However, when the mirror is dirty, you'll need a cleaning solution to dissolve and remove the grime. If you are looking for eco-friendly, affordable, and effective options to clean mirrors, white vinegar and rubbing alcohol are the way to go.
To check your mirror is clean and streak-free, trying moving around the room to look at it from different angles. Any smears or fingermarks can be removed by buffing it with a little white vinegar and paper towels for a sparkling, smear-free finish.
The biggest no-no when it comes to getting your mirrors clean is using paper towels. Paper towels are both single-use and leave teeny tiny bits of residue that can create an even bigger mess. In order to achieve a streak-free shine, use a microfiber cloth.
Important: Vinegar is safe to use on windows and mirrors, but it can damage other materials due to acidity. Never use a vinegar cleaning solution on electronics (including on their glass screens). Don't use vinegar on granite or marble countertops or stone tile; instead, opt for a gentle Castile soap.
You can also make an all-natural window cleaning solution using a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and hot water. Adding a touch of liquid soap to the vinegar solution will help remove any streak-causing wax left on the window from commercial cleaners used in the past.
Windex Original Glass Cleaner
Windex is one of the most popular brands of glass cleaners on the market, and it's for good reason. It's incredibly effective at cleaning all sorts of glass surfaces, especially mirrors that immediately show and amplify smudges, fingerprints, and specks of dirt.
Your glass cleaner could be behind those pesky mirror streaks! Many commercial glass cleaners have cleaning agents like ammonia and detergent, which can end up streaking your mirror. So this means you cannot clean mirrors with Windex anymore? Not necessarily, but if you want to avoid streaks, less is better.
The safest cleaner for a mirror is clean, warm water used with a soft cloth. An approved glass cleaner such as Windex or similar products may be used. However, be very careful not to allow the edges of the mirror to get or remain wet over a period of time.
Combine one cup water, one cup vinegar and a teaspoon of dish soap in a spray bottle. Shake gently to mix. Apply the solution directly to the mirror and let it sit for a few seconds. Wipe the spray on the mirror away with either a microfiber cloth or newspaper.
Simply pour some rubbing alcohol in a bowl and dip a cotton pad or cotton ball in it. Then use it to wipe the dirty and cloudy areas, but make sure to rub fast since alcohol dries quickly. Once you've cleaned everything, use a glass cleaner, spray it on the mirror, and wipe away with a clean cloth.
Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes are easy to use and work on a variety of hard, nonporous surfaces, including mirrors and glass. The powerful cleaning technology dissolves kitchen grease and fights soap scum.
You'll like the vinegar scent much better. It's not overwhelming, but strong enough to know it's better than the old regular blue spray bottle. Great for glass tables, windows and bathrooms. This is my favorite windex.
Spray hydrogen peroxide onto mirrors or glass surfaces and wipe with a microfiber cloth or crumpled newspaper for a streak-free, mildew-free shine. Hydrogen peroxide is great at whitening and brightening stained tiles and dirty grout.
Vinegar is great for DIY glass cleaners too, since its acidity removes dirt and grease.
Rubbing alcohol is a popular ingredient in homemade cleaners – but not for the reason you might think. Most homemade window cleaning recipes combine rubbing alcohol with vinegar because vinegar does the brunt of cleaning. Rubbing alcohol alone doesn't do a good job cutting through grease or grime.
Mix up your window-cleaning solution: In a plastic spray bottle, mix together 2 cups of warm water with 1/4 cup white vinegar and 1/2 teaspoon of Dawn. Sweep away dirt: Using a broom, sweep away the cobwebs and debris from the windows and sills.
The cloudiness comes from mineral deposits and buildup or from etching, so to clean cloudy glasses, you need to use vinegar or baking soda. With these simple household staples along with some Dawn dish detergent, you'll have your glassware sparkling like the day you got it in no time flat.
You can also use water from a bucket. Then fill a spray bottle with white vinegar and completely saturate the glass. Allow it to soak for at least 10 minutes—longer if there's serious buildup. Next, dip a scrubbing sponge into baking soda and scrub the glass.