Symptoms
- Mirror shifts or feels loose in its frame
- Dark spots or peeling on the mirror's silver backing
- Crack or chip in the glass
Likely causes
- CommonDeteriorated mounting adhesive or clipsAdhesive strips and small clips holding mirrors can weaken with age and temperature changes.
- CommonMoisture damage to the mirror's silver backingHumidity can seep behind the glass and cause the reflective coating to peel or blacken.
- PossibleImpact damage causing a crack or chipBumps during moving or daily use can chip or crack mirror glass.
What to do
- If the mirror is just loose, check and tighten or replace the mounting clips holding it in the frame.
- For adhesive-mounted mirrors, clean both surfaces and reapply mirror-specific mounting adhesive or tape.
- Never use standard glass cleaner directly on the mirror's edges, since moisture can seep behind and worsen backing damage.
- If backing is peeling, know this is cosmetic damage to the coating and cannot be repaired, only replaced.
- For a cracked or chipped mirror, measure the frame opening and order custom-cut replacement mirror glass.
- Handle any cracked or broken mirror glass carefully and dispose of shards safely wrapped.
Tools and parts
- Mirror mounting clips or adhesive
- Soft cloth
- Tape measure
Custom cut mirror glassSearch: “custom cut mirror glass replacement”
Mirror mounting clipsSearch: “mirror mounting clips hardware”
When to call a pro
For an antique or ornately framed mirror, a glass shop or furniture restorer can cut and fit replacement glass to the original frame.
Safety
Use caution
Handle cracked or broken mirror glass with gloves and wrap shards well before disposal to avoid cuts.