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.
Avoid Harmful Chemicals
Your grandmother may have taught you to use bleach to clean everything, but on mirrors, it can leave streaks and make them look dull over time. Even multi-purpose cleaners are too strong for cleaning mirrors. They often leave a toxic residue that makes mirrors hazy.
Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) works great for removing hairspray stickiness from mirrors as well as any other build-up or streaks. Because isopropyl alcohol evaporates quickly, simply wet a clean cotton cloth with it and wipe. For sticky residues, you may need to rub to fully remove the mess.
Glass Cleaner Alternatives That Really Shine. First, as most of us know, Windex does an excellent job of cleaning windows and mirrors. That's because the main ingredient in the product is ammonia. Ammonia is a strong chemical with just enough abrasive properties to remove dirt and grime without scratching the glass.
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.
Why do my mirrors streak when I clean them? Experts suggest that streaks are primarily caused by the wrong tools. If you're using products with soaps and additives (that are less able to evaporate) or you're wiping with a crude edge (such as those on paper towels) then you're less likely to achieve a spotless finish.
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.
DON'T: Use a Paper Towel
What they don't realize is that paper towels leave behind small pieces of residue, making the mirror look dusty. Instead, always use a clean, dry flat weave microfiber cloth. The microfiber acts as a magnet for dirt.
Oily stains in the mirror
The most apparent source of streaks in your mirror are stains like fingerprints or food splatters. If you don't remove these oily stains, the residue will streak your mirror! Easy fix: Spot-clean the stains and smudges before wiping your mirror.
A simple reason may be because of an accumulation of dirt and lack of maintenance. Another reason could be desilvering - mirrors are made of glass with a silver backing, and over time the mirror may begin to develop black spots. This is called desilvering and it usually happens due to moisture.
When people over-clean their mirrors, the product can get behind the mirror and destroy the backing over time. "Bathroom mirrors are constantly exposed to moisture which causes damage over time to the silver backing," Dani told Real Homes. That's the reason black spots and darkened edges appear over time.
Rub your mirror in circular motions. Use a damp microfiber cloth dipped in warm water. Use a dry microfiber cloth to remove excess water and prevent streaks or water marks. For deep cleaning, use washing-up liquid or white vinegar and warm water.
But even mirror-specific products like Windex, while effective at cleaning, can leave your mirror full of streaks because they contain so much soap. While streaks are annoying, they aren't the only issue that can come up when you're cleaning mirrors.
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.
Mirrors are a regular part of a cleaning schedule in the home. According to the experts, decorative mirrors should be throughly cleaned at least monthly to remove pollutants that settle on the surface. Meanwhile, bathroom mirrors will need daily attention to keep them clear from splatters, water and toothpaste.
Yes, it does, and it costs a lot less money than the store-bought version. Just mix 1/2 cup white vinegar with 1/2 cup water, or use full-strength 5 percent vinegar. Pour into a clean, labeled spray bottle and, for the best results, spray your cloth, not the mirror, then use newspaper to wipe clean.
Have you ever spent hours washing your windows, only to notice streaks everywhere? This has to do with the evaporation rate—if your cleaning solution evaporates before you have time to wipe it off, it will leave a mark.
Additionally, newspapers are more absorbent than paper towels so they can soak up more liquid which makes them ideal for wiping away residue from windows quickly and efficiently without leaving behind any smudges or streaks.