Many stains and grime can build up on your mirrors; whether it’s your bathroom mirror or a mirror elsewhere in your home, you’ll want to keep them gleaming and streak-free. But do you not know the best way to clean mirrors? With the simple guide, you can discover our top tips for cleaning mirrors without streaks for a glistening finish. From showing you the best thing to clean mirrors with to simple steps to bring the sparkle back to mirror glass, this simple guide will help you discover the best way to clean mirrors around your home. 

Depending on how dirty your mirror is, you may need rubbing alcohol to remove stubborn dirt—spot clean tricky areas with rubbing alcohol on cotton pads or a cotton cloth. If you have particularly hard water, use distilled water to compensate for the cleaning solution. If your mirror is prone to steaming up after baths and showers, follow the above steps by covering the mirror in shaving foam, wipe away and shine with the microfibre cloth. Make sure to use foam and not gel. 

Using newspaper

Using newspaper to clean mirrors and windows is an old-school cleaning trick, but the inks used today can leave residues behind. The best way to clean a mirror without streaks and sparkling clean is to use microfibre cloths or squeegees. If your mirrors aren’t too dirty or you want to spruce the bathroom up when you’ve got an unexpected visitor, you just need to clean them quickly. 

Using Vinegar

Pay special attention to stained areas, test your cleaning products on a small, inconspicuous area, and follow instructions for mirrors. Dilute the washing-up liquid in warm water. Use a sponge to wipe the solution on the mirror. Spot-clean any gunk, toothpaste etc., with white vinegar and a cotton cloth. Clean the edges or around any screws with vinegar and the cotton buds/toothbrush. Mix one-part vinegar with four parts water and pour it into the spray bottle. Spray the solution onto the cotton cloth or directly onto the mirror. Before the spray dries, wipe the mirror from side to side or up and down with the cotton cloth. Never wipe the mirror in circles. Take the microfibre cloth and dry the mirror using the same side-to-side or up-and-down action. Once the mirror is dry, look at the mirror from the side to see any missed areas or streaks. Spot clean these and buff.

Start by mixing a one-part solution of one-part white vinegar with one-part water. Next, wipe the solution onto the mirror with a sponge. As with washing-up liquid and water, always ensure you use circular motions. Put the solution in a spray bottle directly onto the mirror for even better results. This will give you better coverage. 

Using a commercial glass cleaner

If you use a commercial glass cleaner, spray the entire mirror with your glass cleaner. Wipe the sponge, remembering to rinse to remove excess liquid. The secret to a streak-free mirror is a squeegee. Always work from top to bottom, sliding the squeegee down the mirror before swiping from side to side to remove any last traces of the spray. If you notice lingering marks, remove them with a clean microfiber cloth. Your mirror should now be streak-free and gleaming. Getting into a routine will mean that stains are less likely to build up, making the job much quicker and easier. 

Extra tips

Depending on how dirty your mirror is, you may need rubbing alcohol to remove stubborn dirt—spot clean tricky areas with rubbing alcohol on cotton pads or a cotton cloth. If you have hard water, use distilled water to make up the cleaning solution. If your mirror is prone to steaming up after baths and showers, cover the mirror in shaving foam, wipe away and shine the microfibre cloth. Make sure to use foam and not gel.