In the course of executing a room or furniture decoration, it is easy to splash spray paint on the mirror that is close by. Thus, when that happens, how do you deal with that? If you are familiar with this situation, you would be concerned about how to get spray paint off the mirror.
Oil paints are not like ordinary paints; they have a great affinity for glass surfaces, making it difficult for you to get them off with natural means.
The moment spray paint is allowed to dry on a surface; they don’t fall off just like that. But, the negative side of this paint is that it could mistakenly splatter into an area close by.
7 Simple Ways to Get That Spray Paint Off Mirror
If you wish to remove spray paint from a mirror surface, spray the surface with some water and wait for some minutes. Then use a wet melamine sponge to scrub the surface. When you scrub repeatedly, the paint will start coming off.
There are various ways to get spray paint off any surface. Therefore, you can acquaint yourself with these other methods if you still have some paint stains on your mirror after implementing the method above.
1. Nail Polish Remover
This is the simplest way to remove paint stains from a mirror surface. You can easily get nail polish remover around you.
It comprises acetone, a chemical that helps to dissolve the spray paint. Get a folded paper or cotton ball and dip it inside a nail polish remover. Apply the damp substance to the affected area.
You can apply more of the nail polish remover and use it regularly to get the stains off. That way, you would not end up breaking the glass.
2. Easy-Off Oven Cleaner
Some of these chemicals are harmful, so you might want to wear your rubber gloves before you do anything.
Easy-off oven cleaner can be sprayed on the affected area. Just ensure the chemical does not touch the mirror design or the wooden area.
To ensure complete protection, you can mask those areas with painter’s tape. Wait for 30secs after applying the easy-off oven cleaner before scrubbing the paint off. That way, you can be sure of a shiny mirror without any paint stains.
Sometimes you may need to apply more pressure on some areas when removing the stains because they may not be evenly distributed.
Video: How to Remove Spray Paint from Plastic, Mirror, Glass and Metal
3. Vinegar
If your paint stains are still proving difficult to come off, you can resort to cleaning vinegar. It’s a bit different from normal vinegar.
Make sure you put on your rubber gloves before you use cleaning vinegar. Use a cotton ball to apply it and give it some moments to complete the job.
Then you can get the paint stains off with a soft cloth (preferably cotton).
Related: How to Get Rid of Vinegar Smell After Cleaning
4. Graffiti Remover
You would not need any professional assistance with your paint stains when you have graffiti remover.
This highly effective stain remover is safe for environments where people and pets live in. But before you begin, you should test the chemical on an area that is not too visible.
You can mask the mirror’s border with painter’s tape. Do your spraying 7 inches from the affected area, and ensure you put enough chemicals to soak the stains.
After a period of 2mins, use a soft cloth to wipe the surface clean. Repeat the process for any stubborn stains.
5. Paint Thinner
Paint stains can be difficult to remove with gentle removers when they have become dried and strong after some days. If you find yourself in such a situation, you should work with paint thinners such as Toluene, Naphtha, Sunnyside, and turpentine.
Make sure the place is properly ventilated before you work with any of them. Better still, you can go outdoors.
Insert a small portion of cloth in the thinner and apply on the area that is affected. Please, put on your rubber gloves when doing this.
To weaken the thick paint, wait a while so the thinner can penetrate the paint and make it weak. Then you can wipe the stains off afterward.
6. Scrapper
If you are not the type that likes chemicals, you can get your paint stains off the old-fashioned way. You can use a sharp razor blade to scrape it off.
For a more effective process, do a mixture of hot water and liquid soap. Apply the mixture to the affected region with a small towel.
Give it some minutes to allow the soap solution to penetrate the paint stains. This is very good, as it helps to prevent scratches from appearing on the mirror.
You should apply some sense of caution, so you don’t scratch the glass in the process. Move the blade from one end to another, and lift the razor after every stroke. You don’t have to drag the blade in the opposite direction because that can bring about a scratch.
Stop the process at the slightest occurrence of any unpleasant sound. Use another blade when that happens.
Repeat the process gently till you are sure all the paint stains are done with. Wash the mirror once again with soap solution to rinse off every stain.
7. Hairdryer
If you are eager to get spray paint off the mirror but have no access to the items discussed above, you can try using a hair drier.
First, weaken the paint by spraying a soap solution on the paint-affected area.
Please put on the hairdryer, ensure it has heated up, and use a damp and soft cloth to wipe it.
Be careful, so you don’t spray other items of furniture in the space. Therefore, you can reposition all the items to ensure they are not stained.
Some furniture pieces can be difficult to move around, so here is what you can do with such items;
- Use old bedsheets to cover them
- Throw a plastic sheet over them
- Use newspaper to cover them
- If you are only interested in covering the edges, masking tape can do that for you.
Those preventive measures will prevent you from spoiling valuable items as you clean.
Read: How to Clean Glass or Mirror Without Glass Cleaner
Takeaway
Before you try any other method, use a melamine sponge first.
The above methods are effective when it comes to getting rid of spray paint from your mirror surface.
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