How to remove scratches from a mirror: effective folk remedies
Content:
It happens that the reflective surface is damaged and a scratch appears on the mirror, which not everyone knows how to fix. In fact, this is easy to do using baking soda, mustard and vinegar, clear varnish, and foil. GOI paste, industrial polishes and other products are also used. Only minor damage can be repaired using these methods.
Removing scratches
To restore a mirror, it is removed, placed on a horizontal surface and freed from the frame. Then they wash it to better see and assess the size of the damage. If necessary, add lighting. A mirror is glass, the back side of which is covered with amalgam, or metal coating is applied, and a protective layer is applied on top. Damage usually appears on glass, so it is restored as glass products.
If the reflective layer is damaged, the defects are not repaired; they only have to be masked. The main thing in repair is to fill the scratch, then polish it. To do this, use special formulations from the store or folk remedies. Tooth powder and cerium oxide are used as an abrasive.The recesses are filled with varnish, epoxy glue, and polished with wool or felt.
Such methods are used for minor damage. With serious damage, it is better to contact a specialist, or disguise it.
Specialized means
Small depressions and dull spots are removed with jewelry paste from the State Optical Institute (GOI). This harmless product, similar to green plasticine, is used for polishing products. The dried paste is crushed, machine oil (4-5 drops) is added. Place in the microwave for half a minute, then grind.
The procedure for grinding a damaged surface:
- The mirror glass is cleaned, degreased with acetone, and then dried.
- To 1 tbsp. Add 1 drop of machine oil to a spoon of crushed paste and apply to the damage.
- If the depression is small, take a cotton swab and rub the paste in for 1.5 minutes. and wipe with a cloth. Then the composition is applied a second time, but polished for 15 minutes. You can’t rush, because the treated area will fade later.
- Polish with flannel, felt or a cotton swab. If desired, use a drill with a soft attachment or a grinder. Use a paper towel to remove any remaining paste.
To get rid of deep damage, use epoxy glue and GOI paste:
- The mirror is wiped with glass cleaner and dried.
- Epoxy glue is poured into the scratch in an even layer. Smudges and protruding parts of the glue are removed.
- Keep for four days.
- Polish using paste.
To restore a mirror with cerium oxide, a pink powdery substance, it is diluted with water until it becomes creamy. The composition, also called “jewelry blush,” is applied to the damaged and moisturized area.Take a damp piece of felt or fabric and polish the area, not forgetting to moisten it so that the mass does not harden prematurely. If necessary, the composition is added.
Polish and other products to choose:
Name | Action |
Sonax | Masks damage |
Turtle wax - anti-scratch | Restores mirror surface, requires polishing |
“Runway” – Runway pencil | The composition of the rod is filled into the scratch, the excess is removed, and left to harden for 2 days. |
"GlassDoctor", a universal remedy | For polishing and removing scratches |
Folk remedies
Readers are often interested in whether it is possible to polish a mirror from scratches and microcracks using home remedies. There are many such methods and they are simple.
Important! The main thing is to do it right, otherwise nothing will work.
- Scratches are masked with transparent silicone sealant:
- To degrease, you need alcohol or glass cleaner.
- Take a needle or toothpick and apply a thin layer of sealant to the dried damage.
- Allow to dry overnight.
- Protruding drops are removed using a knife, the blade is held at an angle.
- Apply glass spray and polish with a soft, lint-free cloth.
- A paste of crushed walnuts and olive oil should be rubbed into the cracks. A fresh kernel is simply rubbed onto the damaged area.
- A few drops of any vegetable oil or mayonnaise are rubbed firmly into the scratches. For this you need a soft, lint-free cloth. After removing residues, treat with polish for glass surfaces.
- A paste of dry mustard and table vinegar (1:1) is rubbed into the scratches with flannel, then polished for 7-9 minutes.
- White toothpaste can easily remove small scratches from mirrors. The product is applied and rubbed in in a circular motion.After drying, take a soft cloth, remove the residue and polish.
- Rub a thick paste of baking soda and tooth powder onto deeper scratches. They last for at least 30 seconds. Residues are washed off and the area is thoroughly dried.
- Mask scratches with clear nail polish: apply and rub in. If the scratch is deep, it is filled with varnish and polished after the product has dried. Stains are removed with diluted acetone. If necessary, the procedure is repeated. After restoration, the mirror is wiped with a glass cleaner.
- The back side of the mirror is restored with a piece of foil or mirror tape slightly larger than the scratch. The foil is smoothed out, applied, secured with adhesive tape.
If the scratch is very deep, it is recommended to hide it with decorative film. Advice! An easy method is to decorate with transparent stones or shells. Silicone sealant is used for gluing. Masking painting with acrylic or stained glass paints looks original, especially with the addition of shiny glitters.
Tips for preventing scratches
To avoid covering up scratches, it is better to prevent them from appearing. To do this, you need to properly care for the mirror:
- clean regularly with special products or homemade compounds that do not include abrasives, and do not use hard sponges, newspaper or paper;
- with complex injuries, contact a specialist;
- Do not leave moisture on the foggy mirror surface, wipe it dry, or apply a weak gelatin solution;
- To prevent the mirror from fogging up, use shaving foam for rubbing;
- do not allow direct sunlight to hit the mirror;
- The mirror is not attached tightly to the wall, for free access of air and preservation of the amalgam.
If a scratch appears, the chosen method of eliminating it is first tested by selecting an inconspicuous area.
Questions - answers
What scratches can be hidden with polishing?
This product hides damage no deeper than 0.2-0.3 mm, and also fights “cobwebs,” matte stains and whitish lines.
The mirror is cracked: how to hide the damage?
Home remedies will not do the job, they will only mask it for a short time.
During repairs, the mirror cracked: what is this sign?
This portends trouble for the owners of the house; they need to prepare to expect misfortune, bitterness or pain.