Ways to Clean Cloudy Mirrors

Cloudy mirrors with smudges and streaks can be a nightmare. Sometimes, no matter the quality of commercial cleaners used, the cloudiness and streaks just won’t go away. Instead of coming off, the smudges and streaks end up in different locations, and the mirrors still looking smeared and dirty.

I dealt with a mirror in a curio cabinet that seemed to have permanent cloudy streaks and smudges. It was an expensive curio cabinet, but for some reason, whatever was used to clean the wood ended up on the mirrors, and it wouldn’t come off. With a simple homemade cleaning remedy, the mirrors were finally clean, and I’ve kept them clean ever since.

If you’re struggling with a particular mirror, or mirrors that look cloudy and have streaks and smudges that won’t budge, try these easy ways to clean cloudy mirrors. Once they’re clean and free from cloudy marks and smudges they’ll be easier to keep clean in the future. Give these easy cleaning methods a try!

Precautionary Statement

A mirror can appear stained and cloudy if the backing is damaged. No amount of cleaning products available can solve the problem. If the following cleaning products won’t get rid of cloudiness, stains, or streaks, consider having the mirror stripped and silvered – if they’re worth saving. Otherwise, simple repairs can be made using the instructions found in this article on repairing old mirrors.

Vinegar and Newspaper

Cloudy mirrors are sometimes cloudy because they’re coated with cleaning products such as furniture polish or another oily substance. Read the label on the back of your favorite commercial glass cleaner. Regular commercial glass cleaner is extremely watered down. It’s strong enough to get rid of light smudges, water spots, and ordinary smears, but it’s not strong enough to cut through oil-based residue.

Instead of using commercial cleaner that contains mostly water, try ordinary white vinegar. Pour white vinegar in a spray bottle, and spray it on cloudy mirrors while being careful not to get it on wood surfaces. Immediately wipe the mirrors with waded up newspaper. Surprisingly, newsprint does a better job than ordinary paper towels. The cloudy film should wipe right off!

Shaving Cream

Ordinary inexpensive shaving cream, not the gel type, works wonders to clean cloudy mirrors. Simply squirt the appropriate amount of shaving cream on a clean lint-free paper towel and wipe the mirror briskly while avoiding any wood surrounding the mirror. If the back of the mirror isn’t permanently damaged, the cloudy film should come right off. In addition, if the mirror is in a bathroom, the shaving cream will keep it from fogging up. Using shaving cream will not only clean cloudy spots from mirrors, but it will keep it clean and clear no matter how hot the bathroom becomes. Give it a try!