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Written by Grove Collaborative

How to clean a mirror without streaks.

Last Updated: November 26, 2021


Often overlooked, mirrors get dirty quickly but, why do streaks happen during mirror cleaning? Dive in and learn how to clean a mirror correctly without leaving streaks!

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Often overlooked, mirrors get dirty quickly. From a kickback of water from the sink to stray hairspray sticking to the glass, there can be quite a bit of dirt on your bathroom mirror. When cleaning your bathroom, don’t forget your mirror.


So, why do streaks happen during mirror cleaning? When not properly cleaned, the oil and residue from your beauty and personal care products gets moved around with your cloth instead of taken off.


So, let’s dive in and learn how to clean a mirror correctly without leaving streaks!

Grove Tip

How do you clean a mirror without Windex?

When tacking your mirrors, you might reach for Windex or copy-cat products full of chemicals and some paper towels. Thankfully, there are eco-friendly, natural options you can use instead.


Without Windex, you can still effectively eliminate dirt and clean your mirror without streaks.You can use natural cleaner, or create your own solution with household items you already have.


Similarly, using newspaper or paper towels aren’t as effective as you might believe. Using a clean, dry microfiber cloth allows you to easily cut through dirt, and will not leave a film on the mirror that may happen with paper.


It is possible to clean your mirror with water alone, but this isn’t the best way to clean mirrors. If you have an especially dirty mirror, or are short on time, the best thing to do is have a natural solution and microfiber cloth on hand to quickly get the job done.

What do you use to clean mirrors?

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5 steps to clean a mirror without streaks

  1. Remove debris with a microfiber duster.
  2. Saturate your mirror with a glass cleaner or DIY cleaning solution (dish soap, vinegar, and water)
  3. Let your cleaner sit on the mirror for a few seconds.
  4. Start to wipe away the cleaner with your microfiber cloth. Be sure to thoroughly clean, hitting every part of the mirror and reapplying cleaner if needed.
    • Start at the top left corner and go vertically to the right, and repeat down the length of the mirror.
    • Do not use circular patterns or up and down motions to clean to avoid streaking.
  5. Step back and use lighting to look at the mirror from different angles to ensure the mirror is completely clean.

How do you clean a mirror that is hazy?

A hazy, cloudy, or foggy mirror can be the result of built up residue that can happen when mirrors are regularly cleaned. An old mirror may need to be replaced, but a lot of the time some extra supplies can help to get rid of a hazy mirror.


If you have an extremely hazy mirror with a visible layer of residue, it may require scraping with a paint scraper. If the haze isn’t as significant, opt for cleaning with the following products before your natural glass cleaner:



Cleaning your mirror without Windex and without streaks is possible with a few eco-friendly, natural products and a couple handy-dandy tricks.

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