Cleaning Optical Mirrors

When cleaning your bathroom mirror, you probably just slap some Windex on a paper towel and get the job done. However, when you clean optical mirrors, you have to be just a little more careful.

Here is a list of products you’re going to need depending on your optical grade surface:

• Compressed air duster
• Microfiber cloth
• Kimtech wipes
• Isopropyl alcohol lens cleaner
• Foaming glass cleaner

How to Clean Dusty Mirrors

If you’re simply trying to get dust off of your mirror, a compressed air duster is your best option. This allows you to get almost all of the dust particles off of the surface without even touching it!

Simply take your duster and hold the can upright and level with your surface. This will knock off the debris, leaving you with a nice clean mirror.

Don’t shake the can or hold it in a downward facing position, as this will release coolant onto the mirror. If the coolant gets on the mirrors surface it can damage the coating, so be careful.

How to Clean Dirty Mirrors

For optical mirrors with a little more than dust on them and it’s more for a first surface coating, you’re going to need a little more than just air.

Isoprobyl alcohol lens cleaner, or a foaming action glass cleaner is ideal when it comes to an actual cleaner. Simply spray your surface down with whichever cleaner you choose.

As far as what you’ll use to actually wipe the surface down, we recommend using a microfiber cloth or Kimtech wipes for more delicate surfaces (such as 1/4 inch or 1/8 inch first surface mirrors).

Make sure that your glass cleaner is ammonia free, otherwise it will degrade the mirror coating over time.

What NOT to do

• Do not use any type of abrasive cloths (like abrasive Lysol wipes)
• Do not use a cleaner that contains ammonia

Happy Cleaning, Fellow Mirror Geeks!