How to remove scratches from glass

Glass scratches in car windows, windows, clocks or glass tables? Often you can remove annoying scratches yourself with simple home remedies. Our guide shows you how best to proceed and what needs to be observed so that there are no more scratches in the glass.

Table of Contents Table of Contents Remove scratches from glass: The best home remedies

• Key facts at a glance
• Can you remove scratches from glass?
• Preparation: Do this before treatment
• Home remedies for light scratches in the glass
• Home remedies for deep glass scratches
• Conceal scratches
• Professional removal of glass scratches
• Avoid further damage to the glass
• Scratches in the smartphone
• Touch up the lens

Table of Contents Table of Contents Remove scratches from glass: The best home remedies

• Key facts at a glance
• Can you remove scratches from glass?
• Preparation: Do this before treatment
• Home remedies for light scratches in the glass
• Home remedies for deep glass scratches
• Conceal scratches
• Professional removal of glass scratches
• Avoid further damage to the glass
• Scratches in the smartphone
• Touch up the lens

Remove glass scratches: the most important thing at a glance

• You can often successfully remove or at least alleviate light to medium-deep scratches in glass by polishing.
• Home remedies are an effective alternative to traditional glass polish.
• For light scratches, for example: toothpaste, ammonia, baking soda, baking powder, metal polish.
• For deep scratches, for example in windows and windshields, glass ceramic cleaner is suitable.
• As an alternative or in addition to polishing, filling the scratches with clear substances is recommended.

Can you remove scratches from glass?

Unsightly scratches in the glass usually result from a brief carelessness or willful destruction. If the scratch is too deep, you will not be able to repair damaged glass with home remedies or chemical alternatives - then only glass insurance will help. But of course it is worth trying before you have the glass completely replaced. Most home remedies to remove scratches from glass are in your house anyway.

The basic principle is always the same: a polishing agent must be used that removes the top layers of glass, thereby eliminating fine cracks and reducing deep cracks. Patience and caution are required.

Attention: Be aware that the slight abrasion can also lead to milky glass or other scratches in the worst case.

Preparation: Do this before treatment

Before touching up scratches, you should clean the glass surface thoroughly.

Photo: iStock / Druv

1. Clean the glass thoroughly with detergent or window cleaner. Then dry the scratched area thoroughly.
2. Take a microfiber cloth and rinse it with lukewarm water. Squeeze out the excess moisture so that the cloth no longer drips. The cloth should be absolutely free of crumbs and lint, so that the removal takes place evenly and no new scratches occur.

Tip: Wrap the cloth around your index finger in order to dose the amount of polishing compound and to be able to work precisely on the scratched area.

Home remedies for light scratches in the glass

toothpaste

Toothpaste is a proven home remedy for removing minor scratches in glass.

Photo: iStock / Devonyu

Field of application: Superficial glass scratches, for example in clocks or glass tables

You need: microfiber cloth, a small swab of white toothpaste (no gel) without added scouring beads

Manual:

1. Dab toothpaste onto the scratch. Start with a small amount and add more if necessary.
2. Rub in with small, circular motions for 30 seconds.
3. Wash toothpaste with a clean cloth and lukewarm water.
4. Repeat the process until the glass scratch is no longer visible.

ammonia

Field of application: Superficial glass scratches, for example in windows and on the car

You need: microfibre cloth, 15 milliliters of ammonia, 0.75 liters of water, dishwashing gloves

Manual:

1. Put on gloves to protect the skin.
2. Mix ammonia and water in a bowl to form a solution.
3. Polish the scratched glass with the ammonia solution in a circular motion for a maximum of 30 seconds.
4. Remove the mixture again with a clean cloth and lukewarm water. Repeat until the glass scratch is no longer visible.

Baking soda

Soda is an all-rounder in the household, so it also reduces scratches in the glass.

Photo: iStock / vikif

Field of application: Superficial glass scratches on strong glasses

You need: microfiber cloth, 1 tablespoon of baking soda, 1 tablespoon of water

Manual:

1. Mix the soda and water in a 1: 1 ratio in a bowl until all the lumps have dissolved.
2. Soak up the sodium hydroxide solution with the cloth.
3. Rub in with circular movements for a maximum of 30 seconds.
4. Remove the mixture again with a clean cloth and lukewarm water.
5. Repeat until the scratch is no longer visible in the glass.

baking powder

Baking powder is baking soda with added acid and release agent: it can be used effectively against scratches in the glass.

Photo: iStock / repinanatoly

Field of application: Superficial glass scratches on strong glasses

You need: microfiber cloth, baking soda, water

Manual:

1. Mix baking powder and water in a bowl in a ratio of 2: 1 until all the lumps have dissolved.
2. Soak up sodium hydroxide solution with the microfiber cloth.
3. Rub in with circular movements for a maximum of 30 seconds.
4. Remove the mixture again with a clean cloth and lukewarm water.
5. Repeat until the scratch is no longer visible.

Metal polish

Field of application: Superficial glass scratches on strong and fine glasses

You need: microfiber cloth, metal polish solution, cleaning alcohol

Manual:

1. Wrap a microfiber cloth around your finger.
2. Apply a small amount of metal polish to the cloth.
3. Rub the scratches in a circular motion with the polishing cloth for 30 to 40 seconds.
4. Remove metal polish with a clean cloth and lukewarm water.
5. Repeat until the glass scratch is no longer visible.

Tip: The most suitable metal polish contains cerium oxide. Parisian red also works, but is more expensive.

Home remedies for deep glass scratches

Glass ceramic cleaner

Field of application: Medium-deep glass scratches on strong glasses

You need: microfiber cloth, glass ceramic cleaner for cooking surfaces

Manual:

1. Apply glass ceramic cleaner to the cloth.
2. Rub over the scratch with light pressure and slow movements.
3. Wash the glass ceramic cleaner with lukewarm water.
4. Repeat until the scratch is no longer visible.

Note: The glass ceramic cleaner also seals the scratched area.

How can I hide deep scratches in the glass?

Touch up scratches in the glass with nail polish

Trick 17: Use clear nail polish to mend scratches in the glass.

Photo: iStock / Krezofen

If all attempts to repair the glass scratch by polishing have failed, you can reduce the visual conspicuousness by filling up with nail polish. A bit of tact is required, however, because the intact glass surface should come into contact with the nail polish as little as possible.

Field of application: Deep glass scratches, even on smaller areas

You need: clear nail polish, nail polish remover, microfiber cloth

Manual:

1. Apply the smallest possible amount of nail polish to the scratch in the glass.
2. Let the varnish work for about an hour so that the liquid can settle deep into the scratch.
3. Now remove the excess varnish with nail polish remover on a microfiber cloth.

Tip: Make sure that you use as little nail polish remover as possible to avoid that it also settles deep in the cracks and reduces the concealing effect.

Touch up scratches in the glass with Canada balm

If deep glass scratches are to be removed, you can also use Canada balm as an alternative to clear nail polish. The transparent drying tree resin has a similar refractive index to glass and therefore fits almost imperceptibly into the glass.

Canada balm is obtained from the Canadian balsam fir and the Fraser fir and is a wonderful home remedy for concealing deep scratches in the glass.

Photo: talu.de

Field of application: Deep glass scratches on large areas

You need: Canada balm, microfiber cloth

Instructions: Follow the instructions on the package.

Tip: Refilling scratches only makes sense if you are dealing with a few deep scratches. Applying nail polish or Canada balm to many tight-fitting scratches will only draw more attention to the hidden scratches.

Professional removal of glass scratches

Glass polish

Special glass polish (or sludge chalk) is probably the most obvious alternative to the household remedies described and is often described as the safest option for removing glass scratches - because the removal strength is specially adapted to the glass material. Depending on the initial consistency, the glass polish may still have to be dissolved with water. Follow the instructions on the package. The glass polish is rubbed onto the affected area either with a cloth or a polishing machine with light pressure and circular movements.

Glass scratch repair kit

Special glass scratch repair kits promise professional removal of glass scratches. This includes glass polish, polishing pads and a grinding wheel that is firmly mounted on the drill. In order not to damage the glass, you should work with the drill on the smallest level. But the special kit does not work miracles either. Fine hair scratches are mitigated, deep scratches cannot be removed with the help of a machine.

Polished red

Polishing red is used in the artistic and technical field for grinding hard materials, including glass. Like the home remedies described above, the polishing red is also applied to the scratched area in the glass using a polishing cloth with circular movements.

Tip: If residues of the polish remain stubbornly on the glass, the best way to remove them is with an ammonia solution.

Can you repair glass scratches without damaging the glass?

It is possible that the glass will become matt at the polished point where the scratch was in the glass. So decide beforehand whether you can live with this visual consequence. A single scratch may be less noticeable than a milky spot in the glass. In general, you should polish as punctually as possible so as not to damage "healthy" glass.

How do I remove scratches on my smartphone?

To repair scratches in the display of a smartphone, the home remedies toothpaste and baking soda are particularly suitable. But be careful: buttons and connections should be taped beforehand.

Can I touch up scratches in the lens?

Scratches in glasses are difficult to remove.

Photo: iStock / BWFolsom

With scratches in glasses you can try light home remedies such as toothpaste and baking soda, but the success is usually only slight. Professional glass polish is also commercially available, but often also only gives moderate results. With plastic glasses, the chances of success are better. Here you can use special plastic polish. Sun protection with a high sun protection factor and car polish are also an alternative for plastic lenses as home remedies.

Timo Jochmann