Why do mirrors turn black

Mirrors have often been used in interior decoration to make a room look bigger, tie the rest of the decor together, or create a point of interest—all without sacrificing usefulness. Bathroom mirrors can do the same, albeit in a more private area of the house.

When these dark spots develop, they usually start out as little more than an eyesore you can hide with a strategically-placed indoor plant or a similar decorative fixture.

Well, it happens when the protective coating at the back of the mirror gets exposed to various elements like air, cleaning solutions, and moisture. Without the protective coating, the silver nitrate responsible for turning plain glass into mirrors starts chipping away. Given that, here are some preventive measures you can take to keep black spots on bathroom vanity mirrors at bay. Maybe you went with a frameless mirror so your bathroom has a certain look to it. You know those little packets of desiccant that come with certain packaged food and products such as shoes?

Tape one to the back of the mirror to absorb any excess moisture that makes its way there. If the mirror has dark spots on the edge you can install a customised frame over the damage. The process of resilvering allows you to restore the mirror to its original appearance.

However, it is rare to find a resilvering service. Few reasons why resilvering is not recommended is due to its cost and time. The mirror may also get damaged during the transport and shipping process. As a result, resilvering may not be a feasible option for many. Consider resilvering if you have an antique mirror or if it holds sentimental value. If your mirror is not valuable, the best and the most affordable option is to replace the mirror with a new one. At Glass One, we can custom cut and replace your mirror with a brand new mirror glass.

You must be logged in to post a comment. Author: FMM. Related Posts. When the solution is sprayed on the mirror, it often drips and pools along the edge, increasing the likelihood of the glass layer separating. By spraying onto a rag instead, there will be no pooling fluid. Finally, protect the mirror from moisture. If your mirror descends all the way to your vanity, make sure to never leave water pooled on the counter. Ideally, you should consider either raising the mirror, so it no longer directly contacts the vanity, or adding a strip of silicone to seal the edge where the mirror touches the counter.