Cleaning Cloudy Mirrors

I have a very old dressing vanity with a triple mirror that had been left out on a covered porch for years. The mirror was very cloudy and it had water streaks running down it. I tried everything! Then I heard about shaving cream! It worked like MAGIC! Took a lot of hard rubbing and wiping and you might have to do it a couple of times. I was amazed! :)

For a haze on mirrors or glass that nothing works on or if you know that the surface has been chemically "etched" by using the wrong cleaner use jeweler's rouge. Call a local jewelry store to see if they have some in stock (about $4-5 a stick). This is a hard compound that you rub on the surface first then buff with a dry cloth. It can be labor-intensive and time consuming, but it has worked when nothing else has. The sticks come color-tinted, but I don't believe that applies for this application- I have used black and white with success.

I use a capful of Avon Bubble Bath in a spray bottle full of water to clean mirrors, windows, etc. Works great.

ALSO, IT MIGHT BE NICOTINE. AS A SMOKER, I CAN ATTEST TO THIS. IF A MIRROR OR GLASS OF ANY KIND ISN'T CLEANED LIKE REALLY OFTEN AND THERE'S ANY NICOTINE FLOATING, IT WILL CEMENT ITSELF TO THE GLASS. I HAVE HAD TO CLEAN GLASS UP TO 4 OR 5 TIMES TO GET RID OF IT.

try to take some newspaper, wrinkle it up and go over what you cleaned, like you would a paper towel. This usually works on older mirrors, hopefully it will work!

I too have (had) a problem with cloudy mirrors and tried everything. I am now using a slightly dampened (with water) microcloth. My mirrors are now streak-free and the clouding has gone.

Have you tried using a scraper? It may be a paint-like residue. Get one of those tools from the DIY store that you use to get paint off windows and try that. They normally have a 'Stanley' knife blade in them and look a bit like a big flat disposable razor. If you use this tool with a new blade in it shouldn't scratch the glass at all.

If this works and the mirrors are not heated you might then want to use a product called 'Anti-fog' which you can buy from car accessory shops. It's a liquid that you wipe on, then off and it stops your mirrors from fogging up for weeks - till you clean it, then you have to reapply. (It's wonderful used inside your car in the winter!)
Hope this helps.

Chicky