How to clean mirrors without streaks: 5 tricks that also work on glass tables

You've just wiped the bathroom mirror – and as soon as the light hits it, you see streaks, smears and lint. Glass tables are even worse: every fingerprint and every coffee cup ring shows up in the sunlight. Being able to clean mirrors without streaks is less about the right spray and more about technique, the right cloth and the water you use.

Here are five tricks that work in our daily cleaning – for bathroom mirrors, wardrobe mirrors, glass tables and glass shelves.

Why it's hard to clean mirrors without streaks

Streaks are residue: grease from fingers, hairspray and toothpaste splashes, too much cleaning product, or minerals from tap water that stay behind when the water evaporates. In many parts of Switzerland, the water is hard – you can check your hardness on trinkwasser.ch. The harder the water, the more likely it is to leave visible marks on glass.

A cloth that has been washed with fabric softener or is full of old residue also spreads streaks instead of removing them.

1. The two-cloth method with microfibre

This is the most reliable technique for mirrors and glass tables.

1. Remove dust with a dry cloth first, so you don't rub grit across the glass.
2. Lightly dampen a clean microfibre cloth with lukewarm water – wring it out well.
3. Wipe the glass in overlapping S-shaped lines from top to bottom.
4. Immediately polish with a second, completely dry microfibre cloth.
5. Check against the light from the side and touch up any remaining spots.

2. Distilled water or a drop of washing-up liquid

Hard tap water leaves mineral spots. Two simple solutions:

• Distilled water (available in supermarkets, often sold for irons) leaves no mineral residue.
• A drop of washing-up liquid in a bowl of warm water loosens grease from fingerprints and hairspray. Use very little – too much creates new streaks.

Consumer advocates also recommend simple household products such as vinegar, soda or a little alcohol as alternatives to many special cleaners. For glass, a mixture of water with a small dash of vinegar or spirit works well – test on the frame or backing first.

3. Forget the newspaper

Polishing windows with newspaper was common advice for generations. With today's printing inks and paper, it often leaves grey smudges on frames and hands, and the paper disintegrates when damp. Kitchen paper is not much better – it leaves lint.

A clean microfibre cloth or a small squeegee is more effective and reusable.

4. Limescale spots and hairspray on bathroom mirrors

Bathroom mirrors take the most abuse: steam, toothpaste splashes, hairspray and limescale from the tap.

• Toothpaste splashes: Soften them with a warm damp cloth for a minute, then wipe.
• Hairspray film: A cloth dampened with water and a little spirit or glass cleaner loosens the sticky layer.
• Limescale spots: Dab with diluted vinegar on a cloth, leave briefly, then wipe and polish dry.

5. Glass tables: fingerprints, rings and the underside

Glass tables have their own challenges.

1. Clear the table completely, including coasters and decorations.
2. Clean the top with the two-cloth method.
3. Don't forget the underside – dust and fingerprints underneath are visible through the glass. Clean it last, kneeling or with the table carefully tilted if possible.
4. Stubborn rings: A cloth with warm water and a drop of washing-up liquid usually removes them; for dried sugar or wine, leave the damp cloth on the spot for a minute.
5. Edges and frames: Wipe metal or wood frames with a barely damp cloth so no water sits on wood.

Common mistakes on mirrors and glass

• Too much cleaning product: The main cause of streaks.
• Cleaning in direct sunlight: The liquid dries before you can polish it.
• Dirty or softened cloths: They spread grease instead of removing it.
• Circular wiping: Leaves swirls – use straight or S-shaped lines.
• Abrasive sponges: Scratch glass and mirror coatings permanently.

The same principles apply to windows – our guide on cleaning windows without streaks covers frames and large panes too.

Priority Clean editorial teamOur cleaning team from Alberswil, Canton of Lucerne, shares hands-on experience from move-out, house, office and window cleaning across Central and Northwestern Switzerland.