For the most part, mirrors -- particularly those used in automobiles -- are just panes of glass with a metallic coating on the back. Mirror scratches are no less common or more difficult to deal with than scratches in glass, but they are often more obvious because the reflective backing effectively doubles them. The solution to this problem is as old as the stained glass in the cathedrals of Europe.
Instructions
- 1
Arrange your pads in order of grit, going from most aggressive to least. You'll want at least four pads ranging from 120-grit to 1,200-grit. In the standard system, the pad colors are gray for 120-grit, maroon for 360-grit, light gray for 800-grit and white for 1,200- to 1,500-grit.
2Wet the problem mirror and keep a hose handy. If you're removing scratches from an interior rear-view mirror, it's best and cleanest to remove the mirror from the car before beginning.
3Fold the most aggressive pad -- 120-grit in this case -- in half and run it side-to-side across the mirror. Work slowly from top to bottom, always maintaining sideways strokes. Keep the mirror wet and move on when the pad starts to slide easily across it.
4Use the 360-grit pad next, but this time turn the mirror sideways and use up-and-down strokes, perpendicular to the last set. This will take the "peaks" off the scratches you created with the first pad.
5Repeat with the next-finest-grit pad, working side-to-side again, and finally with the finest -- 1,200-grit in this case -- working with up-and-down strokes.
6Wash the mirror with water and either hand-dry it or blow it dry with compressed air.
7Apply some specialty glass polish to the mirror according to the package directions.
