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Cleaning
How to Clean Mirrors Without Streaks Download Article Co-authored by Ashley Matuska
Last Updated: March 10, 2025 Approved
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Mixing Your Cleaning Solution
|
Getting Rid of Gunk
|
Wiping Down the Mirrors
|
Video
|
Q&A
|
Things You'll Need
|Show more|Show less ARTICLE VIDEO X
This article was co-authored by Ashley Matuska. Ashley Matuska is a Professional Cleaner at the Founder and Owner of Dashing Maids in Denver, Colorado. Ashley has over seven years of experience in the cleaning industry. She and her team specialize in offering sustainable deep cleaning and maintenance cleaning services. She received a BS in Biology and Sociology from Indiana University. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 100% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 205,328 times.
Cleaning your mirrors can be a very satisfying household chore. However, it can be really challenging to clean mirrors without leaving behind streaks from the cleaning process. To clean your mirrors without leaving behind streaks, it is important to use the right cleaning solution and materials. Once you have an appropriate cleaning solution and a flat weave microfiber cloth, it is just a matter of learning the technique for wiping down mirrors.[1]XResearch source
Steps
Method 1 Method 1 of 3:
Mixing Your Cleaning Solution
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1 Mix equal parts vinegar and water. In a spray bottle, add one cup of vinegar. Then, add a cup of water. Close and shake the spray bottle to mix the perfect mirror cleaning solution.[2]XResearch source
2 Make a homemade glass cleaner. Although equal parts vinegar and water will work for most mirrors, sometimes you want a solution that is a bit more powerful. In this case, you can make your own glass cleaner in a clean container and then fill up a clean spray bottle. Mix the following ingredients for a powerful cleaning solution:[3]XResearch source
A quarter cup of white vinegar. If you don’t have any, you can also use apple cider vinegar.
A quarter cup of rubbing alcohol.
One tablespoon of cornstarch, which helps reduce streaking.
Eight to ten drops of essential oil, such as lemon, orange or lavender.
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3 Use dish detergent, lemon juice and vinegar. Another powerful, homemade cleaning solution involves mixing dish detergent with lemon juice, which helps to deodorize, and vinegar. Be careful not to put too much dish detergent into this solution, since it could cause streaks if used excessively. In a bucket of warm water, add the following ingredients:[4]XResearch source
One to two teaspoons of dish detergent.
Four tablespoons of lemon juice.
Half a cup of white vinegar. If you don’t have it, you can use ammonia.
4 Avoid store-bought cleaners. Although there are many brands of commercial window cleaner, they tend to include excessive amounts of soap, which will cause streaking. As such, you are better off using either an equal part mixture of vinegar and water or a homemade cleaning solution.[5]XResearch source
Advertisement Method 2 Method 2 of 3:
Getting Rid of Gunk
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1 Scan the mirror for stains. If it is a bathroom mirror, you may see a lot of toothpaste, hairspray and other stains from cosmetics. If it is a hallway mirror, there could be a lot of dust or dirt that has accumulated in certain areas. Take note of all the stains, since you will need to remove them first in order to avoid streaking. [6]XResearch source
2 Apply rubbing alcohol to a cotton pad. Place the cotton pad on the top of the bottle of rubbing alcohol. Briefly, turn the bottle upside down to soak the pad in rubbing alcohol.
If you don’t have any rubbing alcohol, you should be able to find it at your local drug store.[7]XResearch source
3 Remove the stains with the cotton pad. Dab each of the stains on your mirror with the alcohol soaked cotton pad. Continue scrubbing until you get each of the stains removed. Then, use a clean cotton pad to remove any remaining alcohol or grime from the mirror.[8]XResearch source
Rubbing alcohol dries quickly, so you will need to work very efficiently.[9]XResearch source
4 Use a toothbrush to clean the corners. If there is a lot of grime or dirt accumulated in the corners of the mirror, you can use a toothbrush to clean these areas. Moisten the toothbrush with rubbing alcohol and then scrub the corners.
Advertisement Method 3 Method 3 of 3:
Wiping Down the Mirrors
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1 Mist the mirror with the cleaning solution. Using your vinegar-based or homemade cleaning solution, mist the entire surface of the mirror.[10]XResearch source
Avoid soaking the mirror which will add to the time for this job.
2 Use a microfiber cloth to wipe down the mirror. You will need a flat weave microfiber cloth to wipe down the mirror. Start by folding it into quarters, so you can economize on the number of cloths you use. When one section gets dirty, simply open up the microfiber cloth to find a clean section.[11]XResearch source
Terry cloths have too much texture, so they tend to accumulate grime and contribute to streaking.[12]XResearch source
Avoid using paper towels since they will leave little bits of lint on your mirror.
Newspapers are a traditional option but should be avoided because they will cause streaks and may leave ink on your mirror.
EXPERT TIP
Ashley Matuska
Professional Cleaner Ashley Matuska is a Professional Cleaner at the Founder and Owner of Dashing Maids in Denver, Colorado. Ashley has over seven years of experience in the cleaning industry. She and her team specialize in offering sustainable deep cleaning and maintenance cleaning services. She received a BS in Biology and Sociology from Indiana University. Ashley Matuska Professional Cleaner
Dry the mirror thoroughly to avoid leaving streaks. Ashley Matuska of Dashing Maids says: "To avoid leaving streaks on your mirrors, use clean, dry microfiber towels. If you don't have microfiber towels, you can use newspapers -- just make sure they're at least a few weeks old so that the ink is fully dry. Either way, the most important thing is to get your mirror completely dry, no matter what kind of cleaning solution you're using."
3 Use a squeegee to wipe down your mirror. If you own a squeegee, it is a great tool for cleaning your mirrors. After each wipe of your squeegee, you should use a microfiber cloth to wipe away any drips.[13]XResearch source
4 Wipe down your mirror, from top to bottom. Using your squeegee or microfiber cloth, start in the top left corner and wipe down your mirror, working your way down in a zig zag pattern. You are wiping the mirror in the shape of the letter ‘S’, which helps avoid any streaking.[14]XResearch source
5 Remove any remaining marks on the mirror. Take a look at the whole mirror to see if there are any remaining marks. You may want to shift to the left or to the right to get a better perspective on the mirror. If you see a streak or stain, apply a bit more cleaning solution to your microfiber cloth and quickly wipe it away.[15]XResearch source
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Question How do I clean the inside of a car's windshield? Revad Community Answer I always find that using a window cleaning solution (like Windex) and cleaning it off with newspaper, works the best for a streak free window. Don't use the colored newspaper pages, only the black and white portion. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 21 Helpful 6
Question How can I remove an obstinate water stain from shower screen? Community Answer Take some newspaper, crumple it up, spray some Windex or Glass Plus and use medium-sized circles to clean (arm motion). Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 6 Helpful 0
Question Any other option for rubbing alcohol? Its not available in our area. Crazyalger Community Answer You could use any window cleaner but instead of rags, use a strong paper towel. Try a cheap cleaner like Windex, it's less expensive. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 3 Helpful 2
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Things You’ll Need
Microfiber cloth
Squeegee
Old toothbrush
Cotton pad
Rubbing alcohol
Vinegar
Dish detergent
Lemon juice
Essential oils, such as lavender
Spray bottle
Bucket
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Co-authored by: Ashley Matuska Professional Cleaner This article was co-authored by Ashley Matuska. Ashley Matuska is a Professional Cleaner at the Founder and Owner of Dashing Maids in Denver, Colorado. Ashley has over seven years of experience in the cleaning industry. She and her team specialize in offering sustainable deep cleaning and maintenance cleaning services. She received a BS in Biology and Sociology from Indiana University. This article has been viewed 205,328 times. 2 votes - 100% Co-authors: 13Updated: March 10, 2025 Views: 205,328 Categories: CleaningArticle SummaryX
To clean mirrors without streaks, start by mixing 1 cup of white vinegar with 1 cup of water in a spray bottle. Alternatively, make a stronger cleaning solution by mixing ¼ cup of white vinegar, ¼ cup of rubbing alcohol, 1 tablespoon of cornstarch, and 8-10 drops of an essential oil, such as lemon or orange. Next, mist the mirror with your cleaning solution. Then, use a microfiber cloth to wipe it down, making sure to start at the top left corner and working your way down in a zig-zag or “S”-shaped pattern to avoid leaving streaks. For tips on how to clean the gunk off your mirrors before wiping them down, keep reading!Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Reader Success Stories
Hannah Penn
Dec 21, 2019
"I have a very large circular mirror that I couldn't get clean. I used your recipe of vinegar, alcohol and lemon, which got all the streaks off. It looks remarkable!"..." more
More reader stories Hide reader stories Share your story
Did this article help you?
Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Ashley Matuska Professional Cleaner Co-authors: 13Updated: March 10, 2025 Views: 205,328100% of readers found this article helpful. 2 votes - 100% Click a star to add your vote
Hannah Penn
Dec 21, 2019
"I have a very large circular mirror that I couldn't get clean. I used your recipe of vinegar, alcohol and lemon, which got all the streaks off. It looks remarkable!"..." more
Lisa B.
Oct 15, 2023
"I tried cleaning solution to clean my mirror closet doors and it worked. Thank you. I will not be buying no more store bought to save."..." more
Mia Evans
Aug 14, 2020
"I was looking for something to clean cigarette smoke off mirrors and I came across this article. Your home recipe worked perfectly!"..." more Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories
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Download Article Co-authored by Ashley Matuska 
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Co-authored by: Ashley Matuska Professional Cleaner This article was co-authored by Ashley Matuska. Ashley Matuska is a Professional Cleaner at the Founder and Owner of Dashing Maids in Denver, Colorado. Ashley has over seven years of experience in the cleaning industry. She and her team specialize in offering sustainable deep cleaning and maintenance cleaning services. She received a BS in Biology and Sociology from Indiana University. This article has been viewed 205,328 times. 2 votes - 100% Co-authors: 13 Updated: March 10, 2025 Views: 205,328 Categories: Cleaning Article SummaryX
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1 Mix equal parts vinegar and water. In a spray bottle, add one cup of vinegar. Then, add a cup of water. Close and shake the spray bottle to mix the perfect mirror cleaning solution.[2] 
2 Make a homemade glass cleaner. Although equal parts vinegar and water will work for most mirrors, sometimes you want a solution that is a bit more powerful. In this case, you can make your own glass cleaner in a clean container and then fill up a clean spray bottle. Mix the following ingredients for a powerful cleaning solution:[3] 
3 Use dish detergent, lemon juice and vinegar. Another powerful, homemade cleaning solution involves mixing dish detergent with lemon juice, which helps to deodorize, and vinegar. Be careful not to put too much dish detergent into this solution, since it could cause streaks if used excessively. In a bucket of warm water, add the following ingredients:[4] 
4 Avoid store-bought cleaners. Although there are many brands of commercial window cleaner, they tend to include excessive amounts of soap, which will cause streaking. As such, you are better off using either an equal part mixture of vinegar and water or a homemade cleaning solution.[5] Advertisement 
1 Scan the mirror for stains. If it is a bathroom mirror, you may see a lot of toothpaste, hairspray and other stains from cosmetics. If it is a hallway mirror, there could be a lot of dust or dirt that has accumulated in certain areas. Take note of all the stains, since you will need to remove them first in order to avoid streaking. [6] 
2 Apply rubbing alcohol to a cotton pad. Place the cotton pad on the top of the bottle of rubbing alcohol. Briefly, turn the bottle upside down to soak the pad in rubbing alcohol. 
3 Remove the stains with the cotton pad. Dab each of the stains on your mirror with the alcohol soaked cotton pad. Continue scrubbing until you get each of the stains removed. Then, use a clean cotton pad to remove any remaining alcohol or grime from the mirror.[8] 
4 Use a toothbrush to clean the corners. If there is a lot of grime or dirt accumulated in the corners of the mirror, you can use a toothbrush to clean these areas. Moisten the toothbrush with rubbing alcohol and then scrub the corners. Advertisement 
1 Mist the mirror with the cleaning solution. Using your vinegar-based or homemade cleaning solution, mist the entire surface of the mirror.[10] 
2 Use a microfiber cloth to wipe down the mirror. You will need a flat weave microfiber cloth to wipe down the mirror. Start by folding it into quarters, so you can economize on the number of cloths you use. When one section gets dirty, simply open up the microfiber cloth to find a clean section.[11] 
3 Use a squeegee to wipe down your mirror. If you own a squeegee, it is a great tool for cleaning your mirrors. After each wipe of your squeegee, you should use a microfiber cloth to wipe away any drips.[13] 
4 Wipe down your mirror, from top to bottom. Using your squeegee or microfiber cloth, start in the top left corner and wipe down your mirror, working your way down in a zig zag pattern. You are wiping the mirror in the shape of the letter ‘S’, which helps avoid any streaking.[14] 
5 Remove any remaining marks on the mirror. Take a look at the whole mirror to see if there are any remaining marks. You may want to shift to the left or to the right to get a better perspective on the mirror. If you see a streak or stain, apply a bit more cleaning solution to your microfiber cloth and quickly wipe it away.[15] Advertisement 
Revad Community Answer I always find that using a window cleaning solution (like Windex) and cleaning it off with newspaper, works the best for a streak free window. Don't use the colored newspaper pages, only the black and white portion. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 21 Helpful 6 
Community Answer Take some newspaper, crumple it up, spray some Windex or Glass Plus and use medium-sized circles to clean (arm motion). Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 6 Helpful 0 
Crazyalger Community Answer You could use any window cleaner but instead of rags, use a strong paper towel. Try a cheap cleaner like Windex, it's less expensive. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 3 Helpful 2 
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