How to clean mirror stains

If there are some really tough stains on the mirror, then you can use pure white vinegar to clean it up. Spray the vinegar on to the glass or soak a towel in it and use it to rub away the stains. Make sure you wear proper rubber gloves to protect your hands from the acidity of vinegar.

Tip #1 Vinegar and newspaper.

Pour white vinegar in a spray bottle and spray over the cloudy mirror, but not to the frame, especially if it’s wooden. Crumple an old newspaper and use it to wipe the vinegar off the glass. Rub the mirror until you’re left with a shiny, streak-free mirror.

On small discolored or tarnished spots on the back of a mirror, use the abrasive side of a kitchen sponge to scrub off the discoloration. Try to avoid enlarging the affected area. Patch these spots with a piece of Mylar film (available at art supply stores) or an ordinary piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil.

Use aluminum foil: Say what?? Yep, this trick works really well if you have the kind of spots where the backing has been scraped off and you can see through to the other side of the glass. All you need to do is smooth out small pieces of aluminum foil and tape them with clear tape to the back of the mirror.

If the black spots are in the middle of the mirror, it is typically caused by moisture or cleaner reaching the back of the mirror and causing damage. Unfortunately in either case, there is no way to remove the black spots. The only solution is to repair the mirror by painting a new finish or disguising the spots.

The cause of foggy mirrors

Cloudy mirrors result from a buildup of residue that is natural. It can also be a result of damage to the backing of the mirror, which may indicate that it’s time to replace your mirror.

You can get the cloudy film off your glassware with a good soak in white vinegar and water solution, or by soaking a soft dishcloth in vinegar and using a little elbow grease to wipe down the cloudy glassware. Soak the glasses for 30 minutes and then rinse them with warm water.

Soap Rub

Take a bar of bath soap (any brand is alright) and rub it gently on the mirror surface. Next, buff off the soap from the mirror surface with a towel or microfiber cloth. You can dampen the cloth if the soap doesn’t come off easily. Wipe the mirror until the surface is clean.

One method to quickly defog your mirror is to use a hairdryer after your shower. This works because the heat from it will evaporate the fog. It’s best to set the hairdryer to a low heat and aim it directly at the glass for maximum effect.

Best Overall: Sharper Image Heated Fog–Free Shower Mirror

And since it doesn’t rely on suction cups, you never have to worry about it dislodging from the steam.

So what to put on your mirror to keep it from fogging? Shampoo. Yep, good old shampoo, or shaving cream, will do a job in the short term. Just before you shower, apply some to a paper towel and wipe your mirror, or at least the patch you need clear, and then wipe dry.

The heat of the shower can soften a man’s beard, and the hot water helps open the pores and relax the facial muscles. Hanging a mirror in the shower can help avoid those accidental nicks. You can choose to mount your mirror temporarily or permanently depending on the style of mirror and your mounting location.

Fogless mirrors work by either warming the mirror or by using a surface treatment that resists condensation. Most anti fog shower mirrors fog more and more over time because the mirror surface treatment starts to lose its effectiveness, but in many cases it can be restored.