8 Ways To Stop Bathroom Mirrors Fogging Up During A Shower

Faced with a foggy mirror? Avoid this after-shower hassle with our easy DIY fixes.

The reason bathroom mirrors fog up during a shower is condensation. The shower’s hot water makes steam. The steam, which is water in a gaseous state, travels through the cooler air of the bathroom. The coolness allows the steam to condense in tiny drops on the mirror, giving it a foggy appearance.

If you’re pressed for time in the morning, a foggy bathroom mirror can be stressful. Whatever your reason, there are easy ways to banish your blurry reflection for good.Also using a soft face towel or a microfibre cloth, buff the soap until none remain on the mirror.

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This Is Why Your Mirror Fogs Up When You Take A Shower

Most people prefer hot showers. After a while, the heat turns some of the water into steam. If the door of the bathroom is closed, then the room will quickly fill up with steam.

This gas needs coolness and a surface to turn back into liquid water. So when the steam travels through the bathroom (which will be cooler than the shower cubicle) you can tick the “coolness” box. The surface of the mirror completes the cycle and condensation occurs. The minute drops fog up the mirror.

You can try several things to keep your mirror in working order.

1. Apply shaving cream.
2. Buff the mirror with soap.
3. Apply glycerine.
4. Use dishwashing liquid.
5. Wash with a vinegar solution.
6. Car wax.
7. Use a hairdryer.
8. Install an extractor fan.

Find the best bathroom extractor fans .

How To Use Shaving Cream To De-Fog A Mirror

For this hack, you can use shaving cream or shaving lotion. The good news is that your mirror will probably be fog-free for weeks, so you don’t have to repeat it every time you take a shower. In other words, if you are a busy bee, then try this trick first!

Step 1: Take a dollop of shaving cream or shaving lotion.

Step 2: Smear it across the surface of the mirror. Make sure to cover as much of the surface as possible.

Step 3: Resist the urge to use toilet paper to wipe the cream off the mirror. This trick works best if you use cloth. Try a microfibre cloth or face towel (a soft one).

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Buffing With Soap Can Prevent A Mirror From Fogging Up

This technique might not be as elegant as shaving cream but it works. Look around your bathroom. Any bath soap is suitable for the task!

Step 1: Place the soap flat against the mirror - or any way that gets the most surface contact.

Step 2: Rub the soap over the surface of the mirror. There is no need to use excessive force. A light rub should be sufficient.

Smear Some Glycerine For Fog-Free Bathroom Mirrors

Chances are that you already have a bottle of glycerine in your home! Just to be clear, this is the liquid and not the soap (although glycerine soap might work too). If you do not have any in your medicine cabinet, they can be easily obtained from any pharmacy.

There are a few drawbacks to using glycerine:

• The stuff is sometimes a little sticky.
• Glycerine also will not keep your mirror fog-free for as long as the other suggestions on this list.
• It can also be harder to remove than some of the other options.

If you choose to try glycerine anyway, here’s how.

Step 1: Make sure that the mirror is completely dry.

Step 2: It might seem a little icky but a great way to apply glycerine to your mirror is by hand. Simply smear and add more as you need it. But do not overdo it!

Step 3: Use a wet cloth to remove the glycerine.

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Apply Dishwash Liquid To Your Mirror

A similar option to glycerine is dishwashing liquid. You probably already have it and the effect will last for roughly a day. So grab that bottle and try the following steps.

Step 1: Add just a teensy amount of dishwashing liquid to your hand.

Step 2: Add a small amount of water to the dishwashing liquid and worry it a bit to get a soapy mixture.

Step 3: Smear the liquid over the surface of your mirror with your hand.

Step 4: Wipe your mirror clean with dry paper towels.

Or Use This Vinegar Solution To Banish Foggy Mirrors

This is another great choice if you want to use a natural remedy or ingredients that are already in your pantry. Washing your mirror with this vinegar solution will also keep it fog-free for several days.

Step 1: Gather an empty spray bottle and real vinegar. It is best to avoid diluted or imitation vinegar whenever you use vinegar to clean your home.

Step 2: Mix equal parts of vinegar and water in your spray bottle. Tap water is fine.

Step 3: Spritz the surface of the mirror with the vinegar solution.

Step 4: Use a cloth and make sure to wipe the entire surface evenly. Spritz more vinegar if you need it.

Step 5: Wipe down with a towel. Don’t worry about the vinegar smell. That will disappear before the hour is up!

Car Wax Is Also Effective To Keep Mirrors Sharp

Why the heck would anyone waste car wax on a mirror? Well, if you are truly fed up with your foggy mirror situation and you also do not have the time to repeat this chore on a daily or weekly basis, then the car wax is your best friend. How so? It can keep your mirror fog-free for up to a month.

Using car wax on a mirror should be child’s play. Simply apply and remove the wax as you would to your vehicle.

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Hair Dryers Work Too If You Are In A Pinch

Let’s say that you overslept. You rush through your morning routine to make it to work in time. After a quick shower, you check yourself in the mirror and the thing’s all fogged up. If you don’t have the time to wax or whip up a vinegar solution, a hairdryer will quickly clear the mirror. This is also a good option if you have time but do not want to smear stuff on your mirror.

Install An Extractor Fan

An extractor fan might be the best solution if you do not want to add “de-fog the mirror” to your chore list. Indeed, an extractor fan will do the job for you. True, this is the most expensive option but it is also the most permanent. How does it work? An extractor fan sucks away all the moisture and humidity in the bathroom.

READ NEXT: Discover why your bathroom extractor fan is dripping.

A Quick Summary About Why Showers Fog Up Mirrors

• A foggy bathroom mirror is the result of hot steam from the shower settling on the mirror’s surface.
• Some solutions only last a day while others can last up to a month or even permanently solve the problem.
• Most hacks involve applying a substance to the surface of the mirror to prevent the steam from condensing.
• You probably already have everything you need in your kitchen cupboard or garage.