No more smears! How to clean mirrors without the hassle

A mirror is only useful when it's clear and clean. Still, no matter how careful you've been brushing your teeth, your mirror is bound to be covered in hundreds of white specks – but hey, that’s what you get for hysterically laughing at the TikTok your bestie just sent you with a mouth full of toothpaste! Fret not: once you have discovered the best way to clean mirrors, you’ll get that sparkling reflection back in no time.

Here we’ll show you the best way to clean mirrors, including how to get hairspray off mirror glass and how to prevent streaks on mirrors, so that you can get the job done quickly and get back to looking at yourself in it. We don't blame you.

As with any new cleaning method, we recommend doing a spot test first in an inconspicuous area, to be sure there aren’t any adverse reactions. 

Here’s our tips for cleaning mirrors:

1. What to clean mirrors with 

The first step in knowing how to clean mirror glass is having the right gear. After all, your cleaning techniques are only going to be as good as the kit you use – using that tissue you’ve found deep in your pocket isn’t going to cut it. Knowing what to clean mirrors with will make a huge difference.

Materials:

• Strong paper towels 
• Cleaning spray for the frame
• Mirror cleaning spray (or equal parts of vinegar and water) 
• Rubbing alcohol
• Rubber gloves
• Shaving foam
• Jeweller’s rouge

2. Wipe the mirror frame first 

So, your mirror glass more closely resembles a Jackson Pollock-esque spattered art piece than a shiny, reflective surface? In a busy house, this is just an inevitability – think of each toothpaste fleck as a smudge of honour. You'll be tempted to head straight for the glass, when cleaning. But hold on. Tackling the frame first (if there is one), will help avoid transferring any gritty grime straight back onto your surface. Patience is a virtue – we'll get to the good bit soon. 

The best way to clean mirrors is, therefore, to start by choosing a cleaning spray that’s appropriate for the frame material (whether that be glass, metal or wood), spraying a bit of the spray onto a moistened piece of paper towel, before wiping the frame all over, paying attention to the corners and edges next to the glass. 

3. Clean excess dirt off the glass 

Want to know how to clean mirror glass without leaving any lint behind? (OK, maybe one or two pieces, but who’s counting?) Start by using a moistened piece of paper towel to wipe the mirror clean of any obvious dust particles and grime. Now you’re ready to move on to getting your mirror shining brightly. 

4. Polish up for a streak-free finish 

Now it’s time for the big finish – learning how to clean mirrors without streaks so that your next mirror selfies will be crystal clear. 

Spray some mirror cleaning spray (or vinegar solution) onto the surface, grab a piece of dry kitchen paper and wipe the mirror all over. On the lookout for the best way to clean a mirror without streaks? Choose Max. Whether it’s a wayward sneeze that’s splattered over one corner of the mirror (bless you!) or a full gang of little artists that’ve smeared their adorable little glitter and glue-covered mitts all over the place, Max household towels are up for the job.

5. How to properly clean a mirror in the right direction 

Put down the kitchen roll and the spray, gather your little helpers, if you have them, and stick some motivational tunes on: it’s time to limber up to get to those hard-to-reach parts you have no idea how the little ones managed to mark with fingerprints. 

Now you’ve limbered up, it’s time to reeeeaccch for those corners. The best way to clean mirrors is to work from top to bottom and side to side, taking your time to work the cleaner into any corners and edges where grime can easily build up. 

Working in circles might be fun, and it channels a certain Mr Miyagi, wax-on, wax-off energy. Unfortunately, working in circles when cleaning your mirror is only going to leave streaks behind. Stick to an up-and-down and side-to-side motion. Of course, once your mirror is clean, there’s nothing wrong with practising those sweet karate moves in front of the mirror. 

Finish off by looking at your mirror from different angles to see if there are any leftover streaks, and repeat the process if necessary. This is how to clean mirrors without streaks and the need for any fancy equipment. 

So that’s your go-to method for cleaning mirrors as part of your regular cleaning regime, but what if you’re dealing with something a bit trickier? We’ve got some handy hacks on how to clean a mirror that is hazy or stained with hairspray, too. 

6. How to get hairspray off mirror glass with rubbing alcohol

Sometimes there are more stubborn marks that won’t come off the glass with the standard approach. Remember when your travel mirror was mysteriously decorated with the exact same shade of nail polish your housemate was wearing? Yeah, suspicious. Although, that shade of green was gorgeous. Now it’s time to explore different cleaning fluids for tougher stains. 

Many consider rubbing alcohol to be the best thing to clean mirrors with when you’re dealing with hairspray stains. All you need to do is pull on your rubber gloves, apply some rubbing alcohol to a sheet of paper towel, and carefully wipe it across the hairspray stains. Then remove any traces of rubbing alcohol residue with a fresh piece of kitchen paper.  

There are a few safety precautions to take when using rubbing alcohol. These include: 

• Wearing gloves to protect your skin 
• Ventilating the room by opening the windows and doors 
• Making sure that there are no open flames nearby, as it’s highly flammable 

To protect your mirror, you should avoid contact between the rubbing alcohol and the frame as it can damage a range of materials including wood, acrylic, plastic and painted surfaces. 

7. How to clean a mirror that is hazy 

If you’re looking in the mirror and the person looking back is a bit fuzzy around the edges (aren’t we all sometimes...), you’re either having a steamy self-care weekend (go you) or your mirror is hazy. It’s nothing to worry about; it’s just residue build-up on the glass. If your mirror-cleaning spray or vinegar solution doesn’t clear it up, you can try a couple of unusual alternatives. Here’s how to clean a hazy mirror:

• Firstly, there’s shaving foam. Squeeze it onto a sheet of kitchen towel and wipe it across the glass, working from side to side and top to bottom in an S shape. 
• Secondly, you could try jeweller’s rouge. Apply it to the foggy area and then buff the surface with a clean microfibre cloth. Word of warning: quite a bit of elbow grease is required for this method!

Bear in mind that cloudiness on a mirror can also be down to damage to the backing. If that’s the case and you aren’t able to clean it away, that probably means it’s time to invest in a new mirror. 

FAQs: Tips for cleaning mirrors till they sparkle

How to remove water stains from a bathroom mirror?
Remove water stains from a mirror simply using either a mirror cleaning spray or a homemade solution made with equal parts white vinegar and water. Spray the solution directly onto your mirror, then let is sit for a couple of minutes before gently wiping it clean with a microfibre cloth. For stubborn stains, try rubbing alcohol.

How to properly clean a mirror without leaving lint behind?
You can prevent lint being left behind on a mirror after cleaning it by using a microfibre cloth or strong household towels like Plenty Max. 

How to clean a mirror without scratching it?
The best way to avoid scratching your mirror while cleaning it is to avoid using harsh materials like rough sponges or scouring pads. You should never use harsh chemicals like bleach, which can cause damage to layers of the glass and can even lead to discolouration.

How to clean a bathroom mirror that is cloudy?
Start with your mirror-cleaning spray or vinegar solution and if that doesn’t work use a small amount of shaving cream or scrub the surface with jeweller’s rouge. 

Now you know how to clean a mirror, some general mirror cleaning tips, and specifically how to deal with old and cloudy mirrors, it’s going to be easy for you to wipe away the smudges and smears and maintain your mirror’s shine. There are bound to be a million and one things in your home that aren’t perfect, but at least with these tips, your mirrors can be.

While you’re at it, follow similar advice to learn how to clean wine glasses and polish silverware.