Mirrors, windows and taps: why do streaks keep showing up?

Too much cleaner leaves a film. This residue shows up in natural light or when the mirror is viewed from the side.

It is usually more effective to use little product and change cloths often than to saturate the surface.

A cloth used across several areas accumulates dust, grease, product, moisture and limescale. Instead of lifting marks, it ends up moving them.

Using clean and separate cloths for cleaning and then finishing clearly improves the result.

Where water is hard, every drop left on taps can dry into a mark. Drying matters as much as cleaning.

After rinsing, the surface should be wiped with a clean, dry cloth, especially around joints and the base of the tap.

A mirror can look clean head-on but show streaks from the side. Bathroom lighting, window light or a side lamp help.

Edges also matter, as product and dust tend to build up there.

Large windows can carry fingerprints, dust, splashes, pet marks, deposits linked to heating, and marks left by a previous clean.

When very dirty, one step is not always enough. First remove the soiling, then finish.

Chrome, black, gold or brass finishes do not all tolerate the same cleaners. An aggressive product can dull or mark some coatings.

Without instructions, it is safer to start gentle and test on a discreet area.

Some marks are not soiling: micro-scratches, worn coating, glass attacked by limescale, pitted mirror, damaged surface treatment.

Cleaning can improve the look but does not restore a damaged material.

A properly finished shiny surface usually goes through: soiling removal, cleaning with the right product, optional rinsing, drying, checks from several angles and targeted touch-ups if needed.