Mirrors have a clear surface and any stain of oil, dirt, grease, or paint on their surface is easily visible. Unlike the others, the marks of the latter are more stubborn and adhere strongly to the glass. If you have searched for this there are high chances that you keep plentiful spray paints or acrylic paints in your supplies and do art projects often. Some might just desire to remove these marks as the paints can easily spill during wall painting. It gets more tiring and challenging to get the stains off after several days. Readers will agree that using heat guns that run on electricity or sharp metal scrappers is not the best solution as they can scratch the smooth mirror surface.
If you have dropped the paint on a mirror recently, you can simply clean the surface using nail polish remover which dilutes the paint. Spatters that have been dried for several weeks usually require more effort and highly effective items including paint-stripping tubes.
To help you with the difficulty of dealing with multiple kinds of paints, I have included various ways which will assist you to achieve your goal without taking much time. In case one method does not work for you, you can try another one. I hope you become successful in your attempt.
Table of Contents
5 Effective And Best Methods To Remove Paint:-
Using A Nail Polish Remover:
Nail polish remover can show amazing results in getting the paint marks, especially fresh ones, off a mirror’s surface. Also, it is usually available in every household. To start with, you will also need latex gloves for yourself. After you wear a pair, add an adequate amount of nail polish remover to a paper towel.
Now gently rub the folded towel onto the marks on your mirror. It will slowly soften them so that they will be easily removed later. Wipe off the stains using a clean cloth. In the last step, soak another towel with some vinegar and carefully clean your mirror with it. It will also return the shine and smoothness of the surface. There you go﹗
Utilizing N-methyl Pyrrolidone-based Paste:
N-methyl pyrrolidone is commonly used in making a paste to strip the old paint from mirrors. Here, you will require NMP-paste, a disposable paintbrush, and a putting knife. Once you get these items, open the stripping paste container and take a brush to apply this material’s layer on every paint drip. Remember to keep the thickness of the coating medium.
After the major step, you will have to be patient for approximately two hours to allow the paste to perform its function. During this period, it will incorporate with the paint and turn it into semi-liquid. Now holding a plastic knife, gradually slide this item under the white paste. Using medium force, remove both the paste and the paint marks by pulling them. Continue this activity until you observe a mirror free from dried paint. Polish mirror’s surface using a paper towel which is soaked with vinegar.
Melamine Sponge For Removing Paint:
If the first second method does not seem appropriate to get rid of old pesky paint marks or NMP paste is not available, try testing this option. A melamine sponge or foam is a multi-functional cleaner and usually helps remove the paint from mirrors too. People also know this item by the name magic eraser.
Open the tap water and let the sponge absorb some water. Now gently wipe off the stains on the mirror surface with it and repeat it until you notice that all the paint has been absorbed by the sponge.
Using Rubbing Alcohol:
Rubbing alcohol is readily available in markets and workshops and is extremely popular for its cleaning properties. Similarly for getting the paint marks off the mirrors, rubbing alcohol shows excellent outcomes. It functions by breaking the strong bonds in the pigments after which they weaken.
Pour some rubbing alcohol with water into a small container. Now dip some part of the clean fabric in the mixture and let it soak some liquid. Wipe the mirror until no paint mark remains.
The paint will evaporate quickly from the surface.
Some paint marks might still stay there. However, you need not worry about it as they won’t require much effort. One can add some lemon juice to the wiping cloth to improve the strength of the cleaning liquid. As an alternative to this, using a nail polish remover also works.
Using A Hair Spray:
Do not have fancy cleaning agents with you for some reason? No issues. A hair spray can come in handy in these situations and help you scrap the paint stains. You will need to spray the affected spots with this liquid and wait for almost 2-3 minutes to allow it to mix with pigment. Then, take a clean cloth and remove the paint.
In case the marks are very old, they might require more attention. Repeat the procedure once so that the paint loosens. Once you obtain the desired result, wipe the surface of the mirror with a wet towel to prevent stain formation by the spray mist.
Frequently Asked Questions About Paints:-
Will rubbing alcohol remove dried paint from glass?
Yes, it is highly effective in removing paint and is strong enough to get rid of stains that are on the glass’s surface for weeks.
Can you scrape paint off a mirror?
If you do not want to use any liquid that contains harsh chemicals for cleaning, you can achieve your goal through a scraper. It is better to use wipe off the surface with liquid soap while scraping to minimize the damage from the blade to the shiny mirror’s surface
Does spray paint come off of glass easily?
Yes, there are several ways that are not time-consuming and allow people to remove spray paint from the glass with minimal effort. Generally, fresh ones are easier to get wiped off, while older marks take some time.
Final Thoughts:-
It is a common occurrence that people accidentally spill some paint on a mirror. Fortunately, it is not impossible to renew your mirror since a variety of agents are available on market to get the stains off of mirrors in no time without making them rough. I hope that you benefit from any of the simple ways listed above.