Small scratches on your glass windows often appear seemingly out of nowhere. The culprit may be your curious cat overdue for a nail trim or tree branches rustling against your house in a windstorm. Scratches are unsightly and can make your house look messy, even after a deep clean. Before the scratch turns into a larger crack, repair it with toothpaste. While this method may not work on larger scratches, it works like magic against small ones.
If the crack in your glass is relatively deep, like, if you can feel it with your finger, consider calling in a glass repair professional. Some forms of damage may warrant a full glass replacement.
Clean and Dry the Glass
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Spray the glass with glass cleaner and wipe it clean with a dry cloth. Leave it alone for a few minutes to allow the glass to dry completely before you attempt to cover up the scratch.
Apply a Dab of Toothpaste to the Scratched Area
Grab your tube of toothpaste and squirt a small dot (about the size of a dime) directly onto the scratched area on your glass. Be sure to use non-gel toothpaste for this step, otherwise the effect won’t work. For even better results, use a white toothpaste with baking soda in it.
Rub in Gently
With a clean, damp cloth, rub the toothpaste onto the scratched area for about 30 seconds. Rub it in gently but firmly and consistently. Of course, you should avoid pushing down so hard that you accidentally break the glass.
Wipe Away the Excess
After you rub the toothpaste in, wipe away the excess with a damp cloth or rag. Then spray the area with clean water and wipe it away to check on the status of the scratched area. If everything went according to plan, the scratch should disappear.
Repeat As Needed
If the scratch on your glass still appears after applying and rubbing in your toothpaste, repeat all of the previous steps. Continue repeating this process until you see progress and the scratch visibly disappears. If this de-scratching method doesn’t work to fix your small scratch, you’ll likely have to hire an expert to address the issue.
DIY Glass Repair Vs. Hiring a Pro
This easy toothpaste method works well for erasing small scratches and marks from windows, but more severe scratches or damage will likely call for professional help.
If the DIY tactic doesn’t work or the window’s scratches seem too deep to tackle, consider hiring a professional glass repair service near you for help. Keep in mind that fixing a cracked window pane costs $70 on average, and you’ll need to solicit price quotes for scratch repair.
Having a safe, happy and ultimately stunning home is Lauren's top priority. She's covered topics in home improvement for sites like Hunker and Forbes Advisor and can't wait to write more.
Having a safe, happy and ultimately stunning home is Lauren's top priority. She's covered topics in home improvement for sites like Hunker and Forbes Advisor and can't wait to write more.
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