You Can Clean Your Mirrors and Windows with Just Club Soda — Yes, Really
Mirrors are the bane of my existence. Although I love them for their intended purpose and have quite a few of them in our home, I always manage to forget to clean them. And when I do, I’m just … not very good at it. So if you walk around the house, you’ll see mirrors that either have dust-covered surfaces, streaks, spots, or dots of toothpaste lingering on them. (Or all of the above!)
How to Use Club Soda as a Glass Cleaner
Club soda is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to get your mirrors and windows clean. All you have to do is pour club soda into a spray bottle, spritz it all over the glass, and wipe away from top to bottom with a microfiber cloth.
Luckily I now have a secret weapon in my cleaning toolbox: club soda. You likely have some already — especially if you have a stocked bar at home. But if you take some and put it into a spray bottle, it becomes the ultimate mirror and glass cleaner.
Why Club Soda Works as a Cleaner
Club soda isn’t just plain water. It’s got some extras in there that can help on your cleaning journey. “The ingredients of club soda aren’t just great for fizzy drinks,” says Toby Schulz, CEO and founder of Maid2Match, a house cleaning service. “The carbon dioxide, sodium bicarbonate, and potassium sulfate (among other things) can break down dirt, rust, and food debris. This means you can use it for a streak-free clean for your mirrors!”
How to Use Club Soda to Clean Mirrors and Windows
It’s pretty easy! Just put some club soda into a clean spray bottle. Spritz it all over the glass, wait for a minute, and then use a microfiber cloth to wipe everything off. Schulz says to start at the top and head toward the bottom; that way you aren’t spreading any mess to places you’ve already wiped clean.
Additional Tips and Tricks
First, Schulz says, make sure you’re using club soda and not soda pop. “Carbonated drinks will just leave a sticky residue that will attract dirt and ants,” he says.
It’s also important to note that you can no longer use the newspaper hack to wipe off your mirrors for that streak-free shine. “Modern newspapers have a different type of ink and paper, and they’re more likely to leave smudges than remove them,” Schulz says. “Instead, use a microfiber or terry cloth towel, or paper towels in a pinch.”
I used a microfiber towel for my mirror, and it came out looking great! I will note, though, that if you have anything plugged in beneath the mirror, unplug it or cover it up. My electric toothbrush is plugged in just below my bathroom mirror, and the club soda — which is thinner than other cleaning solutions — started to drip down onto the plug. No one needs an electric shock when you’re just trying to clean!