There is nothing more frustrating than buying a brand new glass coffee table to see only moments later the appearance of a scratch.
Very easily done, scratches in glass can really damage the overall look – even if it’s only the size of a fingernail, for some reason it stands out larger than the Grand Canyon!
So without having to replace the glass itself (which really hurts on the back pocket) there are some really successful home remedies that can remove the scratch in the glass to almost non-existent. Keep in mind, these tricks of the trade will work on those smaller, more shallow glass scratches.
Here is our top four list of how to remove scratches from glass:
1. How to Remove Scratches From Glass With Toothpaste Polish
Toothpaste is much more than a tooth cleaner! It is one of the most useful items in the home and is extremely effective in polishing out minor scratches in glass.
Why? Well, toothpaste is actually a mild abrasive and most commonly made with baking soda. It is this same abrasive action that works to buff and polish out stains, scratches and other scuffs around the home. Top Tip: Keep your old toothbrushes to clean with! They are the perfect size to clean away grime and grit from those hard to reach places.
So how to remove scratches from glass using toothpaste? Firstly, wash the glass really well using a clean, dry cloth. Make sure the glass has all debris removed, then allow to completely dry.
Next, grab your microfibre cloth. A microfibre cloth is a home essential when it comes to cleaning. Made from a variety of synthetic fibres that each has its own specific characteristics, such as absorption, softness, toughness and filtering capabilities.
Under running lukewarm water, dampen your cloth ensuring each part is slightly wet. Next, squeeze out excess water so no excess water drips out. Top Tip: Make sure your cloth is completely free of any other debris caught in the microfibre.
Unwanted debris like dirt can actually rub off onto the glass, resulting in even more scratches – so be careful!
Next, grab your toothpaste and squeeze a fingernail size dot out onto your damp microfibre. Try not to squeeze too much out at once, you can always add another dot or two if needed later. We recommend using a white, non-gel toothpaste for this polish – especially if it contains the magic ingredient, baking soda.
Apply the toothpaste loaded cloth to the scratched area of glass, moving in small circular motions for about 30 seconds or so. Then check the scratch. Re-apply the toothpaste and repeat the same process, carefully moving the cloth in small circular motions for 30 seconds each time. It may take several applications before the results begin to appear.
Once you are happy with how the scratch looks (or hopefully does not look) it is time to clean off the glass. Using a clean cloth, wet it thoroughly and again squeeze it out really well to get out the excess moisture. Clean the glass carefully, removing all the toothpaste, leaving the area nice and shiny. Make sure not to press too hard with the cleaning cloth at this point – if any toothpaste is remaining it can cause more scratches on the glass.
2. How to Remove Scratches From Glass – The baking soda scrub
The second home remedy on how to remove scratches from glass is with one of our favourites – baking soda. This method is extremely useful for cleaning and polishing glass, and is common practice for many home cleaning experts.
Why is baking soda such a successful polishing agent? Well, it has to do with its key properties. Being a mild alkali it allows dirt and grease to break down and dissolve easily in water – and it is odour free!
This simple process begins like the toothpaste method – using a clean microfiber cloth, dampen under luke warm water and wash the glass and scratch affected area as normal.
Next, create the baking soda paste. To do this, mix equal parts of baking soda to water in a small bowl. You really only require a spoonful or so of the baking soda for this. Once both the water and baking soda are in the bowl, mix them together well, ensuring all the big lumps and clump of the powder are gone. You should have a smooth, thick paste once this is completed.
Using the microfibre cloth, pick up a pea-size amount of the paste and place on the scratched glass. Rubbing in a slow, circular motion for 30 seconds at a time, continue this process until you see the scratch disappearing. Re-apply more of the paste each time as needed, remembering to be gentle. Baking soda is an abrasive and can cause more scratches on your precious glass than you first started with!
Once the scratch has gone, grab yourself a fresh, clean cloth and dampen again with lukewarm water. Gently wash away all the baking soda paste from the area, and dry thoroughly leaving a sparkling, scratch-free piece of glass.
3. Nail polish those scratches away
One of our favourite home remedies for those pesky scratches in your glass is using the good old nail polish! Simple and extremely effective, this nail polish method works a treat on all shallow glass scratches in the home.
To begin, we clean the glass thoroughly using a dampened microfibre cloth. As always make sure all debris is removed both on the cloth and on the glass before you allow it to completely dry.
Next, using a bottle of clear nail polish – we repeat, clear nail polish only – dip the applicator into the polish, evenly covering the brush. Make sure there is not too much polish on the end of the brush, this could result in quite a mess!
Apply the coated brush to the scratch on the glass, being sure to completely cover the scratch however avoiding other unaffected areas of the glass. Once the nail polish goes into the scratch it fills the shallow groove, removing the visible flaws. Do not keep reapplying the polish to the scratch, only one coat should do the trick. If you feel it needs more, see this method out until the end, and begin again from step one.
Once you are happy with your application, leave the polish to dry for at least one hour, giving it time to sink deeply into the scratch. Once the hour has passed, grab your nail polish remover and your microfibre cloth – it is time to finish the job.
Apply a small amount of the nail polish remover onto your clean cloth and wipe gently over the scratch. You really only need a small pea-sized amount of remover, just enough to rub over the scratched surface area. Once you are satisfied all the nail polish is removed, clean and dry the glass. Then it is time to enjoy your clean, scratch-free glass once again.
4. Metal polish and buff
Metal polish is our last “how to” method when it comes to removing shallow scratches in glass around the home. So what is metal polish? It is a product designed specifically to restore the shine, brightness, finish and gloss to glass, metal, even jewellery. There are two types of metal polishes – chemical polishes and abrasive polishes. For cleaning surface imperfections (like scratches in glass) we will be using the abrasive polish. Chemical polishes are often used in mechanical garages and the like. Metal polish is wonderful for gently smoothing and sanding delicate surfaces so it would be perfect for a glass scratch!
As metal polishes are not a “make at home” product, you will need to go and buy a tube. Check out your local hardware store such as Bunnings or Mitre 10, or even your grocery stores Coles and Woolworths sell a range of metal polishes around the $10 price point.
Top tip: Look for a metal polish that has the ingredient, cerium oxide. It is known to work the quickest!
Start the process like the previous methods, by preparing the glass. Thoroughly clean the glass surface with a damp microfiber cloth, and allow the glass to completely dry.
Wrap your microfibre cloth around your index finger, then carefully squeeze out a pea-size dot of your metal polish on the end of your covered fingertip. Remember, only add a small amount of the polish. Keep in mind – too much polish can cause more unwanted scratches on your glass – not ideal!
Rub your polish-loaded finger slowly over the scratch in circular motions. But be careful not to press too hard at any point. Unlike the other two methods, do not reapply more polish to the scratch. This will more than likely cause more scratches and damage the glass even further.
Once you are happy with the result, grab a clean cloth and dampen in lukewarm water. Gently wash away the polish residue and allow to dry leaving a sparkling, scratch-free shine.
So now you have four ways to remove scratches from glass without the need to replace it. Go through each of these methods and your glass will be sparkling in no time.
If you’ve found our article on How To Remove Scratches From Glass useful, then check out our other helpful ‘How To’ articles here.
