This post has affiliate/referral links. Learn more.
A scratch in the mirror removes its perfect shine and original beauty.
Mirror restoration can be harder than most repair tasks and also relatively expensive if you seek help from a professional.
Learning how to fix a scratched mirror back can cost you less. Read on to find out how.
A scratched mirror is not a ruined one. Though scratches are distracting, it is possible to restore the mirror to its previous condition using a resilvering spray or DIY home ingredients.
How to Fix a Scratched Mirror Back by Resilvering
You are going to use a glass silver-like spray to repair the mirror back.
Clean any debris from the scratched back area.
Then, shake the can for 1-2 minutes before using it.
Apply the spray onto the scratches from 8-10 inches away. Spray in a sweeping side-to-side motion.
Wait 1 minute between each coat. Apply 5 coats for a solid resilvering.
It will take 10 minutes to dry and you can reinstall and use the mirror in 1 hour.
How to Fix a Scratched Mirror Back with the DIY Home Materials
The materials that you need are:
- Soft cloth
- White toothpaste
- Dry mustard
- White vinegar
- Clear nail polish
- Mirror cleaner
- Aluminum foil
- Clear tape
- Hobby paint
Step 1: Rub the mirror with toothpaste
The ingredients present in toothpaste can polish out scratches from a mirror.
Use a generous amount of toothpaste on a soft cloth and rub it over the scratch gently. Use traditional white toothpaste with no grit instead of a clear gel.
Once the paste dries, buff the area with a soft cloth to remove any excess toothpaste. See if the scratch is less noticeable.
Step 2: Use mustard-vinegar solution
First, remove the mirror from its place. Lay it on to the soft cloth. Mix one part of dry mustard with one part of white vinegar.
Spread the mixture over the scratch and buff it with a lint-free cloth.
Step 3: Clear nail polish trick
Sometimes, clear nail polish can reflect back. It is good for covering deeper scratches.
Add a layer and wait for it to dry. See if the scratch is less noticeable and if not then add another layer.
Step 4: Apply a mirror cleaner
“Cerium Oxide”- this ingredient
For a streak-free clean, use Perfect Glass to restore a mirror’s shine. Just spray and wipe with a cloth.
Step 5: Aluminum foil fix
For an easy fix with the materials you already have in your home, the aluminum foil fix is a quick way to repair your mirror.
This repair will give the scratch its reflective look again.
If your mirror is within a frame, then take it out gently. Carefully lay it flat face down onto the surface, preferably a soft rug or cloth.
Examine the back of your glass and measure the size of the scratch. Cut the foil paper to the right size.
Set the foil paper in place, reflective side down over the scratch so that it covers the entire scratched area.
Then tape down one edge of the foil paper with magic tape.
Smoothen out any wrinkles from the foil paper with your finger or the rounded side of a spoon.
Tape the remaining edges of the foil paper and remount the mirror.
Step 6: Use hobby paint pen
A touch up with a reflective paint pen can be a budget-friendly fix for smaller scratches.
After placing the mirror on a soft surface, locate the scratch, and clean the area with a soft clean cloth.
Let the mirror surface dry for the paint to adhere.
Shake the touch-up pen well.
Apply the paint pen
Hobby stores sell various types of reflective paints.
on the scratched area and cover it completely. You can add a few layers but make sure to wait a minute for the layer to dry first.
After the layers have dried up, put back the mirror in the frame and it is ready for placing.
Method 7: Using Re-silvering kit
There are a few easy home remedies, but if you are willing to step up a cure for your mirror, then you can get a resilvering kit.
Using a resilvering kit is tricky. It is also expensive, even can cost more than the price of the mirror.
You can find a resilvering kit from online stores or a nearby store.
Before getting a resilvering kit, be sure that only the back coating of the mirror has been damaged and not the mirror itself. Because a resilvering kit won’t correct the glass damage. If the mirror glass itself has been damaged, then you will want to use a glass repair kit.
Resilvering kits have chemicals present in them that are toxic and must be handled with care.
First, you need to read the label instruction thoroughly. Then you can start with a paint stripper to strip the back paint of the mirror.
Wear safety gloves before handling the chemicals. Use nitric acid to remove the silver coating from the backside of your mirror.
Clean the stripped glass carefully with deionized water and a clean, lint-free cloth. Dry the glass completely to remove any surface contamination.
Mix the silver coating chemicals in the sprayer and apply it to the backside of the mirror glass.
Let the silver coating dry completely. Apply copper paint over the dried silver coating. Let the copper paint dry.
You must follow the instruction included in your resilvering kit for a correct application.
Coat the backside of the mirror with a protective backing paint, and once it is dry, the mirror is ready to be reframed and hanged.
Takeaway
These DIY techniques aren’t just for repairing scratches on your household mirror backs. A mirror silvering spray is also the best way to create DIY craft mirrors for seasonal home decor like Halloween and Christmas.
Related:
How to Fix a Broken Mirror – Step-by-Step Guide
How to Get Spray Paint Off Mirror – 7 Easy Methods
How to Remove Scratches from Glass – Follow these 6 Steps