Glass tables can be beautiful and functional pieces of furniture. While they’re very easy to clean up and very hard to stain, they do have one major weakness: scratches. Though glass tables are prone to scratching, there are several ways to remove scratches from glass tables:
- Rub the scratches with white toothpaste
- Eliminate scratches with clear nail polish
- Make a mixture of baking soda and water
- Use glass or metal polish
- Make the scratch invisible with paste wax
- Rinse the scratch with fine steel wool
- Polish the surface using Jeweller’s Rouge
- Get a scratch repair kit
- Hire a professional
While finding scratches on your glass table can be a bummer, do not worry – there are ways to remove them. In this article, I’ll elaborate on each of them and provide you with detailed guides on how you can fix the issue.
I’ll talk about how you can remove scratches using household products, what solutions are available on the market specifically for removing glass scratches, and when it is best to seek professional help.
Steps to Take Before Removing Scratches From a Glass Table
Before you try out any of these solutions, make sure to prepare for the process with the following steps:
- Examine your glass table thoroughly to spot all the existing scratches. Some of them can be small and hard to notice at one glance, but since you’re already engaged in removing the scratches, you might as well fix all of them.
- Determine how deep the scratches are. A rule of thumb is to check whether you can feel them with your fingernail. If not, then you can easily remove the scratches with any of the suggested solutions. If the scratch is deep enough to fit your fingernail, it would be best to hire a professional, as DIY methods are likely to worsen the situation.
- Clean the surface. Put away anything that currently sits on your table, wipe it clean using a glass cleaner, and let it dry before moving on to the next steps.
1. Rub the Scratches With White Toothpaste
One great solution for scratched glass can be white paste-based toothpaste (make sure not to use gel-type). It can even out scratches on glass surfaces as it contains abrasive polishing agents. Pay attention to the level of abrasiveness: it is best to choose mild and gentle kinds of toothpaste to avoid damaging the surface. A good rule of thumb is to avoid products for sensitive teeth or with whitening effects.
The key to using this method is to follow the instructions. Due to the abrasive qualities of toothpaste, a mistake can cause more harm than good.
Here’s how to remove scratches from your glass table using toothpaste:
- Apply a little bit of toothpaste (about the amount you would use to brush your teeth) to the surface.
- Using a soft, damp cloth, start rubbing the scratch in gentle circular motions. Use a bit of strength on the spot where the scratch is, but do not push too hard.
- After about 30 seconds, stop and examine the scratch. You should see it becoming less visible.
- Continue the process until the scratch fades completely.
- Once done, wipe the surface clean and check the results.
This solution should work well on smaller scratches, but don’t expect it to fix a deep scratch on your glass table.
2. Eliminate Scratches With Clear Nail Polish
Nail polish is another great product that can fill in the scratch and make it vanish without dealing any damage to your glass table. For obvious reasons, it is best to choose clear nail polish.
- Using a nail polish brush apply the product to the scratch.
- Let the nail polish dry for about an hour.
- Use nail polish remover to wipe the surface clean, and enjoy the result!
3. Make a Mixture of Baking Soda and Water
Baking soda is another mild abrasive that can help you remove scratches from your glass table.
Here’s how you can use baking soda to remove scratches from your glass table:
- Mix baking soda with water in equal parts. The amount of mixture you need will depend on how many scratches you want to be removed. For reference, two tablespoons should be enough to deal with one scratch.
- Using a clean damp cloth, rub the mixture into the scratch with gentle circular motions. Keep going until the scratch fades.
- Wipe your table clean and let it dry.
4. Use Glass or Metal Polish
A great DIY solution is to use a glass or metal polish product that contains cerium oxide. It may come as a paste or a powder that needs to be mixed with water. You will typically find the directions on how to do it on the package.
Apply the product to the scratch following the same directions, then wipe the surface clean. Do not use more polish than is advised on the box, and do not use it on your scratch more than once as it can cause even more scratches to appear.
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5. Make the Scratch Invisible With Paste Wax
Here’s another product you might already have in your home that can help you deal with mild scratches: paste wax. Rub a small amount of paste wax into the scratch to fill it in, then clean the excess with a soft, damp cloth. This will make the scratch less visible, although you might have to reapply the wax every once in a while.
6. Rinse the Scratch With Fine Steel Wool
Fine steel wool is a common product in households and can help you remove scratches from your glass table. Here’s how:
- Get a steel wool pad labeled #0000. That’s the finest grade available and the most suitable for removing scratches from glass tables.
- Make sure you use a new pad to remove the scratch. A previously used pad could damage the surface rather than fix it.
- Rinse the spot around the scratch with your fine steel wool pad for a few minutes until the scratch fades.
- Wipe clean and check out the result!
7. Polish the Surface Using Jeweller’s Rouge
Jeweller’s Rouge is a metal polish that contains mildly abrasive ferric oxide. You can get it at your local jewelry or craft store and use it to remove the scratches from your glass table quickly. Choose Jeweller’s Rouge in bar form if you’re using it to eliminate the scratches manually. Here’s how you can do it:
- Start by rubbing a bar of Jeweller’s Rouge on the scratch in a gentle circular motion.
- Use a damp cloth or pad to rub the spot some more until the scratch isn’t visible.
- Polish the scratch with a dry cloth and wipe clean.
8. Get a Scratch Repair Kit
There is a great variety of scratch repair kits available. You can get them online or at your local hardware store. If none of the DIY solutions worked for you, or you’re more comfortable using pre-made kits explicitly designed to solve your issue, this method should suit you best.
- Get any scratch repair kit that suits you in quality and pricing.
- Carefully read the manual and apply the product following the directions provided.
- Do not apply more product than is recommended, and follow the instructions carefully to avoid damaging the surface.
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9. Hire a Professional
With deep scratches, DIY methods are more likely to worsen the situation than make any change for the better. If the scratches on your table weren’t removed with the solutions above, it would be best to receive the help of professionals.
You can also try and polish the glass yourself using cerium oxide and an electric buffer with a pad. However, this method requires a lot of equipment and skills to ensure you don’t deal any damage to yourself or your glass surface. If you’ve never done this before, it would be best to seek professional help.
Protect Your Glass Table From Scratching
It is always best to prevent the issue from occurring rather than figuring out how to fix it. You can keep your glass table in great condition following these simple tips.
- Wipe the surface using glass cleaner. Scratches often occur from glass table owners viciously rubbing stains or food pieces off the surface. Use a soft sponge or cloth with some glass cleaner instead.
- Use cork coasters. Put them under hot plates, pans, and other hot or heavy items, so they don’t crash and produce scratches on your table.
- Get table runners. They are a great way to keep your glass table safe and clean while also letting you show off its gleaming beauty.
- Get a protector. Some people don’t like protectors, and that’s okay; other solutions are available. However, getting a protector is your best bet if you want to ensure your glass table won’t get damaged.
Final Thoughts
Scratches happen, and you shouldn’t worry about them too much when they do. Mild scratches can be easily fixed with the help of household products or scratch repair kits specifically designed to deal with such issues.
However, if the scratches on your table are deep – where deep is deep enough to fit your fingernail – do not hesitate to contact professionals who can repair it for you or consider replacing the glass.
