In my house, we split chores 50/50. Taking out the trash and vacuuming are outside my domain, but I take my bathroom deep-cleans very seriously. You'd think that this would mean I've got my bathroom cleaning routine down to a fine art, and while I mostly do, there's one problem I always come up against when buffing my shower screen and bathroom mirror at the end of a clean: lint.
Bathrooms can get dusty, so it makes sense that your damp, freshly-buffed surfaces become a magnet for any lint that's floating in the air. I asked bathroom experts how to remove dust and streaks from bathroom mirrors and glass, and they shared a number of useful tips, one of which involves an old newspaper.
“With just a few small tweaks to your routine," says Andy Ellis, bathroom expert at Vidalux, "you can easily leave your bathroom looking fresher and cleaner for longer."
So if you're anything like me, you may appreciate some of these tips yourself.
Why it's so hard to get that spotless finish
Bathrooms are surprisingly susceptible to lint. They're often humid, have poor ventilation and experience high levels of dust. So when you've scrubbed your shower screen free of limescale and removed all those toothpaste marks from your mirror, you may find that lint is quick to dry on this damp surface.
And in my experience, even going in with a dry cloth to buff it clean won't save it from specs of fiber sticking to my polished surfaces. It's my number one bugbear when I do my weekly clean.
“If you’ve found yourself struggling to achieve a perfect streak-free finish after cleaning, the answer to your problems may well be sitting in your cupboard at home," says Andy Ellis, bathroom expert at Vidalux.
“Simple changes like switching to a microfiber cloth, mixing white vinegar and water, and buffing using crumpled newspaper can all make a huge difference to bathroom surfaces.
How to get rid of lint
Paper towels and sponges should be avoided as they help to smear soap scum.
According to Ellis, the problem could be your choice of cleaning tools.
"Use one damp cloth for cleaning, and a separate dry one for buffing," he advises. "Microfiber cloths are an effective choice as they trap grime and dry surfaces without leaving lint or streaks."
On the other hand, using the wrong tools can actually make the problem worse. "Paper towels and sponges should be avoided as they help to smear soap scum."
And even if you're using the right products, you could still be causing issues by using them the wrong way.
"Prevent streaks by applying cleaning solutions straight onto a cloth, rather than directly onto mirrors or glass," says Ellis. "Wipe using an S-shaped motion to help achieve a streak-free finish, and for taps and chrome, use small circular motions to bring out their shine."
Using newspaper
The most unusual trick Ellis suggested involves using old newspaper. "Once everything is clean, use a microfiber cloth or even a crumpled newspaper to polish mirrors and glass until they gleam."
And what makes newspaper so effective? Apparently, it's related to its absorbency. "Thanks to its texture, newspapers absorb cleaning solutions effectively and won’t leave lint behind, helping to achieve a streak-free finish."
I'll be trying this trick the next time I clean my bathroom. Would you?
Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!
