Do you have a glass object with an ugly scratch in it? Scratches no larger than the thickness of a fingernail can be removed with home remedies such as toothpaste and nail polish. Clean the glass, apply the cleaner of your choice with a microfibre cloth and then rinse the cleaner off the glass. The glass will look as good as new again.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Brushing with toothpaste
Step 1. Clean the glass
Clean the glass with a clean cloth and make sure that there is no more dirt on the glass. Let the glass dry before attempting to repair the scratch.
Step 2. Dampen a microfiber cloth
Run a clean, lint-free cloth under the lukewarm tap. Squeeze the cloth until no more moisture drips out.
Dirt or fluff on the cloth will settle on the glass so you can't polish the glass evenly and will scratch the glass more
Step 3. Squeeze a dollop of toothpaste onto the wipe
Squeeze the tube until a blob the size of your little finger falls on the cloth. You'd better be careful with the amount of toothpaste you use. You can always apply more toothpaste later while treating the scratch.
Scratches are best removed with white toothpaste, especially if the toothpaste contains baking soda. Do not use gel toothpaste
Step 4. Apply the toothpaste to the glass
Place the cloth with the blob of toothpaste on the scratched area. Rub the cloth over the glass for 30 seconds, making small circular movements.
Step 5. Apply more toothpaste
Check out the spot to see what the scratch looks like. You may need to apply toothpaste several times to remove the scratch. Repeat the steps and squeeze another dollop of toothpaste onto the cloth. Rub the toothpaste on the scratch for 30 seconds in circular motions.
Step 6. Clean the glass
Take a clean cloth and wet it under the tap. Squeeze out the excess moisture, then wipe the glass with the damp cloth. The glass will now start to shine.
Do not apply too much pressure or make circular movements so that you do not push the toothpaste further into the glass
Method 2 of 4: Sanding with baking soda
Step 1. Clean the glass
Use a clean microfiber cloth so that no dirt gets into the scratch. Moisten the cloth with lukewarm water and clean the glass as you normally would.
Step 2. Mix equal parts baking soda and water
You only need a tablespoon or less of both ingredients. It is best to place the ingredients in a bowl so that you can mix them with a spoon to break up large lumps of baking soda. By mixing you get a paste that looks a bit like pudding.
Step 3. Put a little paste on a microfibre cloth
Also use a clean cloth. It's a good idea to wrap the cloth around your finger and then push it into the paste. You get a small amount of paste on the cloth.
Step 4. Rub the paste over the glass in circular motions
Spread the paste on the glass and buff away the scratch by rubbing the cloth over the glass in circles. Do not do this for more than 30 seconds and watch to see if the scratch also disappears.
Step 5. Rinse the spot
Rinse the glass or use a clean cloth. Moisten the cloth with lukewarm water and rub it over the scratched area. Make sure to wipe off any leftover pasta.
Method 3 of 4: Polishing with metal polish
Step 1. Clean the glass
Dampen a clean microfiber cloth under the lukewarm tap. Squeeze out the excess water so that the cloth does not drip. Use the cloth to wipe all the dirt off the glass, then let the glass dry.
Metal polish is very suitable for lightly sanding large and delicate surfaces such as a car windshield
Step 2. Wrap a microfiber cloth around your finger
Choose a cloth that does not leave lint or fibers on the glass. You can use a cotton ball if you don't have a suitable cloth.
Step 3. Apply the polish to the cloth
Dip the cloth in the polish or squeeze the polish out of the package so that there is a small amount of polish on the cloth around your finger. Use as little polish as possible, because treating the glass with too much polish can cause more scratches in the glass.
Polishes with cerium oxide work the fastest. Iron(III) oxide is a more expensive polish
Step 4. Rub the polish into the scratch
Place the cloth with the polish on the scratch. Rub the cloth over the scratch in circular motions for 30 seconds. The scratch should now become less visible or disappear completely. Do not apply more polish as it will likely damage the glass.
Step 5. Rinse off the polish
Dampen a clean cloth with lukewarm water. Wipe it over the polished area to remove the metal polish.
Method 4 of 4: Using nail polish on loose scratches
Step 1. Clean the glass
Clean the glass as you normally do. For example, use glass cleaner or a damp microfibre cloth. Make sure to remove all dirt from the glass surface and then let the glass dry.
Step 2. Dip the brush into the nail polish
Only use a bottle of clear nail polish to treat scratches. Dip the brush attached to the cap in the nail polish. You will apply a thin coat of nail polish to the scratch.
Step 3. Spread the nail polish on the scratch
Run the brush over the scratch. Make sure you touch the glass as little as possible around the scratch. The nail polish will move from the brush into the scratch and remove visible flaws.
Step 4. Let the nail polish dry for an hour
Let the nail polish soak into the scratch and don't touch the spot. Come back after an hour to remove the nail polish.
Step 5. Apply nail polish remover to a microfiber cloth
Gently tip a bottle of nail polish remover against a clean cloth until there is a small puddle of nail polish remover on the cloth. You only need enough of the product to remove the nail polish.
Step 6. Wipe the cloth over the scratch
Spread the nail polish remover with the cloth over the scratch. When you are sure that you have removed all nail polish, you can admire the restored glass.
Tips
- In some cases, having someone else hold the glass item in front of you while you try to fix it can help. There is less chance that the object will fall or break.
- Glass with a protective or film coating, such as some lenses, cannot be repaired using these methods. You must first remove the protective layer with a special product.
- If in doubt, ask the manufacturer or a professional glazier for advice.
Warnings
- Do not always rub scratches in glass. This will damage the glass even more.
- Do not attempt to repair the scratch with this method if your fingernail fits into the scratch. Seek the help of a professional to repair or replace the glass.