Skip to main content
Cleaning

5 tips for how to clean a mirror and wipe out streaks

Spoiler alert: Paper towels are not the answer

Woman wearing clear gloves and using spray bottle and cloth to wipe off mirror. Credit: Reviewed / Getty Images / Filadendron

Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission.

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.

On left, stack of multi-colored neutral colored microfiber cloths. On right, hand wearing yellow rubber glove using microfiber cloth to wipe off glass surface.
Credit: Bed Bath & Beyond / Getty Images / Didesign021

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.

Buy at Amazon

2. Use rubbing alcohol to spot clean first

A bottle of rubbing alcohol and cotton pads against a blue and purple background.
Credit: Reviewed / Amazon / Greenzla

Is your mirror covered in toothpaste splatter and old hairspray residue? Don't feel guilty, Greenzla's reusable cotton pads will come to your rescue.

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.

Buy at Amazon

Buy at Amazon

3. Swipe in a squiggle pattern

Woman using yellow rubber gloves and spray bottle cleaning solution to wipe a mirror.
Credit: Getty Images / Photographer

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

Green spray bottle, next to bottle of vinegar, and green and blue sponge.
Credit: Getty Images / Helin Loik-Tomson

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.

Buy at Amazon

Buy at Amazon

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.

Buy at Amazon

5. Check the mirror at an angle

Woman using rubber gloves and a microfiber cloth to wipe off mirror.
Credit: Getty Images / Zoff-photo

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.

Related content

  • Woman wearing blue rubber gloves and spray bottle to wipe off surface in home.

    feature

    6 easy home décor swaps that make life less germy
  • Product shot of multicolored Skura sponges and microfiber cloths.

    review

    Skura Style Eva's Essentials Cleaning Review

Up next