5 tips for how to clean a mirror and wipe out streaks
Spoiler alert: Paper towels are not the answer
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Having mirrors in your home provides not only a personal touch to each room, it can make a space look much bigger than it really is. There’s just one catch: cleaning them can be terribly frustrating.
When it comes to this big question—how to clean a mirror—experts recommend tackling them once a week, but who among us has totally overlooked this task during a Saturday morning cleaning sesh?
If you’re like me and tend to put off cleaning your mirrors, it may be because you haven’t yet found the best method for doing so.
Here are some tried-and-true tips for getting your mirrors lint-free and totally clean.
1. Don’t use paper towels—try microfiber cloths.
Microfiber cloths require much less elbow grease, and a produce a faster drying time as an added bonus.
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.
A flat-weave microfiber cloth is the best bet to save time and energy when it comes to making sure your mirror is spotless. Flat-weave cloths ensure that no annoying debris can get left behind since nothing can cling onto it. Its texture also helps the mirror dry much faster.
2. Use rubbing alcohol to spot clean first
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Before you even begin to clean your mirror as a whole, take the time to scour the surface for any blobs of toothpaste or other dried splatters. Clean them first to avoid spreading more mess.
With some rubbing alcohol and a small cotton pad (much like those you’d use for toner on your face), gently rub each smear until gone from the surface. Just move quickly: rubbing alcohol dries fast.
3. Swipe in a squiggle pattern
It's all about the "squiggle" technique.
Even with a clean cloth, the way in which you clean the mirror can also account for how clean it ends up looking.
Instead of wiping from top to bottom over and over, try using a squiggle swiping pattern to ensure you don’t miss any spots.
Starting at the top left corner of the mirror, and then drag your cloth all the way across to the top right corner. Inch down a bit, then swipe in the opposite direction back across to the left side again. Repeat the zig zag motion all the way down to the bottom. This method allows you to clean every inch, plus it further helps you to lessen any streaks.
4. Make your own glass cleaner
Making your own glass cleaner is easier, and probably a bit safer than harsh store-bought chemicals.
There’s a way to make your own glass cleaner using a couple of standard household items.
First, you can try mixing up a cleaning solution white vinegar and water. The ideal ratio is one part vinegar to 10 parts warm water. Combine both into a spray bottle, and you’ve got a simple and easy solution to cleaning your mirrors.
If you’re out of vinegar or don’t feel like running to the store, you can also use black tea. Yes, really!
Black tea’s tannic acid is a potent natural cleaner that gets the job done just as easily as any other cleaner. Just brew the tea and let it cool for about an hour; you can then transfer the tea to a spray bottle or damp cloth.
5. Check the mirror at an angle
After buffing out any leftover streaks, your sparkling new mirror will deserve some serious admiration.
Once you’ve cleaned your mirror, do one last check. Make sure you’ve got every dust speck by looking at the mirror from an angle (if you can).
At a 45-degree angle, you can see streaks or little fibers you wouldn’t be able to see when looking straight on. If anything illuminates that you want to get rid of, just spot clean by spraying your cloth with a small amount of cleaner and quickly wipe the streak away before buffing it dry.
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