How do I clean a mirror without streaks?
The technique for a genuinely streak-free mirror, and why bathroom mirrors are harder than the rest.
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Time
- 10 min
- Read
- 2 min
Short answer
Wipe with a barely damp microfibre cloth, then immediately buff dry with a second, completely dry microfibre cloth. Most mirror streaking comes from product residue — with microfibre you rarely need any cleaner at all, and where you do, spray the cloth rather than the glass.
Streaks on a mirror are residue: cleaner, hard water minerals, or lint from the cloth. Two microfibre cloths — one damp, one dry — remove the residue rather than redistributing it, which is why the simplest method usually gives the best result.
What you'll need
- Two microfibre cloths
- Glass cleaner or white vinegar solution (optional)
Step by step
- Dust the frame and the top edge first.Otherwise dust falls onto the glass you've just cleaned.
- Dampen one microfibre cloth with warm water and wring it out well.Barely damp. A wet cloth leaves water to dry into spots.
- Wipe the whole surface in overlapping strokes.Work systematically so you don't miss areas, which are invisible until they dry.
- Immediately buff dry with a second, completely dry microfibre cloth.Immediately — before the water can start drying on its own. This is the step that prevents streaks.
- For greasy marks like hairspray or toothpaste, spray cleaner onto the cloth rather than the mirror.Spraying the glass sends product behind the frame and onto the mirror backing, which can damage it over time.
- For hard water spotting, use a 50:50 white vinegar and water solution, then rinse and dry.The spots are mineral deposits and need acid rather than detergent.
- Never let liquid run down to the bottom edge.It gets behind the frame and can degrade the silvering, producing the black edges older mirrors develop.
Tips
- Bathroom mirrors accumulate an invisible film from aerosols and steam. A vinegar solution every few weeks keeps them genuinely clear.
- Never use paper towel on mirrors — it sheds fibres and leaves lint on every pane.
- Rubbing alcohol on a cloth removes hairspray and cosmetic residue that water won't touch.
- Keeping the bathroom extractor running reduces the film that builds up on mirrors as well as preventing mould.
Common mistakes
- Spraying cleaner directly onto the mirror — It runs to the edges, gets behind the frame and can damage the reflective backing.
- Using paper towel — Lint on the glass, which is the streaking people then blame on the cleaner.
- Letting it air dry — Whatever is dissolved in the water dries onto the glass as a visible film.
Questions people ask
Why does my mirror have black marks around the edges?
The silvering has degraded, usually because moisture has got behind the glass over time. It can't be repaired — but it's a reason to keep liquid away from the edges of the mirrors you still have.
What's the best mirror cleaner?
Usually just warm water and two microfibre cloths. Where a cleaner is needed, a dilute vinegar solution handles hard water and a little washing-up liquid handles grease.