How to Clean a Mirror With Newspaper, and Why It Works

By Beverly Gene, Design Consultant, Claris Company.

Published October 30, 2026.

To clean a mirror with newspaper, wipe the glass with a cloth wrung out in warm water, then buff it dry with a crumpled sheet of black-and-white newsprint in overlapping strokes. The paper soaks up the last of the moisture and sheds no lint, so the glass dries clear, without streaks.

The method matters more than the paper: use very little liquid, and finish with a firm, dry sheet. Skip the vinegar and ammonia sprays that often come with this tip, because they can damage a mirror's edges.

On an LED mirror the same buff works on the clear glass, with a few rules for the frosted band and the edges. Our guide to cleaning an LED mirror without damage has the full routine.

Why does newspaper clean mirrors without streaks?

Newspaper leaves no lint, soaks up the last film of liquid and holds a firm shape, so it buffs glass dry without streaks.

Newsprint sheds no lint

Newsprint is a thin, dense sheet. A paper towel is built soft and bulky, and the loose fibres that make it soft are the ones left behind on glass. A cleaning expert quoted by Tom's Guide puts it simply: newspaper absorbs the solution and doesn't leave lint.

Newsprint soaks up the film

Most streaks are a thin film of liquid drying where it was spread. Newsprint pulls that film off the glass and into the sheet.

A crumpled sheet holds its shape

A crumpled sheet stays firm, so every stroke has a little pressure behind it, and that light friction polishes the glass. Paper is far softer than glass, so it buffs without scratching.

Does the ink help?

Older guides credit the ink too, as if it left a polishing film. The evidence for that is thin. Today's soy-based inks can work the other way: a cleaning expert quoted by Bob Vila warns they can smudge and streak glass.

What to use with newspaper, and why not vinegar

Warm water does most of the work. The Glass Association of North America's mirror-cleaning bulletin names clean, warm water on a soft, lint-free cloth as the best and safest cleaner for a mirror. It also warns against cleaners with ammonia or vinegar, since acids and alkalis can attack a mirror's edges and backing.

For a film of hairspray or soap, add a single drop of dish soap to the water. If you'd rather use a glass cleaner, pick one without ammonia or vinegar and put it on the cloth.

How to clean a mirror with newspaper, step by step

1. Dust first. A dry sheet or a dry cloth lifts dust and lint before any liquid touches the glass, so nothing turns to smears.
2. Dampen lightly. Wipe the glass with a cloth wrung out in warm water. Less liquid means fewer streaks.
3. Make a pad. Crumple a sheet of black-and-white newsprint into a loose ball, then press it flat into a firm pad.
4. Buff until dry. Work in overlapping strokes, top to bottom, until no damp patches remain. Swap in a fresh sheet as the first one softens.
5. Dry the edges last. Run a dry sheet along every edge and joint, or a dry microfibre cloth where the edge is frosted or framed. Liquid left at an edge can reach the silvering and cause the damage known as black edge, which is why the same bulletin makes dry edges the last step of any mirror clean.
6. Check at an angle. Daylight from the side shows any spot left. Touch it up with a dry corner.

Before the first full clean, try a small corner. Some papers print heavier than others, and e-cloth advises the same test before using newsprint on a mirror.

Newspaper, paper towel or microfibre?

Use newspaper for the final buff on clear glass and microfibre for everything else. Keep paper towel for spills.

Both newspaper and microfibre leave a mirror clear. Old newspaper costs nothing and suits a quick buff on plain glass. Microfibre carries no ink and goes everywhere, which is why it's our everyday choice for lit mirrors.

Newspaper on an LED mirror: five rules

Newspaper works on the clear glass of an LED mirror. These five rules come from the care guidance we give for our own mirrors.

• Switch it off at the wall, or unplug a plug-in piece, and let the glass cool before cleaning.
• Put the liquid on the cloth, never on the mirror. Sprayed liquid runs to the edges, where the electrical components live.
• Keep the newspaper on the clear glass. Frosted bands and matte frames take a soft microfibre cloth, in light passes.
• Skip ammonia and vinegar. Ammonia-heavy cleaners can streak coatings and dull a frosted border, and an acid that seeps in at the edges can attack the silvering and reach the electronics.
• Go lightly over the sensor. One gentle pass is enough.

MORENO and VIANO, shown here, are cut from Diamond ClearVision, an extra-low-iron Belgian glass, so once the glass is clean the reflection carries no green cast. Explore the backlit mirrors and the anti-fog mirrors, or the full range of vanity mirrors.

How do you keep a mirror clear between cleans?

A dry dust once a week keeps most bathroom mirrors bright, with a damp clean and a newspaper buff when spots build up. Hard water leaves the stubborn marks. For spots that have set, a cloth with a drop of dish soap and a few extra light passes is the safe first step; more pressure doesn't help. A final pass with a cloth dampened in distilled water stops new minerals being wiped on as the old ones come off.

Good airflow helps too. A fan or an open door clears the steam faster, so the glass spends less time fogged. On a mirror with anti-fog, a heated film behind the mirror keeps the glass clear of steam; our anti-fog mirror guide explains how it works.

For the full routine, including frames and finishes, read how to clean an LED mirror, and find more guides in the Design Journal.

Frequently asked questions

Does cleaning a mirror with newspaper really work?

Yes, for a streak-free buff on plain glass. The paper absorbs the last of the moisture and sheds no lint. Test a corner first, because some modern inks can smudge.

What do you put on a mirror before using newspaper?

Warm water on a wrung-out cloth, with a drop of dish soap for film. Put the liquid on the cloth, never on the glass, and skip ammonia and vinegar, which can damage a mirror's edges and backing.

Can newspaper ink damage a mirror?

Ink can't scratch glass. It can smudge onto the surface, light frames or grout, so use black-and-white pages and finish with a dry sheet.

Is newspaper or microfibre better for cleaning mirrors?

Both leave glass clear. Microfibre carries no ink and is gentle on frosted bands, so it's the choice for LED mirrors. Newspaper suits a quick final buff on clear glass.

Can you use newspaper on an LED mirror?

On the clear glass, yes. Switch the mirror off, let it cool, wipe with a damp cloth, then buff. Keep the newspaper off frosted bands, frames and the sensor.

What can you use if you don't have newspaper?

A clean, dry microfibre cloth. It buffs glass just as clear, sheds no lint and carries no ink.

Claris Company. 50 Carroll Street, Toronto, Ontario, M4M 3G3. +1-855-999-2124. info@clariscompany.com.