How to Get Rid of Scratches on Glasses

Ms. Inglish has 30 years experience in medicine, psychology, STEM instruction, history; and aerospace education for USAF Civil Air Patrol.

Scratched wine glasses are not romantic.

Pixabay

7 Solutions to Repairing Scratches in Glass

Out, dread scratch! Does a scratch on your glass tabletop make you scream? Scratched eyeglass lenses likely do the same! You might be interested in trying some home remedies or professional repair kits before you give up hope.

I have had glass tabletops and glass windows scratch over the years and have found a few ways of removing most of the scratches. There are compounds you can purchase for this, and there are also some home remedies that may work for you.

These suggestions may help remove the scratches.

1. Cerium Oxide

Professional glass repair people and others often use Janvil's Cerium Oxide, an electric drill or similar tool, and a buffing wheel attachment that has a firm felt covering it, sold specifically for glass scratch removal.

You apply the Cerium Oxide and buff it with the buffing tool very easily. It may take over an hour for the compound and buff to work, depending on how deep the scratches are.

Look for auto glass wholesale dealers on the Internet or in the Yellow Pages. Other businesses that use this compound are jewelers and businesses that polish and sell gemstones, so try any of those small businesses near you. In addition, the J.C. Whitney auto parts catalog often carries a similar scratch fix-it kit at an affordable price.

2. Toothpaste

The non-gel kinds of toothpaste can be used as a polishing compound will sometimes remove small scratches from glass tabletops.

3. Brasso Metal Polish

Brasso or other types of metal polishes will also sometimes be effective in solving ugly scratch problems. Jeweler's rouge also works but is more expensive.

4. DIY Scratch Remover

Here is another compound to try:

Mix 1 part dry mustard and 1 part white vinegar into a paste-like substance.
Apply this paste onto the scratches and polish the surface with a soft cloth.
Dry mustard may damage the cornea of the eye, so be careful with it; wear protective goggles.

Time Lapse of Easy Scratch Repair With Cerium Oxide

5. Rain Repellants Also Erase Scratches In Glass

Although I have not tried this particular product for removing scratches from glass myself, I have heard and read many successful reports about this item.

Windshield water repellants like Rain-X, reportedly invented in the UK for use with autos that are built without windshield wipers, is the winning product. For eyeglasses, it offers the preventative of anti-fogging as well as rain repellant in stormy weather. For scratches that are not deep, the method to use is to apply the rain repellant with a soft cloth and to polish very gently for a few seconds.

Deeper scratches may not yield to Rain-X and similar windshield products. Additionally, be careful of plastic lenses as well, which might suffer damage from this or other substances used for scratch removal. Plastic lenses can become cloudy when certain substances are applied.

The materials below include some additional products that you may want to try, as well.

Scratched eyeglasses are hard to use for reading.

Pixabay

6. DIY Scratch Eliminator

This formula is made from supplies you have in your cabinets at home and works well with many types of scratches.

Scratch Removal by a Professional House Cleaner

This article is accurate and true to the best of the author's knowledge. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters.

Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on August 31, 2018:

That's good to hear, Kimberly - it worked on my sunglasses!

Kimberly Lake from California on August 30, 2018:

Thank you! I am going to try to remove the scratches on my glasses. This will save me a few hundred dollars if it works! Crossing my fingers.

Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on July 01, 2015:

Yes, you received poor service, so return your vehicle to the window tinting company and demand that they fix your window glass or replace the window. If necessary, contact the BBB to report this event. Further, you may have a TV station that has a consumer help feature like our Six On Your Side that will confront the tint company owner on camera.

Dayna on July 01, 2015:

While the man was tinting my window he scratched my window glass with the razor blade. The scratches are not deep, but long. Any suggestions on what I can do please?

Kristen Howe from Northeast Ohio on June 05, 2015:

Patty, that is pretty neat and helpful. I'll pass it along to my brother as well.

Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on June 04, 2015:

Hi Kristen Howe! I am so glad you found this information helpful! Toothpaste works on some scratched automobile headlight covers as well. Pretty neat.

Kristen Howe from Northeast Ohio on June 04, 2015:

Patty, what a clever idea on how to remove scratches from glass. It's so easy to do with toothpaste! Voted up for useful and interesting, too!

Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on May 18, 2015:

Nonabrasive white toothpaste really does work, especially on lighter scratches.

Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on July 21, 2012:

Perhaps something nonabrasive?

MMMEEEEEEEEEEEE on July 20, 2012:

What type of toothpaste works best?

Jac on July 13, 2012:

Interesting comments, either way Patty keep plugging away and thanks for corralling these tips.

This place is very phone friendly by the way.

Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on May 29, 2012:

Thanks for sharing your good results, arin! Enjoy that wonderful glass table.

arin on May 29, 2012:

I just bought a glass table. Delivery man made some fine-medium scratches in it..not happy. But,TOOTHPASTE WORKS! you are awesome. This has saved me some trouble for sure..

Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on March 14, 2012:

And scratch up the whole surface.

John on March 14, 2012:

Use a rough sandpaper

Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on February 21, 2012:

That seems odd to me, since Awesome is citrus-based and all natural. It is alkaline, though. Myself, I'd try some lemon juice on a small part of glass as an experiment or clean the entire glass end table with Awesome -- I see always a possibility that what you have is a very clean ring in a field of not-100%-clean glass.

You can call and ask the company themselves at 1-800-891-2426. They are in St. Joseph MO.

diana on February 21, 2012:

i have a cleaner that is called "awesome" it leaked on my glass end table and left a ring, what can i use? glass plus doesn't work.

Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on December 18, 2011:

Thanks for that tip; I'll try it!

duffsparky on December 18, 2011:

Tin oxide powder mixed with a little water will work. I used some to remove a bad scrath on a PC CRT monitor. It took the anti-glare coating off the screen as well though.

Dinesh on December 12, 2011:

Try using Tobacco..more crude the better results...its a common and cheapest rain repellent used by truck drivers here in India....:)

Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on December 01, 2011:

Sure - There are a couple others listed above but the best bet is what professionals use. If it does not work, you'd need a new shelf probably -- Janvil's Cerium Oxide is the product.

Sue Nitz on December 01, 2011:

A pot scratched a glass shelf in a brand new refridgerator. Tried Brasso and toothpaste but they didn't work. Any ideas?

Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on November 28, 2011:

I don't know about that one. Take your phone to the jewelry counter of a department store or camera shop and ask them to try a sample of any scratch remover they may have on hand. Department stores often provide free cleanings and such for customers.

room.4.you on November 28, 2011:

can I buff scratches out of my camera lense on my HTC evo phone? I took the case off and now my photos are not as crisp.

Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on November 09, 2011:

Windshield rain repellant can also work!

Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on November 09, 2011:

Depend on the type of glass and how deep the scratch. Let us know what you find that works there in UK, Paul!

Paul on November 09, 2011:

just tried Brasso and toothpaste and neither worked

Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on November 08, 2011:

Try the suggestions in the Hub above. Good luck!

Gerry Cottle on November 07, 2011:

just bought a used glass top coffee table and it has some scratches in it,most of them are not deep,can barely feel them,any sugestions?

ji on October 06, 2011:

not bad

Robert C Elliott on February 03, 2011:

I recently scratched my car windshield scraping off ice!!! definitly pissed me off and looking for cures!

rpgiggle on July 28, 2010:

I just used Brasso to get a small scratch of my home window. With a little elbow grease it came out! Thanks for the tips.

Tucson Auto Glass from Tucson Arizona on December 18, 2009:

vERY COOL! i NEVER WOULD HAVE THOUGHT TO USE MUSTARD!

karpouzian from Iowa on July 30, 2009:

Be careful what kind of glass that you use Cerium Oxide (rare earth) on. If it is a home window, there me be a coating on one side or another that will be damaged by such a harsh abrasive.

Lea on June 30, 2009:

I keep ruining my glasses...SOMETIMES I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW!!! I need help...something a 12 year old can do to repair glass lenses (i just scrtached both...only one is getting repaired though!!!!!!!!!

Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on March 25, 2008:

Some of these ideas do work on some sun glasses if they have glass lenses. Probably not on plastic lenses. Thanks for visiting!

Adamant R.A. on March 24, 2008:

Does this also work for Sunglasses???

glassvisage from Northern California on September 24, 2007:

Interesting! I love hubpages. I don't know how you figured these out, but thanks for publishing this hub :)

Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on September 23, 2007:

Hi Guru-C -- tips like these helped me finally swtich from plastic to glass. :)

Cory Zacharia from Miami Beach, Florida on September 23, 2007:

Hello Patty, This is a subject very dear to me because I'm a bit of a bull in a china shoppe :-)

Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on September 22, 2007:

Let me know how it turns out!

Whitney from Georgia on September 22, 2007:

Hm.. I never thought dry mustard and white vinegar. May have to give that one a try. Thanks

How to Get Rid of Scratches on Glasses

Source: https://dengarden.com/cleaning/Glass_Repair

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