How to Clean Mirrors without leaving streaks

Cleaning mirrors is a job that can give you great satisfaction when cleaning your home. However, how to make the mirror shiny without leaving stains after wiping is really not easy. To do this, it is important that you use the right cleaning solution and materials. Once you’ve got the right cleaning solution and a fine microfiber rag, all that’s left is to master mirror cleaning techniques. ^{[1] X Research Source}

Table of Contents

Mix cleaning solution

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Mix vinegar and water in equal proportions. Pour 1 cup of vinegar into a spray bottle, then add 1 cup of water to it. Tighten the cap and shake the spray bottle and you will have a perfect mirror cleaning solution. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Make your own glass cleaner. While a half-vinegar half-water solution is effective for most mirrors, sometimes you need a slightly stronger solution. In this case, you can make your own glass cleaner in a clean container and pour it into a spray bottle. Dissolve the following ingredients to make a strong cleaning solution: ^{[3] X Research Source}

1/4 cup white vinegar. If you don’t have white vinegar, you can also use apple cider vinegar.
1/4 cup rubbing alcohol.
1 tablespoon cornstarch to help remove stains.
8-10 drops of essential oil such as lemon, orange or lavender essential oil.

Use a mixture of dish soap, lemon juice, and vinegar. Another strong homemade cleaner is a mixture of dish soap and lemon juice (to remove odors) and vinegar. Be careful not to add too much soap to the solution as it can create streaks. Mix the following ingredients in a bucket of warm water: ^{[4] X Research Source}

1-2 teaspoons dish soap
4 tablespoons lemon juice
Half a cup of white vinegar. If you don’t have vinegar, you can use ammonia instead.

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Avoid using store-bought cleaners. Although there are many commercial glass cleaner products on the market, they often contain a lot of soap that can leave streaks on the mirror. It’s better to use an equal ratio of vinegar and water or a homemade cleaning mixture. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Remove stains

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Look for stains on the mirror. If it’s a bathroom mirror, you may find it covered in toothpaste, hairspray, and other cosmetic stains. If it is a mirror in the hallway, there may be a lot of dust and dirt in some areas. Look for all of these stains, as you’ll have to clean them up first to avoid creating a streak. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

Soak a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol. Place a cotton ball on the mouth of the alcohol bottle, quickly turn the bottle upside down to allow the alcohol to penetrate the cotton swab.

If you don’t have rubbing alcohol at home, you can buy it at the drugstore. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Wipe off stains with alcohol-soaked cotton swabs. Dab alcohol soaked cotton on each stain on the mirror. Continue scrubbing to clean each stain. Finally, you will use another cotton swab to wipe away any alcohol or stains on the mirror. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Alcohol is very quick to dry, so you also have to be quick when working. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Use a toothbrush to scrub the corners. If there is a lot of dirt or dust on the corners of the mirror, you can use a toothbrush to scrub it. Apply rubbing alcohol to the toothbrush and scrub the mirror corners.

Clean the mirror

Spray cleaning solution on the mirror. Use a vinegar-water mixture or a homemade cleaning solution to spray all over the surface of the mirror. ^{[10] X Research Source}

Avoid drenching the mirror; otherwise, you will have to spend more time cleaning the mirror.

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Use a microfiber cloth to clean the mirror. You will need to use a fine microfiber cloth to clean the mirror. Fold the towel in quarters to save on the number of wipes needed. When a corner of the towel is dirty, you just need to open the towel to find the clean part to continue wiping. ^{[11] X Research Source}

Fluffy towels often collect a lot of dust and leave stains after wiping. ^{[12] X Research Source}
Avoid using paper towels, as they will leave scraps of paper on the mirror.
Newspaper has been the material of choice since ancient times, but you should avoid using newspaper as it will leave streaks and can smudge the ink on the mirror.

Ashley Matuska

Owner, Dashing Maids

Ashley Matuska is the owner and founder of Dashing Maids, a sustainability-driven cleaning company in Denver, Cporado. She has worked in the cleaning industry for over 5 years.

Ashley Matuska
Owner, Dashing Maids

Dry the mirror thoroughly to avoid streaks. “To avoid streaks on the mirror, use a clean, dry microfiber cloth. If you don’t have a microfiber cloth, you can use newspaper – but remember,” says Ashley Matuska, business owner Dashing Maids. use old newspaper at least a few weeks in advance to make sure the ink is completely dry. Either way, the most important thing is to dry the mirror thoroughly, no matter what cleaning solution you use.”

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Use a rubber brush to clean the mirror. If you have a squeegee, it’s a great tool for cleaning mirrors. After each brush stroke, you should use a microfiber cloth to wipe away the water on the mirror. ^{[13] X Research Source}

Wipe the mirror from top to bottom. Use a rubber brush or microfiber cloth to clean the mirror in a zigzag motion from the top. Wiping in an S-shape will help you avoid leaving streaks on the mirror. ^{[14] X Research Source}

Things you need

Microfiber wipes
Old toothbrush
Cotton
Cleaning alcohol
Vinegar
Dish soap
Lemon juice
Essential oils, such as lavender
Aerosol
Shove

Steps

Mix cleaning solution

Remove stains

Clean the mirror

Things you need

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