Bathroom mirrors come with their own set of challenges. They are constantly fogged up or covered in smudges and you have to bend or lean to get a clear view of your face. Then there’s the mess that lies behind the glass, the jumble of bottles and jars in the medicine cabinet. Learn how to straighten up this area and get clean mirrors and medicine cabinets.

Clean Mirrors

First decide what you’d like to clean with. A vinegar-water solution does wonders when it comes to mirror cleaning, but of course you can use a conventional glass cleaner as well. Another decision is whether to use paper towels, a cloth, or newspaper. Cloths are reusable and the most environmentally-friendly. However, both paper towels and some cloths might leave lint on your window. If using a cloth, choose a microfiber or lint-free one. Newspapers leave no lint and most won’t leave ink on your glass, but might on your frames or anything that’s not glass.

Once you’ve decided on your cleaning liquid and tools, rub your window using a circular motion. Go from top to bottom. When the whole mirror has been cleaned, dry with a microfiber cloth (or a squeegee if you have one). No more unsightly streaks.

Clean Medicine Cabinet

Remove everything from the cabinet. Use soapy water and a clean cloth or sponge to wipe down the walls and shelves of the cabinet. Use a clean cloth to dry.

Check Expiration Dates

While you’re here cleaning your medicine cabinet, you might as well go through its contents, right? Often people will keep products for years. Here’s a quick guide to the shelf life of common medicine cabinet items:

• Medicines—Both prescription and over-the-counter drugs will have an expiration date on the container.
• Mascara—Mascara has a short shelf life of only 3 months. Definitely keep this one in mind as mascara carries bacteria back and forth from your eye to the tube. The longer you keep it, the more bacteria it will have.
• Foundations and Concealers—Eighteen months, twelve for ones that are oil-free.
• Eye pencils, Eye shadows, Lipsticks, Blushes, Powders—2 years

Spot-cleaning

Spot-cleaning with rubbing alcohol is a great way to quickly fix small problem areas. Apply a good amount of rubbing alcohol to a cotton ball and scrub away any streaks or splatters. Remember to always start from the top and work your way down to the bottom.

Now your bathroom mirror is hassle-free: no more contortions to see your reflections, no more personal care products from the previous decade taking up space. Enjoy your clear and clean mirrors!