Mirrors are presented in the design of any apartment.
They not only perform their direct function, but also decorate the interior, visually increasing the space. During use, scratches may appear on the reflective smooth surface. Such defects spoil the entire impression of the mirror and require elimination.
We will tell you in the article whether and how to remove scratches from a mirror.
Is it possible to remove the damage?
At its core, a mirror is a smooth surface whose main purpose is to reflect light . Despite the strength and thickness of the material, the mirror is fragile. If handled carelessly, scratches can easily remain on the surface.
To carry out restoration work, it is better to remove the mirror and place it on a horizontal surface. For convenience, it is better to remove the frame.
You can eliminate minor damage and add shine at home using folk or special means. But you won’t be able to deal with serious damage on your own.
Decorating the frame
If the mirror itself is fine, but its frame has lost its attractive appearance, try yourself as a designer. The following will help you decorate the frame in an original way:
- various pebbles;
- shells;
- old jewelry.
The choice of materials will depend on your capabilities, imagination and style of the interior as a whole (the updated product should fit harmoniously into the overall picture).
Thus, restoring mirrors is a rather painstaking task, but the efforts made will still pay off, since you can extend the life of the damaged product. This is especially valuable if the item is old and dear, like a memory. It must be remembered that some cases may be too serious, then, unfortunately, it will not be possible to solve the problem on your own.
Subscribe to our Social networks
Home Recipes
You can smooth out microcracks and make them less noticeable using simple home recipes. To do this, you will need simple tools that you already have in your household.
Silicone sealant
To carry out the work you will need:
- glass cleaner;
- silicone colorless sealant;
- toothpick;
- stationery knife;
- lint-free cloth or rag.
Procedure:
- Apply glass and mirror cleaner to the surface of the mirror.
- Rub the liquid in with a lint-free cloth until the surface is clean and dry.
- Using a toothpick, carefully apply the sealant precisely along the cracks.
- Let the product dry.
- Carefully remove any remaining sealant protruding onto the surface with a knife.
- Treat with glass cleaner.
Walnuts
Walnut kernels will help camouflage the defect. For treatment, you can use a piece of the nucleolus to rub the area with the crack.
But the best result is achieved when the kernels are ground into flour . Enough to work a small quantity. Just a little olive oil is added to the resulting powder so that the composition becomes paste-like. And the resulting paste is rubbed into the mirror.
Vegetable oil
To rub a mirror with cracks, any available vegetable oil can be used. Just a few drops are enough to treat a scratch.
The oil must be rubbed into the affected surface using a soft, lint-free cloth.
Vinegar and mustard
To work, you will need table vinegar and mustard powder. Both ingredients are taken in equal proportions and rubbed into the mirror surface. Polishing completes the treatment.
Toothpaste
To polish the mirror, white toothpaste without colored inclusions can be used. A small amount of paste is squeezed out of the tube onto a sponge and rubbed into the surface that requires restoration. The rubbing movements should be clockwise.
Nail polish
Use clear nail polish to disguise scratches. To hide the defect, varnish must be carefully applied to the damage and rubbed in.
Foil
If the surface damage has affected the back of the glass, a different approach will be needed to repair the defect and restore the reflectivity of the mirror.
For restoration work, ordinary foil can be used . When preparing the surface for work, it must be cleaned, and the mirror itself must be removed from the frame and free access to the back side.
You will need a small piece of foil - a little larger than the scratch itself, which requires masking. The mirror is turned over with its back side up and wiped. Using tape, secure the foil to the area where there is a scratch on the front side. The piece of foil must be absolutely even.
Walnut kernel
To remove a scratch or make it invisible, break the nut and remove the kernel. It's good if it's fresh fruit. It is still soft and hides chips well.
Peel off the outer film. This is easy to do by soaking it in hot water for a minute or pouring boiling water over it. Break it in half and process the glass.
Grind the dried nuts into flour and add a drop of olive oil.
Special means
To perform work to improve the condition of the mirror surface, special preparations can be used.
Paste GOI
GOI paste is a special composition for grinding work . The main component is chromium oxide. The paste is used very widely - not only for caring for mirror surfaces, but also for polishing:
- glass,
- ceramics,
- metal alloys, etc.
How to use:
- grind the substance into powder;
- using a cotton swab, apply the drug to the damaged areas in a thin layer;
- rub and polish each area for at least a quarter of an hour.
Polishing with GOI paste must last for 15 minutes for there to be a visible effect; the exposure time cannot be shortened. The price for 20 grams is on average 50 rubles.
Cerium oxide
Cerium oxide is a chemical compound that can be purchased in powder form . This substance is used in ceramics, for processing jewelry stones, removing scratches on mirrors, etc. The product is available in packaging of various weights.
To repair a mirror and eliminate defects, cerium oxide is diluted to form a paste. The surface requiring treatment is moistened and the prepared composition is applied.
Periodically moistening the surface, polish with a felt cloth. Adding water helps prevent premature hardening of the mass. If necessary, add “gruel” and continue rubbing. Price for 0.1 kg is about 500 rubles.
How to care for a mirror
We looked at how to repair a scratch on a mirror or glass. After treatment, be sure to wipe the surface with a suitable detergent and wipe dry with a paper towel, napkin or dry cloth. And in order to avoid defects and extend the life of the product, it is important to ensure proper care.
Wipe your mirrors regularly with warm water and a cloth or microfiber cloth using circular motions. By the way, ordinary nylon effectively cleans the mirror surface. For contaminated products, use special cleaning products for mirrors and glass.
Heavily soiled products can be washed with hydrogen peroxide or ammonia, which is diluted in half with crushed soda or tooth powder. Vinegar effectively removes plaque. Mix the product with water and tooth powder or crushed chalk. The composition is left for several minutes and the paste is applied to the surface. Wait until it dries slightly and then remove the product with newspaper, crumpled paper or a napkin.
To keep your mirror from fogging and shiny, apply shaving foam evenly to the surface, then wipe off the composition and polish the product with a microfiber cloth. By the way, stains on mirrors appear mainly due to regular fogging and condensation, which is typical for the bathroom.
A solution of melted wax and turpentine or oil paint will also help prevent fogging. The back side of the products is treated with the selected product. Periodically treat the surface with glycerin, vinegar or gelatin. And how to wash and wipe mirrors without streaks, see the link.
If deep damage
More difficult work awaits if the scratches on the glass are deep. Simple rubbing in this case will be ineffective. A recipe using GOI paste and epoxy glue will come to the rescue.
Work order:
- Clean the mirror using glass cleaner. This will degrease the surface and prepare it for further processing.
- Dry the mirror.
- Fill the cracks with epoxy glue. When filling cracks, the epoxy should be distributed evenly, without air bubbles or unfilled cavities.
- Excess filler should be removed with a cotton swab or carefully cut off with a utility knife.
- Leave for 4 days.
- Polish the surface using GOI paste.
If the surface damage is very serious and you cannot fix it yourself, you can contact a specialized workshop.
Benefits of DIY restoration
Do-it-yourself mirror restoration has its own special advantages:
- It is not always possible to find a master in your city who can restore amalgam.
- Repairing the surface of a mirror will require patience and an investment of money, so turning to a specialist will require a large investment.
- It will take a lot of time to find a craftsman; in addition, during transportation, the interior item may break. If the damage is small, then it is easier to do everything yourself.
Prevention measures
Caring for a mirror surface should include the following points:
Carrying out regular cleaning using special products or homemade compounds;- exclude exposure to abrasive or other surfaces, including the hard sides of sponges;
- It is advisable to have complex damage and chips repaired by a specialist;
- mirrors do not tolerate constant moisture well, so mirror surfaces that fog up in the bathroom must be wiped dry regularly;
- Rubbing the mirror with shaving foam will help prevent the mirror from fogging.
Any dirt that gets on the mirror must be removed immediately.
Repair kit for car glass
The top layer of the mirror is made of glass, so most glass care products are suitable for removing scratches. A deep scratch can be made invisible by filling it with transparent material.
A repair kit for auto glass is ideal for this purpose. The transparent composition will make any crack invisible. It works very effectively and easily corrects even significant damage.
Before starting manipulations, carefully read the manufacturer's instructions. Deviations from recommendations can ruin the item.
Is it possible to repair old canvas?
The process of mirror restoration is very painstaking . Many experienced specialists in this field can not only collect the fragments, but also restore complete integrity. Dust from the inside, clouding, scratches, amalgam defects - all these damages can be eliminated independently using a minimum of tools that every home craftsman has.
But you should understand that in exceptional cases, inserting a new mirror into the frame is much more profitable than restoring the former beauty of the old canvas. Expensive and complex restoration is very rarely applied to museum exhibits that have historical value.
But if the mirror is slightly damaged, then it is stupid to throw it away, so in case of minor defects, it is advisable to restore the surface with your own hands .
If you use the right chemicals and abrasives, the mirror will shine like new. The main criterion is a correctly calculated dosage and a little effort.
Felt polishing wheel
It is usually used to polish the body of a car. Place on a drill or grinder. The method is used for damage over a large area. This could be a mirrored wardrobe, a door or a panel.
To treat problem areas, turn on the tool at medium power. For large irregularities, do not expect results in 1-2 minutes. Polishing is a labor-intensive process.
The method is suitable for removing surface scratches. For more serious problems, grinding is combined with GOI paste.
Useful tips
If the damage is large, remove the mirror from the frame before restoration. Use a screwdriver to unscrew the screws that secure it. If this is not possible, remove it from the wall as is and place it on a flat, hard surface.
For minor defects, the mirror can be left in place. But provide additional lighting. All defects should be clearly visible.
Do not rush to throw away the item if you cannot remove a deep scratch. Apply a decorative film to it, make a design with acrylic paint, decorate it with shells, multi-colored stones or jewelry.
-Decor
There are so many ways to design a frame that it is simply impossible to list them all. Let's look at the most popular options.
— Mosaic
A very popular decor that can transform even a plastic frame. You can use fragments of tiles, porcelain dishes or colored glass as fragments. Standard decorative mosaics are ideal; they are the easiest to work with.
- Products
Stick coffee beans or spices around the perimeter of the frame. Curly pasta is often used, which is subsequently spray painted. You can cover the frame with bean grains.
- Seafood
To create a marine theme, cover the frame with shells and stones. You can complement the decor with a rope and figurines of fish or anchors.
-Decoupage
An extremely interesting, sophisticated and easy-to-execute type of decor. To do this you will need special napkins and a little patience. You can create a frame with a charming design without drawing skills.
-Disposable tableware
Disposable spoons are a popular way to decorate frames. All you have to do is cut off the handles, cover the perimeter, and then paint everything with spray paint. Knives and forks can be used similarly.
— Textiles
You can decorate frames using textiles. The openwork surface of the lace will make the product more romantic. With the help of crinkled leather, it will be possible to emphasize the individuality of the owner of the house.
We live in an era of the formation and popularization of the author's design of premises of any type. Standard decoration of apartments and household items is no longer fashionable. Real chic is considered to be the presence in the room of hand-made items - flowerpots, vases, lamps and chandeliers. Well, the mirror in a beautiful frame, which was created by the owner of the house, is a real masterpiece!
Do-it-yourself designer frame for a mirror - the advantages of such a mirror design are obvious - you can choose the size of the frame and its design in accordance with the overall style of the interior, and the mirror in the frame will not resonate with the environment, but will become an integral part of it.
