How to clean a mirror without streaks?

Dede
by Dede

Every time I clean my mirrors, they end up having tons of streaks and almost look worse than before I started. What could I use to clean them that won't leave streaks?


  89 answers
  • Lisa S. Lisa S. on Feb 16, 2018

    Windex and paper towels. If it is really dirty, you may have to go over it several times.

  • Hope Hope on Feb 16, 2018

    Hi. I have great luck using 'barely damp' micro-fiber cloths to clean windows and mirrors. (I use those things to clean everything!) Good Luck!

  • Tinyshoes Tinyshoes on Feb 16, 2018

    Newspapers work very well after spraying cleaner such as Windex on them. Just wad them up and wipe!

  • Julie  McCuiston Julie McCuiston on Feb 16, 2018

    I make my own glass cleaner from a recipe I got from Consumer Reports about 40 years ago. It is the best!!!

    In a 1 qt spray bottle, add, 1 cup 70% or 90% ibuprophyl rubbing alcohol, 2 tablespoons ammonia, 1/2 teaspoon Dawn dishwashing liquid. Fill with water. (I have to use filtered water because we have really HARD water) Use like you would use Windex....with better results!

  • Dalila Oliva Dalila Oliva on Feb 16, 2018

    Spray vinegar and water and wipe dry with newspaper

  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Mar 19, 2017

    make a mixture of white vinegar and water 50/50 and use a micro-fiber cloth.

  • Shoshana Shoshana on Mar 20, 2017

    I like that recipe as well! Vinegar and water. The real trick is using the right material that won't leave streaks (ie a micro-fiber cloth or squeegee). Good luck!

  • Pattycake Pattycake on Mar 20, 2017

    Use a solution of 1 tb. dawn dishwashing detergent & 1/2 gal. f hot water. Rinse with clean water & dry like doing dishes. I also use this method to do windows.

  • Leah Deverett Leah Deverett on Mar 20, 2017

    Spraying it with water and using newspaper (instead of paper towel) to wipe the mirror down leaves it looking streak free!

  • Candy Baldwin-Grant Candy Baldwin-Grant on Mar 23, 2017

    I like to use rubbing alcohol. Whatever percentage I have on hand in my bathroom cabinet.

    It works great and the mirror doesn't fog up as bad.

  • Reggie Strong Reggie Strong on Mar 23, 2017

    I bought a Bissell hand held steamer and will never dread washing windows or mirrors again. It comes with a squeegee. No streaks whatsoever and squeaky clean. I have 13 windows just on my porch alone and did them in no time with no effort at all. I would buy the steamer just for windows and will never o without one again.

  • S Davis S Davis on Dec 19, 2018

    Use glass wipes and dry immediately with microfiber. Don’t let it dry then try to buff them out.

  • Glenda Smith Glenda Smith on Dec 19, 2018

    Try using a dryer sheet - never tried it myself but I hear it works.

    • Marianne Marianne on Sep 27, 2022

      A dryer sheet had fabric softener in it which would definitely leaves greasy streaks on the glass that would probably be a hassle remove. I don't know where you heard that but it's a very bad idea.

  • Lynn Sorrell Lynn Sorrell on Dec 19, 2018

    straight isopropyl/rubbing alcohol & clean white wash cloth or newspaper. No fabric softener on cloth - it leaves smears & smudges. No paper towels-they are either coated or have chemicals in them to increase absorbency but leave streaks & smudges.

  • Cindy Cindy on Dec 20, 2018

    Cleaning your glass and mirrors using newspaper will eliminate all streaks.

  • L. Creative L. Creative on Apr 23, 2018

    My boyfriend swears by a product called Sprayway Worlds Best Glass Cleaner. Works great!

    • Edgar Edgar on Jun 08, 2022

      Your boy friend is very smart i have mirrors everywhere and newspaper and Sprayway Worlds Best

      Glass Cleaner can find it almost anywhere i buy four pack from

      Sams Club. It the best

  • V Smith V Smith on Dec 19, 2018

    I have been thinking about your mirror and it reminded me that I recently cleaned a room size mirror for my sister. Because I didn't want to have to climb up the ladder to chase streaks I used glass wax. It isn't the old pink stuff that used to come in a can but it is applied and removed the same way. I found it on Amazon and you apply it with a damp sponge or cloth, let it glaze over, then buff it off with a micro fiber cloth. Her mirror cleaned up with no streaks.

  • Old school here, vinegar and newspaper.

  • Lynn Lynn on Apr 23, 2018

    Newspaper prevents streaks and doesn’t leave anything behind like when u use paper towels

  • Missy Burch Missy Burch on May 01, 2018

    brew up black tea, let it cool & put in a spray bottle. works on glass & your ceramic cook top.

  • Emily Emily on Sep 09, 2019

    Use a clean cotton/linen cloth (like an old dishtowel) with windex. I never have streaks on my windows or mirrors.

  • Windex and newspaper works perfectly.

    • Toni Toni on Apr 29, 2022

      Exactly 💯

      The solution to streak free glass

  • 19698379 19698379 on Dec 26, 2018

    Use a microfiber cloth which you can get at places like Dollar General or Walmart. Also, the cleaner I use is 1 part white vinegar, 1 squirt of dish soap, and 1 part water.

  • Kathy Rycroft Kathy Rycroft on Dec 26, 2018

    Newspaper works wonders. Crumple it up and use it as your cloth. Wash your hands after because you get inked!


  • Nancy Turner Nancy Turner on Dec 26, 2018

    How it is dried and if all dirt was removed is the key to no streaks. My mom always washed with ammonia water and rinsed with vinegar water and her windows always sparkled! She dried with newspaper, but the dry microfiber cloths or towels will do a great job, too. I go the lazy way and use Windex, if I get streaks when dry, I follow with a spray of vinegar and that usually takes care of that streaking.

  • Oliva Oliva on Dec 26, 2018

    Applying glass/mirror cleaner to a cloth, rather than directly onto mirror can make a difference. Wipe and buff dry with soft, lint free cloth or newspaper.

  • Amanda Amanda on Dec 27, 2018

    My mother in law just told me she goes over the glass with a rag with rubbing alcohol. I haven't had a chance to try it yet but am excited and hoping it works.

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Jun 07, 2019

    A damp microfiber cloth should produce a streak free finish. I use SuperCloth microfiber and water, nothing else and get perfectly clean & streak free on all glass, screens, and appliances. It is similar to the cloth you receive with glasses/sunglasses. It was well worth the investment. They were under $40 for 4 of them about 5 years ago.

  • Gk Gk on Jun 07, 2019

    You could try some straight rubbing alcohol on a paper towel and see if that helps!

  • Try cleaning with coffee filters. They are less likely than newspaper to leave streaks.

  • Janice Janice on Jun 07, 2019

    I use a mixture of water and alcohol mixed 50/50. Most window cleaners contain a certain amount of oil and that's what leaves the streaks. Use a clean absorbent cloth to wipe dry.

  • Janice Janice on Mar 15, 2021

    I find if I use an alcohol/water moist microfiber cloth to quickly clean the mirror, then follow immediately with another clean microfiber cloth to rub completely dry, I don't have streaks.

  • Nancy Turner Nancy Turner on Oct 02, 2017

    Clean in your usual way, rinse with vinegar water, and dry with a microfiber cloth.

  • Maggie Maggie on Oct 02, 2017

    Use a microfiber cloth with a tiny bit of water.

  • Teresa Teresa on Oct 02, 2017

    I have worked at motels & hotels + my own private home cleaning for years. Use a spray bottle of water only. Then use a dry cloth to wipe water off. If a streak shows up rub again with the dry cloth. Make sure cloth is dry though. Simple & inexpensive.

  • Cynthia H Cynthia H on Oct 02, 2017

    I clean the mirror in the bathroom right after a shower with a microfiber cloth. In other rooms, I use a barely damp microfiber cloth and follow-up with a dry one.

  • Joy30150932 Joy30150932 on Nov 16, 2017

    Ammonia or vinegar works well.

  • B. B. on Nov 16, 2017

    use a Mr. Clean magic eraser, wet with water, squeeze out as much water as possible, and dry with paper towel. Works great on windows too.

  • Chubby58 Chubby58 on Nov 17, 2017

    Denatured alcohol.

  • Julie D. Grant Julie D. Grant on Nov 18, 2017

    Water and paper towels. Water down with a cloth, then wipe clean with paper towel. It cuts grease completely. Depending on the environment around them and how long they've waited to be cleaned will decide how much effort you'll need to put into cleaning them. I use this for my car windows and the inside glass of my house as well. It's never failed.

  • Ginny Ginny on Apr 12, 2019

    Use Invisible Glass glass cleaner. I get it at walmark. It comes in two forms. It works very well. It was suggested to us by a glass company. And I don't use newspaper!!

    Also don't wash the windows in the sunlight. Any cleaner will dry too quickly and leave streaks

  • Shirley V. Shirley V. on Apr 12, 2019

    Use Zep window cleaner

  • Lillian Goreham Lillian Goreham on Apr 12, 2019

    Regular newspapers (not magazine, etc,) the regular black printed newspapers. Clean windows while in the shade, spray with commercial or homemade cleaner of small amount of white vinegar in water. Wipe dry with crumpled newspapers, first horizontally and then vertically. Wear disposable gloves as black print comes off on your hands (or just wash your hands when completed. I use this on my car windows (with car parked in shade of course). So clean, looks like no glass in windshield! Just dispose of newspapers as you go...


  • I use water and a Norwex cloth. I don't sell Norwex myself, but their cloths leave my mirrors streak-free, no cleaners needed. Before these cloths, I used an alcohol-based spray and newspaper (no lint residue). Hope this helps!

    • Wendy Shay Failing Wendy Shay Failing on Jan 14, 2023

      Norwex microfiber and window cloth every time - never streaked and crystal clean - works wonders with dog nose prints ❤️

  • Lee Ann Gray Lee Ann Gray on Aug 15, 2018

    I have always used vinegar and water, but a tip from my grandmother. She would crumple up black and white newspaper to wipe the vinegar off the mirror. She said that the newspaper left no lint, but only a clean, streak free shine. Hope you will try this.

  • Cori Widen Cori Widen on Mar 16, 2017

    My favorite trick for mirrors is to spray some kind of cleaner -- or water - on the mirror and scrub it with crumpled up newspaper. To date, this is the only way I've ever found to clean mirrors without any streaks in the end!

  • Rmd13656644 Rmd13656644 on Mar 16, 2017

    On my mirrors I use a mixture of 1/2 water and 1/2 rubbing alcohol. It cleans and dries quickly with no streaks.

  • Eileen B. Eileen B. on Mar 20, 2017

    I use Rainex auto glass cleaner, it leaves the windows and mirrors streak free and the glass doesn't fog up after a shower. The bottle actually shows you can use Rainex around the house.

  • Neva Gray Neva Gray on Jan 06, 2017

    I have had a cleaning service for many years and I use rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle, spray on lint free cloth. It leaves no streaks and does not become foggy with time as with most glass cleaners. You can then do touch on your mirrors only where the toothpaste and shaving cream spatters are, instead of the whole wall of mirrors. Saving time and materials. I don't love house work, I love a clean house.

    • Denise Denise on Feb 01, 2022

      Neva try to use a little water to your mix this way you are getting the strong smell of the alcohol.

  • Jim Roache Jim Roache on Mar 13, 2017

    Regardless of the solution you use to clean the mirror or glass, wipe it with a coffee filter. You'll have no streaks using this simple trick .

  • Janey B. Janey B. on Jun 12, 2017

    I have used a number of products to clean my mirror, but now I use an essential oil called Thieves. I mix two ounces in a quart of water and use that in a sprayer. I use that for pretty much everything in fact. It saves me time and money and it never streaks and smells great. It's expensive to buy the bottle, but it will last you 6 months and you won't have to buy anything else.

  • Sue Sue on May 07, 2018

    I have used something called the Ultimate Cloth for years now. Just wet it, wring it out wipe surface & walk away. It dries without leaving streaks. Guaranteed for 5yrs. $6 for 1 but well worth it. If it gets to dirty between windows, you just wash it with a little dish soap in sink, rinse & reuse. Love this cloth! http://www.ultimatestreakfree.com/ I promise you'll love it to

  • Deb K Deb K on Jan 09, 2022

    Hello, the secret to streak free mirrors is to ensure you are using a microfiber cloth that has nit had fabric softener used in the wash, fabric softener causes the streaks. How do you remove carbon buildup from pans? Newspapers and microfiber towels are best for wiping and drying windows without the risk of leaving streaks. You can also use paper towels, but some paper towels may leave behind lint. If you notice streaks on your window, it's likely because of leftover residue from commercial products.


  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Jan 17, 2022

    White Vinegar and newsaper scrunched up!

    • Denise Denise on Feb 01, 2022

      Can you tell me how many times have you had to scrub your hands to get that newspaper ink off??? because the vinegar dissolved it on you.

  • Sta57694228 Sta57694228 on Jan 24, 2022

    Dawn and water worked for a construction clean up crew and thats all we used

  • Marion Nesbitt Marion Nesbitt on Jan 28, 2022

    Agree with Hope. Get a microfibre cloth - Magic Cloth or whatever. Wring out the cloth to damp. No streaks on inner windows, glass, mirrors. (Outer windows ...... I do 2 passes using 2 pans of water and 2 cloths for outer windows. First gets most grime off. Second is the finishing touch. For mineral deposits on outer windows, I wet the surface and use a soapy SOS to remove the deposits, then rinse well, and use the micro fibre cloth. MUCH cheaper and more effective than window cleaning products. (Using paper towel and ammonia based products nearly drove me nuts with streaking. I think there must be some type of oil product in the paper towels and this wouldn't be from ammonia.)


  • We use vinegar and newspaper. Works great!

  • Agnes Chrzanowska Agnes Chrzanowska on Jan 31, 2022

    Vinegar with water and newspaper

    • Denise Denise on Feb 01, 2022

      Agnes, this was my Mom's old way of cleaning windows too, than she started buying glass cleaner in the spray can because she figured if it foamed up it was working. Until I showed her my way, after that this was all she used because she could use it on anything even her computer monitor, she never had to buy that special cleaning they tell you to buy you don't have to make some other person rich off your pennies when you have the solution right in your home all along.

  • Denise Denise on Feb 01, 2022

    Hi all!! I have used this method since I was in my 20's and I am way past that now more like in my 60's, I learned this because I was a smoker and the worst windows to clean if you are a smoker is car windows. So I just started using plain rubbing alcohol, but I thought it was going to be pretty harsh, so I took an old spray perfume bottle poured about half of the bottle with the alcohol and the rest with water, and All I did was sprayed it on the inside of my windows on a mist spray and took a paper towel and not one streak was there now I will never buy glass cleaner again. it is good for your eye glasses glass tables and you never have to rinse this off after using it because it also cleans and disinfects like alcohol normally would do.

  • Blanca Blanca on Feb 03, 2022

    I use rubbing alcohol. Cleans great.

  • Jeff Jeff on Feb 12, 2022

    I had a bathroom mirror that stayed very cloudy looking at the top and slightly cloudy looking throughout the rest, and nothing I tried would get rid of it. Then one day when I went to clean it I grabbed an orange, large Shamwow! from a set that I had picked up at the drug store and it wiped the cloudy look right off! I didn't use anything else with it, just a dry Shamwow!, and I said, "W😮W!"


  • Noreen Preteroti Noreen Preteroti on Feb 16, 2022

    Buy a Super Cloth! Found on line or QVC

  • Agnes Chrzanowska Agnes Chrzanowska on Mar 31, 2022

    vinegar with newspaper as I use also to clean windows

  • Sal Sal on Apr 02, 2022

    Damp micro fiber cloth. Easiest and quickest way to clean mirrors. Should work on windows.

  • Use glass cleaner and newspaper.

  • Michelle Leslie Michelle Leslie on May 09, 2022

    Hi Dede, we use windshield washer fluid and paper towels or newspaper. To finish off go over the window with a microfiber cloth.

  • Susan Susan on Jun 04, 2022

    Shineway foam glass cleaner, sold at $general stores in my area. Best I’ve ever found and recommended by a professional house cleaner.

  • Karen Karen on Jun 26, 2022

    Hey everybody, this is so funny, the other day I read the same question in Facebook, one lady said you have to wipe your mirrors from the right to the left. So I typed in there.. no no you have to have to wipe from the left to the right! (There's another answer but I'm not going to bring it up) 🤓🤓

  • Chas' Crazy Creations Chas' Crazy Creations on Aug 01, 2022

    I have several cleaning tutorials that might help you https://chascrazycreations.com/diys/how-tos/cleaning/

  • Donna Black Donna Black on Aug 14, 2022

    WOW, I can't believe no one has mentioned this! I had a cleaning business for years and used 1 thing for a myriad of things. Mirrors, windows, stainless steel, counter tops, you name it. 50/50 mix of water and peroxide. Not only does it make everything sparkle, it also disinfects. Just make sure you wear gloves or your hands will be white.

  • Donna Black Donna Black on Aug 14, 2022

    Also, if the lights are close to the bathroom mirror, turn them off and make sure the mirror is cool.

  • Use window cleaner and newspaper.

  • Evonne Evonne on Sep 01, 2022

    Isopropyl alcohol (70%) in sprayer diluted about 1 part alcohol to 10 parts water is best product for cleaning them.


    Avoid commercial window cleaning products like Windex and anything scented because they irritate the respiratory system and are toxic to human health.


    Newspaper or microfiber cloths are best for wiping off the alcohol before it can dry. Leaves glass clean and without streaks. Good for car Windows too.

  • Shayna cekala Shayna cekala on Sep 15, 2022

    The reason why your mirror comes out streaky is because there's too much chemical built up on the mirror or window like windex what has always worked wonderful for me is to take a sponge with with just water and wash the then take a dry cloth or paper towel and wipe a dry right you will never get streaks that way

  • Lois deaton Lois deaton on Sep 20, 2022

    I use Windex and a paper towel. I don’t need the paper towel get too wet I use a second. When I’m finished I wipe over the whole thing with 90% alcohol on a paper towel.

  • Marianne Marianne on Sep 27, 2022

    Windex is the absolute worst product you can use to clean glass, chrome, countertops or anything that you need to be consistently clean and LOOK FABULOUS. Look in your supermarket on the bottom shelf for a product called Cinch. This stuff works so well on glass and so much more that I don't know why no one has ever heard of it. Whatever the chemical makeup is it leaves glass absolutely perfect, sparkling with not a single streak and in half the time we're used to when cleaning glass. The trick is to use as little product as possible with a hugh handful of dry paper towels to get the glass clean and dry. The secret to successful cleaning is using the right materials for the project. I cleaned houses for 20 years, there isn't anything I can't clean perfectly. But I won't skimp on the supplies to get the job done properly and make it look it's absolute best. Try this solution for your streaky glass, I guarantee you that the streaks will be gone. Ask me how to clean anything, any time!

  • Use glass cleaner and newspaper.

  • Dawn Feska Dawn Feska on Nov 14, 2022

    to make a mirror non streaky I use white vinegar

    in a spray bottle and news paper fist I spray wipe up n down , then wipe side to side .

    this how they do car windows at a detail car wash, works every time.


  • Janice Janice on Nov 29, 2022

    I share your pain! It seems some of the microfiber cloths that advertise as lint free are the worst for leaving streaky mirrors and glass. I've used the white or beige coffee filters to dry the mirrors with good success!

  • Celeste Celeste on Dec 12, 2022

    Alcohol

  • Glass cleaner and newspaper.

  • Sarashort Sarashort on Dec 16, 2022

    I can understand you. I had the same problem for a long time and had no idea how to solve it. However, after lots of searches, I found a company called jicleaning.com and asked them for some tips. They suggested different products to use, especially for my mirror. Also, they asked me additional questions about my house's environment and gave me some tips and products to maintain the effect for a longer time and not be as sticky as before. You should try them and see, and maybe the situation will change.


  • Crys Crys on Jan 21, 2023

    Clorox gel toilet bowl cleaner! I know it sounds weird but it's cleaner! And I use it on my shower glass as well and it immediately gets off the soap scum too! You almost can't tell there is glass there it's so clean. If you squeeze it on and let it sit for ten minutes, you song even need to scrub the shower or tub... Just rinse and it smells minty and clean! But you'll never use anything else again!

  • Andrea Andrea on Feb 13, 2023

    Water, a little dishsoap and here is the key...a squeegee. Just have a cloth to catch the water off the squeegee after every swipe so it doesn't drip on the floor. It is almost fun. If there are any really greasy spots, pretreat and scrub a bit with your soapy water and a soft rag before doing the whole thing.

  • I use glass cleaner and newspaper.

  • Darcie Collins Darcie Collins on Mar 23, 2023

    i use window cleaner without alcohol and old wash cloths. It’s what we used when working as a maid at a hotel. It actually works and saves money on paper towels that leave tiny white fibers behind and eureka no streaks!

  • Patricia Patricia on May 29, 2023

    I use shaving cream with soft cloth then they're streak free and they don't fog up from steam when you shower.

  • Betsy Betsy on Sep 01, 2023

    Hi Dede: What I found, completely by mistake, is to use a little square of new carpeting! I was washing my car windows on the inside, and grabbed a carpet square from getting new carpeting, instead of my cleaning pad, and the streaks were gone! Give it a try:)

  • Marion Nesbitt Marion Nesbitt on Dec 19, 2023

    Get a magic cloth. Wipe down the glass with warm water. Then from another pot/pan wet the magic cloth and go over a second time. No streaks. Hertel used to make a terrific product but I think they changed the formula as it doesn't work well anymore.