratches.
- Do not place items directly onto the glass to avoid damaging.
- Do not use heavy or harmful cleaning products as these may cause smears and further smudges.
What can I do to keep my mirrored furniture looking new?
Water and other liquids can mar the finish if they sit for too long, so wipe them up right away. Avoid using toiletries such as shaving cream, perfume, nail polish remover and rubbing alcohol near a mirrored piece over time, they can damage the surface. Furniture that has items such as console, side or coffee tables, can greatly benefit from subtle rubber pads being added to the bases of objects like sculptures, vases and ornaments. These will keep them in place, removing the risk of them sliding and scratching the surface.
Position mirrored pieces well away from doors. Otherwise, you may bang them when you enter a room or open a closet.
Kids and pets don’t mix well with mirrored surfaces, so stay away from using mirrored pieces in family spaces or other high-traffic zones. If you choose to do so, consider covering them with a soft sheet or quilt during playtime.
Use extra caution during transport. If you move mirrored furniture to a different spot in the house, take precautions to avoid breakage, chips and scrapes. Transport it by hand, as dollies and other mechanical devices can stress the joints and cause cracks, and never drop it or set it down hard. It may be worth hiring pros (licensed and insured) to handle very heavy, expensive or delicate pieces.