How to Clean a Mirror Without Streaks
You might catch more flies with honey, but you’ll clean more glass with vinegar
We’ve all been there: There are streaks on your mirrors no matter how hard you clean them. The mirror mocks you by reflecting your aggravated face as you desperately try to remove the smudges. Luckily, it doesn’t have to be this way. In this guide, we’ll discuss how to clean mirrors with household supplies you probably already have to get a streak-free look.
Why Should You Clean Your Mirrors?
Hanging mirrors in your home serve as decor and are also convenient for checking your appearance before you leave your home, and larger mirrors can make your rooms feel larger. Regardless of the purpose your mirrors serve, they can easily get smudged by fingers, streaky from cleaning products, and dusty just from sitting in your home.
Dirty mirrors make your rooms look unkempt, and since smudges and debris on the surface reduces the amount of light reflected, they could make your rooms look a little darker than normal. If you haven’t cleaned the mirrors in your living space in a while, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the impact this simple home cleaning project has on your home’s appearance and cleanliness.
How to Clean a Mirror
There are a few different household items you can use to clean your mirrors, most of which you probably already have lying around.
Using Vinegar
White vinegar is a great DIY cleaning solution because it’s readily available and safe around pets and kids. Plus, the acetic acid in vinegar helps break down minerals in hard water so they don’t leave streaks when cleaning, and the fast evaporation helps as well.
Mix distilled white vinegar with cold water in a 1-to-1 ratio in a spray bottle.
Use a microfiber cloth to rub off any dust, dirt, or heavy smudges.
Spray your vinegar and water mixture on the glass.
Wipe the mirror with a clean microfiber cloth.
Repeat as necessary to remove heavy soiling or smudges.
Using Dish Soap
Dish soap is another great option for cleaning mirrors, especially if you have heavy soiling or oils from fingers and hands on the surface.
Mix a cup of warm water with 4 or 5 drops of liquid dish soap in a spray bottle.
Wipe dust and other loose debris off of the mirror with a microfiber cloth or duster.
Shake your spray bottle lightly, and then use it to spray your mirror.
Wipe the mirror down with a clean section of the microfiber cloth.
Repeat as necessary.
Finish up with a 1-to-1 mixture of white vinegar and warm water to make sure you don’t get any streaks.
Dry your mirror with a clean microfiber cloth or an old black and white newspaper.
Using Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) is an ideal cleaning solution for mirrors because it evaporates entirely and leaves no residue behind, guaranteeing a streak-free shine. Plus, alcohol can break down hair spray residue and other remnants of hygiene products on your bathroom mirrors. Rubbing alcohol is also great for cleaning soap scum off of glass shower doors.
Wipe dust and other debris off of your mirrors using a microfiber cloth.
Wet a clean microfiber or cotton cloth with rubbing alcohol.
Use the wet cloth to rub down the mirror, paying particular attention to heavily soiled areas.
Let the mirror dry, and then repeat as necessary to remove oils and smudges.
Cleaning Tough Stains
If you’re using tap water to clean your mirrors, there’s a chance you’ll leave mineral deposits behind if you have hard water in your area. To get hard water stains off of your mirrors, you’ll want to use straight vinegar after a thorough clean.
Wipe dust and dirt off of your mirror with a clean cloth.
Mix a few drops of liquid dish soap with a cup of warm water in a shaker bottle and shake gently.
Spray down your mirror, and then wipe clean with a fresh microfiber cloth.
Repeat using just water.
Soak a cotton ball in white vinegar and gently scrub any remaining hard water stains. The acid in the oil should break down the minerals.
Wipe your mirror clean with a microfiber cloth or dry with an old black and white newspaper.
Cleaning Mirror Streaks
If you’ve just cleaned your mirrors and you already have streaks, you’re likely either leaving the cleaning solution behind or you’re cleaning with hard tap water. In either case, isopropyl alcohol is the best solution.
Wait for the mirror to dry completely after cleaning.
Soak a cotton ball in isopropyl alcohol.
Rub the alcohol over the streaks.
Let the mirror air-dry completely.
Repeat as necessary until all the streaks are gone.
Tips for Cleaning Mirrors
If you’ve taken the proper steps to clean your mirrors and you’re still running into issues with streaks or dirty-looking glass, here are some tips you can use for better results.
Spot-Treat Leftover Smudges With a Microfiber Cloth
If any sneaky, stubborn streaks get left behind on the glass after your first go, wipe them off with a dry microfiber cloth. You can also treat with a cotton ball soaked in isopropyl alcohol if they’re particularly problematic.
Use a Cotton Towel to Pick Up Any Remaining Lint
Once you’re sure the surface is completely dry after cleaning, give it a once-over with a dry cotton towel. If you attempt to buff the glass while it is still wet, you’ll only relocate the lint. Microfiber cloths can also work in this situation, but they will often add more lint due to the static cling.
Test Your Newspaper
If you don’t have a lint-free cloth to wipe the mirror down with, you can use a crumpled up newspaper. But know that it has to have petroleum-based ink instead of soy. If in doubt, test a small area to make sure no residue gets left behind.
Get Corners With a Toothbrush
When you can’t get residue and lint out of the corners of a framed mirror, dip a toothbrush in rubbing alcohol and brush every nook and cranny.
Do Your Best to Avoid Dust
Dust will naturally accumulate in your home, coat the surface of your mirrors, and make them look hazy. There are some things you can do to reduce dust in your living space, and these can go a long way toward keeping your mirrors clean and shiny in between cleanings.
Consider Calling a Professional
Finally, know that it’s normal to battle with lint and other household annoyances (the struggle is real). You can also get in touch with a house cleaner near you and have them tackle it for you, along with expertly cleaning the rest of your home.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro
Cleaning the mirrors in your home is a simple DIY project that any homeowner can tackle, regardless of experience. With the strategies and tips mentioned above, you should be able to achieve a streak-free shine on your mirrors with relative ease.
However, if you want to save time, get other parts of your house cleaned simultaneously, or you have obnoxious hard water that makes streak-free cleaning impractical, you can always pay for a professional house cleaner. They should be able to tackle cleaning your mirrors and other parts of your home at an affordable price.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are a few reasons your mirrors might have smears on them after cleaning, but the two most likely are remaining cleaning product and minerals from hard water. If you used a commercial glass cleaner, consider spraying down the mirror with a 1-to-1 ratio of white vinegar and water after cleaning and then wiping it dry with a cotton cloth. If you suspect hard water is the issue, use a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol to spot-clean the streaks, and then let the mirror air-dry.
You should avoid multi-surface cleaners, bleach, and any cloth or scrubbing material that has a rough surface when cleaning mirrors. Multi-surface cleaners and bleach will get smudges and debris off of the glass, but they more often leave behind cleaner residue because they don’t evaporate like a glass cleaner or rubbing alcohol. Additionally, any abrasive material or even the scrubbing side of a sponge can scratch your glass or coatings on the glass, gradually making the mirror look hazy.
You should dust your mirrors once every one to two weeks as a part of your normal cleaning routine, and you should plan on cleaning with a glass cleaner or DIY cleaning solution once a month or so. This will help reduce the buildup of hygiene products like hair spray on the mirror, as well as oils and dirt from fingers. You can always spot-clean between regular cleanings if you notice your mirror getting dirty or smudged.