How to Clean Antique Mirrors

Make your own homemade mirror cleaner. This mixture is ideal for antique and modern mirrors, providing a streak free finish. It is also inexpensive and environmentally friendly. Combine two parts clean water with one part rubbing alcohol. Add a few drops of dish soap or ammonia if desired.

Decide how to best clean your mirror. If you have an unframed antique mirror, a spray bottle with cleaner will work quite well. This may also be an option if you have a framed mirror, but do keep the framing in mind before spraying. If you prefer not to spray, simply saturate a soft, lint free rag with your mirror cleaner.

Clean the surface of your mirror. Use cotton swabs dipped in homemade mirror cleaner to get into corners and crevices. Repeat if needed to remove streaking and additional dirt. Stubborn cosmetic or grease residue can be removed with straight rubbing alcohol if needed. Be certain to carefully dry all edges near the frame.

Use a suitable product to carefully clean your mirror frame, avoiding the mirror. Many frames can be cleaned with a rag dampened and well wrung out with a mild solution of soapy water.

Consider having your antique mirror restored if spots remain. Antique mirrors can be re-silvered to eliminate spotting and damage. You may also consider having a new mirror placed in an older frame. Many people enjoy the charm and character offered by worn antique mirrors.