Have you ever finished cleaning a mirror only to discover that all that scrubbing was for nothing? You stand at different angles and see an array of streaks that give the mirror a smeared appearance. We’ll show you how to clean mirrors without streaks using a few simple cleaning techniques.
Cleaning mirrors often leaves streaking if you clean them with the wrong type of product. These streaks are also the result of using the wrong kinds of cleaning cloths and techniques. The key is to use a flat-weave microfiber cloth, streak-free cleaner, and a quick and steady cleaning motion.
There are many different glass cleaners on the market that are easy to use for cleaning your mirrors, but there are a few ways to clean them using everyday household products. Simple ingredients such as white vinegar and lemon juice go a long way toward mirror and window cleaning.
Streak-Free Mirror Cleaning
There is little more satisfying than being rewarded with your hard work and seeing perfect results, and mirror cleaning is no different. Many of these recipes also serve as ways to take care of streaks on TV screen, too.
Be sure to apply the cleaner to a cloth, though, rather than to the television itself to prevent damage to the surface. Here are a few ways to free windows and mirrors of dirt while leaving them streak-free.
How to Spot-Clean a Mirror
Since cleaning a stained mirror is challenging if covered with stains, it’s essential to remove gunk such as toothpaste, hairspray, and dust build-up before cleaning the entire surface.
To clean a mirror, open a bottle of rubbing alcohol and place a cotton pad on the top. Flip the bottle over to apply the liquid to the pad. Dab the stained areas of the mirror with wet cotton, and use a circular motion to scrub the stains away.
If there is dirt in the corners of the mirror, use a toothbrush to loosen the grime. Get the bristle of the brush wet with rubbing alcohol and rub the brush gently in each corner of the mirror.
Fill a bottle with water and spray the surface of the mirror lightly. Use a soft, lint-free cloth to wipe the glass using a zig-zag motion. Do not use paper towels to dry the mirror to prevent leaving paper lint on the surface.
Ways to Clean a Mirror Without Leaving Streaks
Cleaning a mirror streak-free with commercial cleaning products is easy as long as you use the right technique. If you do not have a glass cleaning product, such as Windex, try using a homemade mirror cleaner.
Spray the glass cleaner lightly on the surface of the mirror, whether you need to clean a cloudy mirror or one that has a few spots. Do not apply too much to prevent excess dripping. Fold a soft cloth in half two times. Start at the top right corner of the glass and slide it to the top left corner.
Pull the cloth back to the right side, and repeat the motion until you reach the bottom of the surface. Open the folded material and wipe down the mirror once more using a clean and dry section of the cloth.
Cleaning a Mirror Streak-Free With Vinegar
While there are many ways to clean a mirror without leaving streaks, one of the simplest is with a vinegar solution. The vinegar breaks up dirt without leaving streaks. Follow this easy recipe for the best DIY glass cleaner around.
Fill a bottle with equal parts water and vinegar and shake well to mix. Spray the vinegar water lightly on the mirror surface, making sure not to apply too much. Fold a lint-free cloth a few times and start at the upper corner of the mirror.
Use a Z-shaped motion to pull the cloth from corner to corner and then side to side until you reach the bottom of the mirror. Open the fabric until you find a dry and clean area, and repeat the wiping process once more to remove streaks.
Before cleaning glass or mirrors, ensure the surface is free of extra gunk. Removing a sticker from a mirror should happen first. Saturate the sticker with vinegar and scrape it off with your fingernail or the edge of a credit card. Remove all residue and clean the mirror as usual.
How to Clean Mirrors Without Streaks
It’s common to use vinegar to clean bathroom, and it’s also useful for removing the build up of grime from a bathroom mirror. This cleaner is ideal for a heavily soiled mirror.
Pour the water and vinegar into the bottle and place a funnel in the top. Pour the cornstarch through the opening into the container and shake well to mix. Spray a light layer of the cleaner on the glass surface.
Avoid spraying too much liquid to prevent a dripping mess. Start at the top corner of the glass and slide the towel across the surface to the opposite corner.
Use a side to side motion as you make your way to the bottom edges. Use a clean and dry section of the towel to repeat the wiping motion to remove streaking.
Clean Mirrors With a Streak-Free Shine
This cleaning blend uses lemon juice, white vinegar, and dish soap to dissolve away grime. This mirror cleanser leaves no streaks behind, and it gives the room a fresh lemon scent.
Combine the lemon juice, white vinegar, and dish soap in a spray bottle and shake it gently to mix. Spray a thin coating of the cleaner on the surface of the mirror and use a folded microfiber cloth to clean the surface.
Press the cloth on the top left corner of the glass and slide it to the right corner. Pull it back to the other side and repeat this movement until you reach the bottom corner of the mirror. Use a dry section of the towel to remove streaks by using the same wiping process.
This mixture is also one of the easiest ways to clean a stained mirror. Vinegar and dish soap have much success in eliminating all types of stains on a variety of surfaces.
Streak-Free Mirror Cleaning With Ammonia Cleaner
The combination of ammonia, rubbing alcohol, and dish soap in this cleaner has grease-cutting action while leaving a streak-free shine. It’s also great as a homemade dry erase board cleaner.
Pour rubbing alcohol into a bottle and add the ammonia and dish soap. Shake the container gently to mix and spray it lightly on the glass surface. Press a soft cleaning cloth in the upper corner of the mirror and slide it to the opposite corner.
Move the cloth back and forth in a zig-zag motion until you reach the bottom. Use another cleaning cloth to repeat the wiping process to remove streaks.
How to Use a Squeegee for Streak-Free Mirror Cleaning
There are many different cleaning hacks, and the squeegee is one of them. It’s easy to think that cleaning glass surfaces with a squeegee is only meant for the windshield of your car, but this is a handy tool for cleaning household windows and mirrors.
Spray the surface of the mirror lightly with a store-bought or homemade window cleaner. Place the squeegee in the upper right corner of the mirror and drag it across to the opposite side.
Pull it down from the left corner and slide it back to the other side, forming an S-shape. Continue this motion while going back and forth across the glass until you reach the bottom. Use a soft towel to clean away any drips or leftover cleaner on the glass surface.
Cleaning mirrors and windows is a tedious job, and seeing that the final result is a clean mirror full of ugly streaks is disheartening. Luckily, getting a streak-free mirror is as simple as using the right type of cleaning cloth, mixture, and technique.
We hope that learning how to clean mirrors without streaks leaves your glass surfaces with the perfect shine, and we’d love it if you’d share our mirror cleaning tips with your friends and family on Pinterest and Facebook.