How to fix scratches in glass

It’s hard to imagine a home without glass. From furniture to windows to sliding glass doors, glass has a durability and transparency which makes it an ideal multi-purpose medium. Unfortunately, glass that gets installed and starts off smooth and crystal clear doesn’t always stay that way.

While it is a fairly resistant material, glass can still be scratched – especially glass windows or doors. Fortunately, scratched glass doesn’t always necessitate a window replacement. Depending on the size of the scratch, you might actually be able to repair it yourself.

Here are the steps to take to remove scratches from glass. Ensure that you take the care necessary when undertaking the following as wrong method and/or equipment can lead to further scratches and/or damages.

Start from scratch

The first step is to determine if you need to call a professional glazier or window/glass company by assessing the depth of the scratch.

A glass scratch that can be felt with your fingernail is deep enough to warrant professional care, especially if the scratch is on double glazing, as scratched double glazing can lead to major damages. However, if your scratches are minor, some common household products and a little elbow grease will have your glass looking good as new.

Before trying any of these glass repair techniques, thoroughly wash the window or glass surface that is needing repair. Once washed, allow the surface to dry completely. Starting with clean glass will give you a far better result that trying to repair a scratch on a dirt or dust ridden surface.

Get minty fresh scratch-free glass

The easiest glass repair method to try is toothpaste. That’s right – the regular paste you use to clean your teeth can also remove minor scratches from glass. Standard toothpaste, particularly if you have one containing baking soda, is especially effective for glass repair.

Using a micro-fibre or other clean and soft, lint-free cloth, rub a tiny amount of toothpaste on the scratched area using a circular motion. Leave on for 30 seconds, wipe off the excess, and inspect the area to determine if another application is necessary.

Depending on the scratch, you may need to apply the toothpaste several times. Once the scratch is rendered nearly invisible, wipe off the excess and clean the area with a damp cloth, and polish with a dry cloth.

Bet on a baking soda solution

An alternative to toothpaste is to make a fairly thick paste of baking soda and water. Using warm water, gently rub the paste on with a soft cloth in a circular motion. Use gentle pressure, as baking soda may scratch certain glass surfaces.

Nail glass scratches with shine

If, for some reason, the scratch requires a more precise application, simply grabbing a bottle of clear nail polish is your best bet. Use the applicator brush to apply a thin layer along the scratch.

Try to use just enough to fill the scratch, but not so much that it is dripping everywhere. Let the nail polish dry for an hour before taking a clean, lint free cloth and nail polish remover to remove any excess.

Double solutions for your double glazing

If you are trying to remove scratches on double glazed windows, it may be harder to do so. The two best things for double glazed glass is to polish with non-abrasive solutions like iron oxide or cerium oxide until the scratch disappears.

If you have a large scratch which has removed glazing, you can fill the scratch with resin. Before you do anything, contact your glass or glazing professional to get tailor made advice on your specific problem.

Give metal polish a try

For scratches that are a little harder to hide, grabbing a can of metal polish such as Brasso may do the trick. When using a metal polisher, make sure to thoroughly clean the area so no extra damage is done.

Using a cotton ball or clean microfibre cloth, lightly apply the polish, again using circular motions over the scratch. Try to use the least amount possible, especially with this method, as over application could exacerbate damage to the glass. Apply the polish for no more than 30 seconds. For this method, one application is all you should need. Once applied, use a damp cloth to remove the leftover product.

A clear scratch repair solution

Last but not least is the option of purchasing a scratch repair kit especially suited to glass and use it according to the kit instructions. Some such kits will come with buffing discs, so extra caution may be necessary to guard against further damage and avoiding the risk of scratching the surface more.

If none of these methods work for you, it’s a good sign it’s time to consider a window or glass replacement.

Get in touch with Action Glass and Aluminium to get a window repair quote.

As a parent, you’ll take any peace and quiet you can get. Unfortunately, sometimes kids go silent because they’re doing something they’re not supposed to do. Kids break things – it’s a simple fact of life. Luckily, you can usually reverse the damage without too much harm done. If a scratched shower door or glass tabletop is the latest problem you’re dealing with, here are some tricks for removing scratches from tempered glass.

Inspect the Damage

In many cases, lightly scratched tempered glass can be restored to its original beauty without replacing it. First, clean the glass thoroughly with glass cleaner and a soft rag so you can get a good look at the damage. If the scratch catches your fingernail, it may be too deep to remove with DIY methods. In this case, the best course of action may be to request help from Glass Doctor professionals.

Attempt to Remove Scratches from Tempered Glass

You have a few compounds available to use as a tempered glass scratch remover. Follow these steps to help you restore the glass with the least amount of effort.

Toothpaste and a Soft Cloth

A small amount of whitening toothpaste, which is slightly more abrasive than regular toothpaste, to a soft, clean cloth. Buff the scratched glass in small circular motions. The grit in the toothpaste is enough to remove small scratches from tempered glass.

After rubbing for a few minutes, rinse the glass with water to reveal what you’ve accomplished. If the scratch remains but seems to be getting better, repeat the process up to two more times. Move on to the next step if the scratch is still there after three attempts to remove it with toothpaste.

Liquid Pumice Soap or Steel Wool

Trade out the toothpaste for pumice soap. This heavy-duty hand cleaner has additional abrasive elements that may remove scratches from tempered glass more effectively.

You can also try #0000 steel wool. This superfine grade pad buffs the glass without creating more scratches. Make sure the steel wool is in good condition since the presence of any rust or other imperfections could scratch the glass when you attempt to buff it.

Whether you use liquid pumice soap and a soft cloth or #0000 steel wool, buff the scratched glass by moving your hand in small circular motions for several minutes. Rinse the glass of any residue to assess your work. If scratches remain, it’s time to pull out the power tools.

Buffers or Sanders

Buy a commercial buffing compound designed to remove scratches or polish metals. Popular options include cerium oxide and jeweler’s rouge. Apply the compound you choose to an orbital sander fitted with a soft cloth or a buffing wheel on a cordless drill.

Polish the scratched glass with the sander or buffer while you continually moisten the area by lightly squeezing out a trickle of water from a saturated sponge. This prevents the compound from drying out and creating more scratches.

After several minutes, set the sander or drill down and clean the glass with a soft brush and liquid dish soap. Dry the glass and inspect the scratches. Repeat these steps until you’re satisfied with the results.

Schedule Home Glass Repair or Replacement

A professional may be able to help if you can’t remove the scratches from your tempered glass door or tabletop. The experts at Glass Doctor can often repair scratched glass and if not, we can replace the glass with a custom piece that fits your needs perfectly.

To learn more about our home glass repair and replacement services, please contact Glass Doctor today. Looking for more ways to fix up your home? Look no further! Glass Doctor is a Neighborly company, which provides many different services to help homeowners. To learn more, visit GetNeighborly.com.

Every editorial product is independently selected, though we may be compensated or receive an affiliate commission if you buy something through our links. Ratings and prices are accurate and items are in stock as of time of publication.

Polish Glass Scratches Away with Brasso

In high school I had this friend who used to polish out his watch crystal scratches with Brasso brass polish. Turns out it makes a perfect glass scratch filler. Fast-forward 20 years. I installed a $1,800 patio door for a customer. The homeowner called me up the next day complaining about a 3-in. scratch right in the middle of the glass. Faced with replacing an expensive door panel, I was scrambling for alternatives when I recalled my friend and his obsession with his flawless watch face. An hour later—voila!—one happy customer, one scratch-free patio door and one very happy, sore-armed contractor.

Before attempting to polish away the glass scratch, clean the entire area. To buff out scratches in glass, put a dab of Brasso brass polish on a soft cloth and apply it in circular motions over the glass.

Required Materials for this Glass Scratch Removal Project

Avoid last-minute shopping trips by having all your materials ready ahead of time. Here’s a list.

• Brasso brass polish
• Soft cotton cloth

Using Nail Polish on Scratches in Glass

You can buff out scratches in glass with a lot of different products. One of the slower methods is to use nail polish and even though it takes some time, this is one of the better scratch removing approaches. This process is great for removing scratches in mirrors.

Before attempting to remove the scratch in the glass, clean the entire area. Spread clear nail polish onto the scratch with the polish’s applicator brush. You don’t need to spread the clear nail polish all around the scratch. Let the nail polish set for an hour so the polish fills the glass scratch.

Come back to the scratch and wipe away the clear nail polish with nail polish remover or acetone on a microfiber cloth. Wipe until the polish, and glass scratch, is completely removed. The nail polish remover/acetone will give you a nice shine to the glass so there is no need to come back with glass cleaner.

Avoid last-minute shopping trips by having all your materials ready ahead of time. Here’s a list.

• Clear nail polish
• Nail polish remover/Acetone
• Microfiber cloth

Remove Glass Scratches with Baking Soda

The third method to remove scratches from glass is to use baking soda and water. You essentially create your own glass polish from the two ingredients to remove the scratch.

As with all of our scratch removing methods, start by cleaning the glass so you don’t introduce extra debris into the scratch. Mix equal parts baking soda and water in a bowl and stir until you get a pudding-like paste. Rub the paste onto the scratch in a circular motion with a microfiber cloth. Wipe away the baking soda residue with a clear cloth and lukewarm water.

Required Materials for this Glass Scratch Removal Project

Avoid last-minute shopping trips by having all your materials ready ahead of time. Here’s a list.

• Baking soda
• Water
• Bowl
• Microfiber cloth

Originally Published: February 27, 2019