Sometimes things happen that make a mirror on a closet, for one reason or another, need to be removed and replaced to avoid trouble. If a chip has formed on it, hopelessly spoiling the appearance, or a crack, it is better not to keep such a thing in the house and try to replace it with a new one as soon as possible.
In such a situation, your mirror not only spoils the appearance of the interior, but also becomes a direct threat to the residents, especially if there are small children in the house who are fond of active games. You can get rid of a cabinet decor element that has become superfluous in several ways, depending on the fastening, and the main tool is you and your hands. Our article is about how to peel off a mirror from a cabinet, remove it from a wall, or separate it from a wardrobe door if it was glued with liquid nails, double-sided tape or other glue.
If you do everything correctly, you will easily cope and will not spend a day waiting for a specialist and, most importantly, money.
Is it possible to peel off an extra decorative element yourself?
The answer is clear: yes. But for beginners, the process is quite labor-intensive and requires high concentration and careful attention, so it is better to arrange for yourself an environment in which nothing can distract you.
If you follow all the rules, follow safety precautions and follow the recommendations, you can remove the mirror at home in half an hour or less , but in cases of difficulties or complex fasteners, it is better to contact specialists with experience in such work with this issue.
What is the best way to disconnect?
- The first method is suitable for cabinets from which the door can be removed. Do not remove the mirror when it is in a vertical position, as you may break it and injure yourself.
- For the second method, you will need wire, and it works like this: with movements to the left and right, you need to cut off both the layer of liquid nails and other adhesive mass that attaches your mirror to the cabinet. This option is very convenient and the safest: nothing will burst or crack if you do not overdo it with sharp movements.
- The third method is intended for a wardrobe, when working with which it is especially recommended to be more careful and adjust the level of brute force if the mirror is not to be damaged.
How to remove a mirror from a closet door
Carrying out renovations in a home that will be a refuge for you and your family for many years to come is a natural and useful activity, especially if done in a timely manner, but it also takes a lot of effort. Sometimes even such a simple task as unsticking a mirror from a cabinet can become overwhelming if you don’t know the special secrets that professional builders have developed over many years. Mirrors are usually glued tightly to cabinets, or screwed using fastening devices. But their shape can get boring, and over time they become damaged. Let's learn how to remove them by learning several techniques for separating mirrors from the surface of the cabinet.
How to remove a mirror from a closet door?
Step-by-step guide on how to remove unwanted surface
Method number one:
- Using a screwdriver, remove the cabinet element on which the mirror to be removed is attached, holding it and twisting the fasteners.
- Place the door on a horizontal surface that is most comfortable to work on.
- Take a metal ruler and sharpen it at the narrow end using sandpaper - this will be the main thing.
- Cover the mirror with tape so that the fragments do not fly to the sides and into your eyes, this way there will be less debris around.
Important: the more free space, the less likely it is to make a mistake.
- Insert the sharp end between the mirror and the door and start tapping the opposite end of the ruler with a hammer, gradually driving it deeper with light blows and peeling off the mirror.
Do not overdo it! Do not lift the ruler too high and tap it carefully so that the mirror does not crack. - Carefully remove the mirror separated from the door and remove the fragments if it breaks.
Method number two:
- Take the cutting wire and unwind it, tying a wooden block to each end to make it comfortable to hold your tool and prevent the possibility of cutting your fingers.
- Start by wrapping the wire around the edge of the mirror and “filing” it, moving from one corner to the other.
- Slowly pass it between the mirror and the surface. The threaded and moving wire will cut off the glue on which the mirror is attached.
- It is advisable to involve a second person in the work who will hold the mirror so that it does not fall or break if you are working in a vertical position. The safest thing to do is remove the door.
Method number three:
- Take the tape and start covering the front side of the mirror.
- Slide the chisel under the mirror surface and gently press, starting to separate it from the door.
- Since the mirror may burst, after work you should collect the fragments in a bag.
Separation of mirrors held on its surface by fasteners from the cabinet
So, first of all, we will discuss how to remove mirrors from the cabinet that are mounted on its surface using fastening systems.
When separating the mirror from the surface of the cabinet, it would be wise to remove the door from its hinges and lay it horizontally so that the glass does not fall to the floor haphazardly
Table 1. Mounting systems for mirrors
| Fasteners | Description |
| Silicone suction cup holders are not often used as a fastening device for placing a mirror on a vertical cabinet surface, however, they are still found. In this case, you are more likely to worry about the suction cups not accidentally coming off if the door of a given piece of furniture slams too loudly, since silicone suction cups are too often poorly made. Consequently, they are unable to hold the mirror in the place you have determined, and this accessory often falls. How to remove: You can easily remove a mirror attached to the surface of the cabinet door using suction cups by simply gently pulling its body. If the suction cup does not come off easily, carefully pick up its edge with a ruler or fingernail. | |
| Quite often, mirrors are attached to cabinet doors, walls and other vertical surfaces using screws. Screws can hold this accessory to the surface of the cabinet, while being passed through:
In both cases, the screws do not stick out on the surface; they are hidden under special rivets made in the shape of a mushroom: How to remove: All you need to do to remove a mirror mounted on screws is to pick up the decorative knob of the fastener, remove it, and then, using the most ordinary screwdriver that fits the size, unscrew one by one all the screws that hold the mirror. Please note: to remove the mirror without breaking it, you need the help of a second person to hold the accessory, preventing it from falling. | |
| Bracket holders are another way to secure a mirror to a cabinet door. Each holder is separately screwed into the wall using flat-head screws. Before screwing it in, a bracket is put on each screw - a holder, which will then hold the mirror. The tighter the bracket is tightened, the stronger the mirror “sits” in it. Several such staples are used along the entire perimeter of the mirror to clearly fix our mirror accessory. How to remove: And depending on the quality and thickness of the staples, as well as your desire to use them in the future, the following methods for removing the mirror from the surface of the cabinet can be used:
Please note: in this case, you will also have to enlist outside help, since when the brackets are sequentially unscrewed, the mirror will no longer hold anything, and someone must do it with their hands. |
The above methods of attaching a mirror involve the use of special fasteners, which are initially designed in such a way that you can get rid of them as simply as possible by easily removing them from the mounting location, and along with them the mirror itself.
Such fasteners are called reusable. Indeed, if you do not accidentally or deliberately damage them while removing the mirror, they can then be used in tandem with it, while placing the piece of furniture on a different surface. We recommend that you use just such fasteners, since they are the easiest to remove, even without any specialized experience or sophisticated construction tools. To rid your closet of a mirror with each of them, the maximum you will need is:
Prices for cordless screwdrivers
Reusable fastening systems for mirrors are, of course, much more convenient, since they allow you to quickly remove the reflective surface, and then use it and the fasteners themselves more than once
However, preliminary fastening of mirrors to other construction devices can create a serious problem. Let's look at them in the next section.
How to cut or tear off a mirror panel glued with double-sided tape from a door?
Double-sided tape does not seem as impressive as liquid nails, but this is not entirely true, because the mirror can be glued to it not only in the middle and along the edges, but also over the entire area. If desired, the mirror can be torn away from its mounting location, but there is a high risk of breaking the thing and injuring your hands with large fragments, so it is better to discard this method immediately and not try to use it under any circumstances.
A good way to remove a mirror from double-sided tape is similar to the one described above using cutting wire. If you don’t have an item for exactly this purpose, you can take a strong string or any thin but strong wire that will pass between the mirror and the door and will not break during the sawing process.
How to peel off a mirror from a cabinet if it is attached to it using construction substances
In this case, construction substances will be understood as disposable fasteners, represented by condensed liquids that have pronounced fastening properties.
So, we are talking, of course, about:
- double-sided tape (tape on which a layer of adhesive is applied);
- liquid nails (special construction adhesive, especially strong when hardened, which is used for mounting various parts, and in particular, installing a mirror);
- construction adhesive specifically used for working with specific surfaces.
Using liquid adhesives as a way to secure the mirror to the surface of the cabinet, you must understand that removing the mirror will most likely break it into many pieces
Removing a mirror from a closet door without damaging the mirror and also without getting hurt is very difficult if you don’t know specific tricks that will at least help you protect yourself. The fact is that when the required substances mentioned above are used, subsequently the mirror turns out to be tightly fixed and it is really very difficult to separate it without breaking it.
How to remove marks on the wall after dismantling?
Once the mirror has been removed, you can begin to peel off the old adhesive layer . You can do this in the usual way, using a spatula or knife, if this place then covers the mirror again. To preserve the surface and not scratch it, you can use the second option: here the main assistant is gasoline or solvent.
The solution with dissolution is more successful if there is information about the composition of the glue. You need to apply a solvent to the surface of the cabinet and wait until it softens the glue and allows it to be wiped off. You can stick a new mirror onto the cleaned area, but this must be done carefully so as not to break it.
Safety rules at work
- The first and most important rule is to cover your body with clothing so that if something happens, the fragments do not cut your skin.
- The second rule is to work in an open place, preferably on the street. If this is not possible, it is necessary to thoroughly clean the room in which all work will be carried out, and to prevent any residue in the form of small fragments on the floor.
- The third rule is not to allow children to approach the tools or touch the door with the mirror, as the child may accidentally push it off or cut himself.
- The fourth rule is to regularly check your hands for small fragments and stop working if you notice that fragments have gotten into them.
- The fifth rule is that it is advisable to work in protective glasses so as not to injure yourself.
Removing mirrors at home is an activity that requires patience and the ability to take your time, as well as increased safety in working conditions. If you are not sure that you have sufficient skills for dismantling, and you do not know whether you can do it yourself, it is better not to tempt fate and call a specialist, paying, but saving your nerves and health.
However, using the methods described above and taking into account safety precautions, you can do it yourself in a short time, without losing money, which you will certainly succeed with the step-by-step help provided.
