How do shiny surfaces reflect light better than others?

Question: How do shiny surfaces reflect light better than others?
- Keywords:
  light,
  material,
  properties
Asked by Meg to Chris, Rebecca on 26 Jun 2015.
- Rebecca Dewey answered on 26 Jun 2015:
  
  Because in shiny surfaces, all the edges are lined up and facing the same direction, rather than all higgledy-piggledy and rough like with dull surfaces. Nice flat shiny surfaces reflect all the light in the same direction (such as towards your eyes) rather than in all different directions.

Question: How do shiny surfaces reflect light better than others?