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You should avoid multi-surface cleaners, bleach, and any cloth or scrubbing material that has a rough surface when cleaning mirrors. Multi-surface cleaners and bleach will get smudges and debris off of the glass, but they more often leave behind cleaner residue because they don’t evaporate like a glass cleaner or rubbing alcohol. Additionally, any abrasive material or even the scrubbing side of a sponge can scratch your glass or coatings on the glass, gradually making the mirror look hazy.

There are a few reasons your mirrors might have smears on them after cleaning, but the two most likely are remaining cleaning product and minerals from hard water. If you used a commercial glass cleaner, consider spraying down the mirror with a 1-to-1 ratio of white vinegar and water after cleaning and then wiping it dry with a cotton cloth. If you suspect hard water is the issue, use a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol to spot-clean the streaks, and then let the mirror air-dry.

Yes, you can resilver old mirrors without any issues, and in many cases, it’s is the only way to maintain and preserve old, antique mirrors. Resilvering involves stripping the old silver off of the mirror, replacing the silver, and adding a protective backing to the glass. The process costs around $15 per square foot of glass, making it a relatively inexpensive solution for making older mirrors functional again. You can buy a DIY resilvering kit, but we strongly recommend hiring a professional to avoid additional damage and mistakes.

Black spots on the bottom or along the edge of your bathroom mirror are caused by oxidation behind the mirror glass. When moisture and air are trapped between the glass and the backing, they react and cause discoloration. This is sometimes referred to as “mirror rot.” You’ll need to separate the glass and the backing to fully remove it.