How to Clean Old Mirrors

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Handling a delicate antique like an old mirror could be overwhelming when it comes to cleaning mirrors. The slightest of misses may result in an intangible loss of mirror glass. Here is a step-by-step manual that will guide you on how to clean an old mirror.

How to Clean Old Mirrors

Materials Required

  • Screwdriver
  • 2-3 large size towels and two pieces of paper towels
  • Microfiber cloth
  • Dry towel
  • Bowl or glass
  • Rubbing alcohol
  • White vinegar
  • WD-40 spray
  • 2-3 medium-large size lemons
  • Strainer
  • Shaving cream
  • Aluminum foil
  • Mirror spray paint
  • Anti-tarnish product
  • Orange oil
  • Toothbrush
  • Cotton pad buds
An interior design with antique mirrors

Step #1: Remove Mirror Frame

Authentic antique mirrors are very old. Thus, just like many types of camera lenses, they can shatter into pieces if not appropriately handled. That’s why it is suggested to clean the ornate frames and mirrors separately.

To detach the frame from the mirror:

  • Unscrew the bolts of the frame and place the frame on a plain lying surface.
  • Before you place the frame on the floor, make sure the floor is covered with something like newspapers or paper towels.
  • Slowly remove the mirror. Handle the antique mirror glass with care.

After removing the mirror, look for tarnishes and spots. If they are not present, skip step 2 and proceed with step 3.

Step #2: Recover the Tarnished Areas of the Mirror

Method #1: Use Aluminum Foil

The surface of the aluminum foil is highly reflective and, therefore, can be used as a substitute for the faded silver backing, and they even serve as a great scrubber for cleaning glue guns.

  • Take a small piece of aluminum foil. Make sure it doesn’t have creases.
  • Stick this piece of foil using duck tape to the mirror. Now your mirror is good to use again.
Method #2: Use Mirror Spray Paint

If there are small patches of fading silver backing, you can spray this mirror-like spray bottle to refurbish your old mirror.

If you need more detailed work on the base, here is a step-by-step tutorial on repainting the back of the mirror from scratch.

Step #3: Clean the Mirror

Cleaning cloudy mirrors can be overwhelming. Unlike new mirror glass, antique mirrors are fragile and thus can fall apart with a slight mistake.

Cleaning an antique mirror can be time-consuming but not impossible.

Method #1: Use Rubbing Alcohol

Rubbing alcohol, also known as isopropyl alcohol, is a potent mirror cleanser used widely. The chemical is volatile and thus evaporates quickly. It helps in removing sticky streaks on the surface of cloudy mirrors.

  1. Take 50 ml of rubbing alcohol in a glass or bowl.
  2. Dust off the dirt from the mirror.
  3. Wipe your mirror with a cloth.
  4. Rub the alcohol over the cloudy areas.
  5. Swipe from the left to right corner and go down in a zig-zag motion to prevent streaks.
  6. Repeat the process for better results. Use a new piece of microfiber.
Method #2: Use Vinegar

Just like rubbing alcohol, vinegar is also a volatile liquid that can be used as a mirror glass cleanser. 

  1. Take a few milliliters of vinegar in a glass or bowl.
  2. Dust off the dirt from cloudy mirrors.
  3. Wipe your mirror with a cloth.
  4. Rub the vinegar over the cloudy areas.
  5. Swipe from the left to right corner and go down in a zig-zag motion to prevent streaks.
  6. Finally, wipe the mirror surface using a damp cloth or mirror glass cleaner to get rid of the pungent smell of the vinegar.
  7. Repeat the process for better results.
An oval shaped antique mirror
Method #3: Use Shaving Cream

It is scientifically tested and proven that shaving cream is a great alternative to clean cloudy mirrors. You have to,

  1. Take a small amount of shaving cream on the cloth.
  2. Dust off the dirt from the mirror.
  3. Wipe your mirror with a cloth.
  4. Rub the shaving cream over the cloudy areas.
  5. Swipe in small circular motions to prevent streaks.
  6. Wipe the mirror using a dry cloth to remove the traces of shaving cream
  7. Repeat the process for better results.

Warning: Don’t use shaving gel as a substitute for shaving cream. It can leave streaks on the surface of cloudy mirrors.

Method #4: Use Lemon Juice

If you don’t have vinegar at your home, don’t worry. Lemon juice is a great alternative to vinegar and acts as an excellent mirror cleanser. To clean your mirror using lemon juice, all you have to do is,

  1. Take 2-3 medium-large size lemons
  2. Squeeze the lemons properly. The juice should not contain any fiber, or else it will leave a mark on the mirror.
  3. Dust off the dirt from the mirror.
  4. Wipe your mirror with a microfiber cloth.
  5. Rub lemon juice over the cloudy areas.
  6. Swipe from the left to right corner and go down in a zig-zag motion to prevent streaks.
  7. Use a damp cloth to wipe the mirror.
  8. Repeat the process for better results.
Method #5: Use WD-40 spray

You can always use an all-purpose surface cleanser like a WD-40 spray as a mirror cleanser, they are even great for cleaning rubber watch bands and plastic lawn chairs. All you need to do is to clean mirrors is:

  1. Grab WD-40 spray from your nearest hardware store.
  2. Dust off the dirt from the mirror.
  3. Wipe your mirror with a microfiber cloth.
  4. Spray the cleaner all over the mirror.
  5. Swipe from the left to right corner and go down in a zig-zag motion to prevent streaks.
  6. Repeat the process for better results.

Step #4: Clean the Metal Ornate Frame of the Mirror

Get Rid of the Dust

Grab a dry microfiber cloth and dust off the frame gently. Be careful while dusting the ornate metal frame as it is old and may shatter down with extra pressure.

Use Toothbrushes and Cotton Pad

The ornate frames are highly intricate in design. Unlike average frames, each edge is delicately sculpted. Thus, one needs to be careful while cleaning, especially in the case of metal frames.

  1. Grab a toothbrush that has soft bristles. Rub the edges properly with gentle pressure.
  2. Move the brush in a back and forth motion for better cleaning.
  3. For areas with tricky details, use cotton pad buds. The cotton pad won’t only hold the dust particles but also save the small details from damage if you used a brush otherwise.
  4. Once you are done scrubbing, wipe the entire frame with a dry cloth to get rid of the loosened grime.
Get Rid of the Tarnishes

If you have a wooden frame, then use orange oil to clean your frame. Take a small amount of orange oil and do a patch test.

Apply a small amount of orange oil on a small spot before applying it all over the frame. An instantly cleansed and polished look is the result you want.

A square shaped antique mirror along with other antiques
  • If it passes the patch test, apply the oil all over the frame using a dry microfiber cloth with gentle pressure.
  • But in case you have an ornate metallic frame, wipe the frame with a damp cloth first before applying anything to get rid of rust.
  • Use cotton swabs as an applicator to apply anti-tarnish products to remove the tarnish from the frame.

Conclusion

Glass mirrors are everyone’s favorite. Why? Because they last longer and are easy to maintain. Even research claims that a glass mirror is less prone to pollutants than copper or any other type of mirror. By following this step-by-step manual to clean mirrors, you can effectively clean mirrors and flaunt their Victorian beauty.