How to remove scratches on a mirror at home

A mirror is a decorative item that is most often found in modern apartments. In addition to simple mirrors in the bathroom or dressing tables, there are now a huge number of varieties, among which you can find "mirror rooms" - some people prefer not to leave the living quarters in a special way, instead choosing walls, floors and ceilings made of mirrors ...

Such exotic looks insanely beautiful, but in practice there is nothing to boast about - mirror surfaces must be washed and rubbed frequently (preferably every day so that the rooms remain in perfect order. And sometimes you need to get rid of minor damages such as scratches and chips.

There are just a huge number of methods used to return mirror surfaces to their original appearance, but not all of them are truly effective.

Where do the scratches come from?

How do mirrors get scratched? It is very easy to damage the mirror surface: it is enough to accidentally run a pointed hard object like nail scissors or a nail file with a sharp end over the mirror - and a noticeable scratch has already appeared on the mirror!

Then people immediately go to the Internet in search of an answer to the question of how to remove scratches from a mirror at home? - this is the very first reaction. Then, if nothing from the proposed list for some reason is suitable, the second question comes into play - how to do the same, but with the help of professional means? There can be more choices here - from special materials to advice to call a mirror master (yes, such are not only in DC comics and the Witcher universe, but also in real life).

But for the services of the latter, you will have to pay a rather large amount - on sites where you can call such a craftsman, the price tag reaches 8 thousand rubles per visit, and, as is usually the case, nothing is limited at one time.

Therefore, not all mirror lovers decide to contact a specialist with their problems and try to fix everything on their own - using the tools that can be found at home, or trying to work with professional materials that a mirror master would use.

How to repair a scratch on a mirror

To make a small scratch on the mirror less noticeable, you can turn to home remedies or specialized ones. The first ones are quite easy to find in any house in the kitchen for free, while the second ones will have to pay money and, often, quite a decent amount, for "professionalism".

In order not to overpay and not to spoil the mirrors even more, many people choose home remedies, simple and understandable, familiar to everyone who has ever tried to manage the kitchen at home. Why don't you often choose specialized means to deal with scratches on the mirror?

Some of these materials may require special skills, without possessing which it will be impossible to repair the mirror and return it to its original appearance, but to aggravate the situation and bring the product to the state “it is easier to throw it away and buy a new one in a nearby store” is very simple.

Home remedies

• The first and most famous way is to use foil on the mirror. For everything to go well, you first need to free the product from the frames so as to provide yourself with access to the back of it. Just on it, you need to evenly place the foil and then glue it with tape. After that, you can turn the mirror over with the glossy side up and look at the state of the scratch. This method is good for masking small defects.
• The second on the list of home remedies for repairing mirrors is toothpaste, which, like foil, is only suitable for small scratches and cannot cover large ones. Using a small piece of soft cloth, rub the toothpaste into the mirror, then leave it to dry, and then polish. The mirror will be like new
• Another way is to combine mustard powder and vinegar 9%. Mixing them equally, you need to apply the mass to the defect, then, removing the excess, polish.
• The fourth tool that you can use to repair large and small scratches and return the mirror to its previous appearance is transparent nail polish. The method of application is simple - fill in the scratches with varnish (suitable for both small and deep ones), wait until everything is dry and polish, as in the previous methods.

IMPORTANT! It is necessary to use these tools very carefully so as not to add unnecessary scratches to the mirror.

Professional remedies

There are not so many professional tools that could solve the problem of "how to remove a chip on the mirror", and yet they are and are considered much more effective than home methods.

• The first tool is GOI universal polishing paste. The range of applications is incredibly wide, and therefore it is normal to use this material for repairing mirrors. To return the mirror surface to its original appearance, you need to make dust from the paste and fill the scratch with it, after which it is necessary to polish the surface for 10-15 minutes
• The second agent is epoxy glue, which is used to level surfaces. After cleaning the scratch with a special solution, you need to apply glue to a dry surface and remove excess. After a few days, use the GOI paste in the already familiar way.
  

  IMPORTANT! The adhesive should be evenly positioned on the scratch, without any roughness in the application, which could get air.

• The third way is to use a silicone sealant adhesive. After filling a scratch or chip with it, you need to wait until it dries, and then polish it several times with a paste.
• The fourth method is the use of cerium oxide. From it you need to make a paste and apply to the defect, then polish with a damp cloth and continue this action until there is no trace of scratches.

IMPORTANT!!! Care must be taken to ensure that the composition does not freeze during the mirror repair process.

What to do with a very large scratch

If the scratch seems too large, it is better to resort to using professional products, since homemade ones are unlikely to be able to cope with a major problem, even clear nail polish has little chance.

Therefore, if a chip or scratch is very noticeable on the surface of the mirror, it is better to use epoxy glue in combination with GOI paste or cerium oxide.

How can a tarnished surface and amalgam be restored?

If the mirror has faded (from time to time or for any other reason), it will be quite difficult to restore its original appearance and it is not easy to achieve good results with home remedies.

If the reason for the loss of the previous appearance is time, then you can polish the mirror surface for a long time and persistently, then it can shine again and the mirror will look like new.

However, this method does not always help. If the problem is a chemical reaction between the amalgam (silver layer) and the protective outer coating. Then only the restoration of the mirror, carried out in a special workshop, can help. The instruction is as follows: you need to remove both layers and apply new ones.

IMPORTANT! Do not try to do this at home, as the mirror will be irretrievably damaged.

General rules for mirror care

Like any other thing in the house, mirrors require a certain amount of maintenance, which can be easily provided on your own. It is imperative to wipe the mirror surfaces with soft cloths soaked in warm water, if necessary, use glass cleaner.

If the mirror is very dirty, you can use hydrogen peroxide, vinegar solution, or ammonia. The mirror may fog up. To avoid this, you can use regular shaving foam by applying it to the mirrored surface and then wiping it off.

Video: how to remove scratches from mirrors and glass