Tips for cleaning cloudy glass or mirror

Glass Cleaning Hacks

If you cannot see a clear reflection in your mirror, it may be time to clean it. In this article, we discuss the reasons behind cloudy mirrors and the cleaning techniques to keep your mirror shiny!

What causes mirrors to get cloudy or foggy?

A simple reason may be because of an accumulation of dirt and lack of maintenance.

Another reason could be desilvering - mirrors are made of glass with a silver backing, and over time the mirror may begin to develop black spots. This is called desilvering and it usually happens due to moisture. Water can seep into the layer of silver and the backing leading to dark spots on the edge or in the middle portion of the mirror.

Improper cleaning techniques can also cause the mirror to desilver.

What do you need to clean cloudy glass or mirror?

• Microfibre cloth
• Shaving cream or jeweller’s rouge
• Rubbing alcohol, cotton pad and glass cleaner or vinegar and water

Important Note

• Newspapers do not work effectively as they can leave behind ink residue and may create streak marks. Avoid using paper towels and terry cloths to clean mirrors.
• Also, do not spray glass cleaners directly on the mirror.

3 effective ways to clean cloudy glass or mirrors

Rubbing Alcohol and Vinegar/Glass Cleaner

1. Place some rubbing alcohol on a cotton pad and rub it on the stains. The alcohol dries off quickly so make sure you clean the stains quickly.
2. Spray glass cleaner or vinegar and water on the cloth, if you spray it directly on the mirror, it can create tarnish marks.
3. Use a microfiber cloth in an S pattern to clean the glass - start from the top left corner and drag the cloth to the right corner. Use a zigzag pattern to clean instead of using a circular motion.
4. If you look at the mirror straight on, you might not be able to observe the stains. So, look at the mirror at a 45-degree angle and spot-clean the stains, if any.

Shaving Cream

• Put some shaving cream on a microfiber cloth and wipe the mirror in an S pattern
• Repeat the process to ensure the mirror is spotless

Jewellers Rouge or Polishing Rouge

• Also called red rouge, it is available in local stores and can be used to give a new life to old cloudy mirrors.
• It is available in the form of a fine powder, paste, or stick.
• Rub the jeweller’s rouge on the stains and wipe with a clean microfibre cloth until the stains are removed.
• Jewellers rouge can remove the tough stains from the glass when the above methods do not work.

Your local mirror glass specialists in Brisbane

Use these cleaning tips to clean your mirrors like a pro! If they don’t work, or if the mirror glass is broken or cracked you might need to get your mirrors replaced by a professional glazer. Mirrors lose their shine over time and if their backing is damaged, no amount of cleaning can get rid of it.

Our glaziers can custom-cut and replace glass, balustrades, and mirrors. Contact us at 0436 452 771 for more information.