Make Glass Surfaces Shine With A Bathroom Staple

Few things make a home feel fresher than spotless glass with a streak-free finish. The way sunlight slips through it and the reflections bounce back without a trace of haze make everything feel a little more put together. Alas, that perfection rarely lasts. Give it a few days, and fingerprints start multiplying like gossip. In the bathroom, toothpaste flecks cling to mirrors and shower doors gather soap scum as if it's their job. You try wiping it with plain water, but streaks are all you get in return. That's because water alone cannot dissolve oils and residue that the glass collects daily. What you need at this point is something probably already in your bathroom cabinet right now. We're talking about hydrogen peroxide.

It can break down the kind of buildup most cleaners merely smear around. With its mild oxidizing nature, it lifts away the residue and leaves behind a streak-free finish that looks almost too good to be true. What's more, it complements your cleaning routine with its disinfecting properties. However, for it to work effectively as a disinfectant, it needs at least 10 minutes of contact time, which isn't always practical on vertical surfaces where liquid can drip down before it has the chance to do its job. But when it comes to disinfecting flat surfaces like glass tables, it does the trick fairly well. Besides, unlike harsh chemicals, it doesn't leave your space smelling like a science lab, which is a plus.

Glass remembers every touch and every droplet of soap scum. You can't, therefore, splash some water and expect it to sparkle. It won't reward shortcuts like that. To bring back its shine, grab a spray bottle and fill it with hydrogen peroxide. Spray it directly onto the microfiber cloth — not the glass itself. Then, wipe in circular motions to clean the glass in your home. The streaks will melt away, leaving behind that clean gleam that almost feels meditative to look at.

If the glass isn't too far gone, say, just a week's worth of fingerprints and fog, you can go for a milder solution. Mix about ¼ cup of hydrogen peroxide with 4 cups of water. You'll then otherwise use the solution the same way: Spray your cloth, not the glass, and wipe in circular motions on spots that need extra lift. Otherwise, side to side is fine.

It'll cut away mineral spots and that invisible layer that dulls your crystal-clear shower doors and other glass surfaces over time. The beauty of hydrogen peroxide is that, besides cleaning, it renews the glass by giving it back its breath. And when your reflection meets you from that spotless surface, you'll feel like you've wiped the noise off your day, too.