How to Stop Bathroom Mirrors Steaming up and Misting

Demisting mirrors, most commonly in the bathroom, can be a real pain. It can seem like a life time when you are waiting for the mirror to demist after a shower or bath so that you can shave or apply makeup. Wiping mirrors isn’t always successful and generally mist up again pretty quickly. Not to mention the smears that are left on the glass when the condensation has left.

There are several ways that you can get around this problem, some can be done with little or expense and some involve some more expenditure. Each of the methods outlined below have varying degrees of success.

Affordable Ways to Stop a Mirror Fogging Up

There are a number of ways that you can reduce the condensation that forms on your bathroom mirror with household products that you will have lying around the house.

Here is a selection on the most common home made mirror demisting solutions:

• Shaving Cream – simply smear shaving cream over the mirror and then wipe it off again with a clean dry towel before you shower or bath. This will keep the glass fog free for at least a couple of weeks



• Tooth Paste – In the same way as you could use shaving foam, smear a solution of toothpaste and water into the glass and wipe off again. This should also provide a couple of weeks of fog free self-appreciation
• Liquid Soap – Put a drop of hand soap into your palm, add a little water and then smear over the surface of the mirror. Wipe clean with a dry towel or absorbent paper. Yet again, no more mist for a week or two
• Vaseline – Smear it on the mirror and then rub it off again. This requires a little more work but will provide a satisfyingly mist free period
• Shampoo – You should be getting the idea now! A little shampoo and water – smear it on the mirror and then wipe clean and there you have it; fog freedom

There are quite a few people that swear by some of theses methods and all it will cost is a little of your chosen substance. All you do is apply to the mirror surface, rub it in well and then wipe off with a dry, lint free cloth. In some cases this can last about 2 to 3 weeks before you have to repeat the process again.

A Quick Way to De Mist a Bathroom Mirror

Sometimes it is too late, or you simply don’t want to be smearing the contents of your cleaning cupboard onto your mirror and then wiping it off. In this case we suggest that you keep a hair drier hand so that you can give the steamed up mirror a quick blast with it. It will clear the mist in no time.

2 Great Ways to Make Your Own Glass Cleaner and Anti Fog Mirror Spray

Here are 2 of our favourite glass cleaning and demisting solution recipes for you:

DIY Mirror De-Mister

Many have used this method before to great success. All it involves is making a vinegar based solution and rubbing it over the surface or your mirror.

• To make the solution, firstly find a bowl and then add 3 tablespoons of white vinegar. Now add 2 pints of hot water and give it a stir. Be careful as the water will be hot
• Find a clean, dry lint free cloth and dip it into the solution. You may want to wear rubber gloves for this as the water will be hot. Wring out the cloth
• Wipe the mirror over with the cloth ensuring that you wipe over the whole surface. Once you have done this allow to dry and you should be fog free for a few weeks

Glass and Mirror Cleaner and Fog Fighter

This is another good solution that you can make up and use not only on bathroom mirrors, but on windows too.

• Mix a clear vinegar with water, one part vinegar, one part water and then put this in to an old spray bottle
• Add a little squirt of washing up liquid to give your solution some extra cleaning oomph. A couple of drops is all that you should need. Stir this in to the solution
• The vinegar smell will not last more than an hour or so, but for an extra fresh smell all you need to do is add a little lemon juice to the solution

Specialist Glass Cleaners with Anti Fog Properties

There are quite a few of these available on the market today. Their main claim is that once applied they will keep your mirror fog free for a certain amount of time until applied again. Some are better than others.  You could try Bolle Lens Cleaner which will be quite a bit more as this is a specialist lens cleaning product.

A great all round solution is to use a car demister and glass cleaner.

Again, as said, some of these have varying degrees of success so if you can buy a small bottle first just to try it.

Anti Fog or Demister Mirrors

These come in various forms, some are electric and require connecting to the mains supply (please also note that any electrical work in a bathroom is subject to Part P electrical regulations and cannot be done unless you are Part P registered) and feature a heating element built into the mirrors surface similar to that of the heated rear window in your car. On the whole these are quite good as they provide a constant heat source to the mirrors surface and in most cases ensure that the mirror itself remains relatively fog and mist free.

On the down side they require connecting to a mains electrical supply and due to this will require an electrician with the previously mentioned Part P certificate. They will also obviously cost you money to run (as a very rough estimate about 2-3 pence per week to run, depending on the model and manufacturer) and also impact on the environment.

If you are going down this route there are a world of possibilities for back lighting using LED lights fitted into the mirror and a range of other features from clocks and thermometers fitted into the glass. There is a wide range of mirrors and styles that can be seen all over the web; search for "heated mirror" or have a look here for one of our favourite suppliers here.

Suction Cup Twist Lock Anti-fog Mirror

These feature a special anti fog coating property that is built into the mirrors surface that helps it to stay mist free. As this very much depends on the quality of the coating and build quality of the mirror, these can be a bit hit and miss. Also bear in mind that it’s not always the case that the more expensive the better, some cheaper models can be just as good. It’s always advisable to do some research online first.

The mirrors them selves in most cases require no drilling or fixing. Most feature quite an ingenious twist lock system. The suction cup is placed flush to the surface to which the mirror is to be fixed and the locking system is turned holding the mirror in place. You can find them all over Ebay and Amazon.

Last Ditch Solutions for Stopping You Mirror Fogging Up

• Covering the Mirror – This is quite self explanatory. If you are able to hang a towel over the mirrors surface while you shower or bathe then this will cover the mirrors surface and prevent mist and fog building
• Opening Doors and Windows – This method again is quite self explanatory but can be a little unpleasant in the dead of winter. While you shower or bathe, leave a door or window open ever so slightly and this will prevent your mirror from steaming up
• Bathroom Fan Unit – This should do something to remove the condensation and reduce the amount of misting on your mirror. Always put this on when showering or bathing. Find out how to wire in your fan here

We hope that we have covered all the possible ways that we can help you to have a mist free morning visit to the bath or shower room. There are solutions for every budget and level of DIY experience, so there is no excuse for putting up with a fogged up bathroom mirror anymore.