How to Get Rid of Glass Scratches

The best ways to buff out scratches so your glass looks brand new

Co-authored by Jon Gholian and Raven Minyard, BA

Last Updated: December 3, 2024 Fact Checked

• Ways to Remove Scratches from Glass
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• Preventing Scratches
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• When to Call a Pro
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• FAQs
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• Video
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• Expert Q&A
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• Tips
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• Warnings

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VIDEO

If you have glass surfaces in your home, from windows to stovetops, it’s almost inevitable that they’ll get scratched. While this can be frustrating, it’s actually easy to remove scratches from glass with various household products. That's why we interviewed cleaning specialist Jon Gholian and auto body technician Chad Zani to teach you the best ways to get scratches out of different glass surfaces. Plus, we'll explain how to keep glass scratch-free, when to call a professional, and answer other common questions about removing scratches from glass.

How do you get scratches out of glass?

Clean the glass with glass cleaner and a soft cloth. Then, apply a DIY method like white, non-gel toothpaste, a baking soda paste, or pumice soap to the scratch and buff in a circular motion. Alternatively, apply clear nail polish or buff the scratch with fine steel wool.

Steps

Section 1 of 4:

Ways to Remove Scratches from Glass

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1. 1
   Clean the glass to inspect the damage. DIY scratch removal methods work best on shallow scratches, so it’s important to see how badly the glass is damaged. Spray the glass with glass cleaner and wipe it with a soft cloth. This will also help remove any coarse particles that could scuff the glass even more as you work.

   • Allow the glass to dry completely before attempting to remove the scratch.
   • Test the damage by running your fingernail across it. If your nail catches in the scratch, it’s likely too deep to be repaired by DIY methods and it may be better to replace it.
2. 2
   Use toothpaste for an easy option. Apply a small amount of white, non-gel toothpaste to a soft cleaning cloth and gently buff the scratch in small, circular motions. Then, rinse the glass with water and inspect the scratch. Repeat the process as needed until the scratch is removed.

   • Toothpaste that contains baking soda typically works best.
   • If you see no progress after applying toothpaste 3 times, it may be better to try a different method.
   • If you are cleaning a glass window, Gholian suggests using a squeegee to “work in an S pattern, and wipe any excess water and dirt from the blade as you go.”
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3. 3
   Try a baking soda paste as an alternative. In a bowl or container, mix equal parts of baking soda and water. Stir the mixture until it becomes a paste, then dip a soft cloth into it and dab a small amount onto the scratch. Work the paste into the scratch using a circular motion and check periodically to see how the scratch is looking. Rinse off the paste with water, and repeat as necessary until the scratch is gone.

   • In general, you’ll only need about a spoonful each of baking soda and water.
   • It helps to wrap the cloth around your finger and press the cloth into the paste. This way, you’ll pick up a small amount of the paste.
4. 4
   Use liquid pumice soap if you have it. Liquid pumice soap is a heavy-duty hand cleaner with abrasive elements that can sometimes remove scratches from glass. Apply a small amount of soap to a soft, damp cloth, then rub it onto the scratched surface using circular motions. Rinse the glass with a clean, damp cloth to check your progress, and repeat as necessary.
5. 5
   Buff the scratch with steel wool. Choose a fine #0000 steel wool to buff away existing scratches without creating more. Rub the wool in a circular motion over the scratch for several minutes. Then, rinse the glass with water to remove any residue and see if the scratch is gone.

   • Make sure the steel wool is new, as worn or rusty pads may damage the glass further.
   • If the scratch remains after using the steel wool, it may be time to use a power tool or consider replacing the glass.
6. 6
   Try metal polish. Metal polish is designed to make metals brighter, but it’s also effective at removing scratches in glass. Dab a tiny amount of metal polish onto a clean, soft cloth, then rub the scratched glass in light, circular motions for about 30 seconds. The scratch should lessen or disappear entirely. Don’t add more polish, as using too much can damage the glass. Then, wash the remaining polish off with a clean, damp cloth.

   • Be sure to use the smallest amount of metal polish possible—just enough to visibly see it on the cloth.
   • Metal polish that contains cerium oxide works the quickest. Jeweler’s rouge is a more expensive polish option.
   • Metal polish is good for gently sanding large, delicate surfaces such as windshields.
   • If the scratches don’t come out easily, consider sanding the glass. Apply your polish to an orbital sander fitted with a soft cloth or buffing wheel on a cordless drill. Follow the sander’s instructions to properly polish and sand the glass.
   

   Polish away light scratches with metal cleaner. "I was staining my porch when I accidentally splattered the windows with drips. Those drips scratched up the glass something fierce! I tried buffing toothpaste on the problem spots, but that barely did anything. Then I recalled the tip here about using a little metal polish. I dabbed on some Brasso and rubbed gentle circles with a soft cloth. Lo and behold, those faint scratches came right out! That metal polish trick saved my windows." - Syd W.

   Smooth severe scratches through manual abrasion. "Some of those staining splatters on my porch windows left nasty deep gouges that toothpaste couldn't fix. But this article mentioned using a baking soda paste to basically sand scratches out manually. I gave it a shot with some 1500-grit sandpaper and water instead, rubbing damp circles over those deep scratches with lots of elbow grease. It took some time, but the scratches did fade. I finished up with a coat of car wax to make that window shine bright as new!" - Kaye W.

   Salvage a cherished childhood toy. "My little sister wailed when she noticed a big new scratch across her favorite stuffed lamb's plastic eye. She was heartbroken! On a whim, I got a soft cloth and dabbed some toothpaste on that scratch. I gently rubbed some tiny circles, and, just like magic, the scratch disappeared. My sister was so thrilled to get her fluffy friend back as good as new. I'm still shocked that such a simple little trick worked." - Jenna A.

   Remove stains without damaging glass. "As I was staining the porch, a few drips ran down and stained the glass panels. And those drips left some faint scratches, too! I was scared to make it worse, so I carefully used just a tiny bit of toothpaste on the trouble spots. That mild abrasive lifted both stains and scratches without harming the surrounding glass one bit. This method gave me confidence I could tackle the issue safely." - Andres S.

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7. 7
   Apply a glass polish. Choose a glass polish that contains cerium oxide—this often comes in the form of a powder that needs to be mixed with water. Then, apply the polish with a soft cloth or by placing it on a machine polisher, like a felt wheel on a rotary tool. Follow the instructions in the manual to use the machine correctly. Once the scratch is gone, clean the glass with a damp cloth and let it dry.

   • If you choose to use a rotary tool, place the polish on a felt wheel and run the tool on slow. If it dries out as you work, add more polisher as necessary.
   • Alternatively, purchase a glass scratch filler kit online or at your local automotive or hardware store. These kits typically come with a glass-polishing compound and special pads for application. Follow the kit’s instructions to polish the glass correctly.
8. 8
   Apply clear nail polish to hide scratches in glass. Use the nail polish applicator brush to apply a thin layer of polish to the entire scratched area. Let the nail polish dry for about an hour. Once it’s dry, lightly moisten a soft cloth with nail polish remover and wipe it across the surface to remove any excess nail polish outside of the scratch.
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Section 2 of 4:

How to Keep Your Glass Scratch-Free

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1. 1
   Clean and dry glass with soft cloths. Gholian says, “Never use paper towels, lint towels, or newspapers [to clean]. These leave marks and scratches behind and should be avoided at all costs.” Instead, opt for soft cleaning cloths, like microfiber cloths, to clean and dry your glass. These are also less likely to leave fibers behind after wiping.

   • Make sure your cleaning cloth is free of grit and dirt, as these substances can scratch glass.
   • When choosing a cleaner, make sure the product is labeled as “glass-safe” or “made for glass” to ensure they won’t damage the surface.
2. 2
   Don’t wash glass with hard water. Hard water contains high levels of minerals that can damage glass and other surfaces. If you have hard water, use another source (like bottled water) if possible when cleaning glass. This will protect the surface from unnecessary scratches and it will make the glass easier to clean, as hard water tends to leave a residue.
3. 3
   Avoid using hot or sharp objects near glass. This may sound obvious, but if you use sharp objects on glass surfaces, the glass is more likely to develop scratches. If you have glass table tops, avoid placing hot items like plates of cooking utensils directly on the table. Instead, use placemats, coasters, and cutting boards as needed.

   • It also helps to use a tablecloth or a table runner.
4. 4
   Keep children and pets away from glass. Children may scratch glass surfaces with toys and pets can scratch them with their claws. If you have children or pets, try to keep them away from glass surfaces as much as possible. Consider installing a baby gate for small children, and pet doors if your pet scratches at a glass door when they need to go out.
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Section 3 of 4:

When to Call a Professional

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1. Hire a professional if you can’t remove the scratches yourself. In some cases, scratches may be too deep in the glass to be removed with DIY methods. If you’ve already tried to repair the glass yourself and nothing seems to work, it may be time to hire a professional glass repair surface. They should be able to either get rid of the scratches or replace the glass altogether.

Section 4 of 4:

Removing Scratches from Glass FAQs

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1. 1
   How do you remove scratches from windshields? Remove scratches from your windshield with a windshield repair kit. Clean your windshield with soap and water to remove dust and dirt and to inspect the damage. Follow the repair kit’s instructions to repair the scratch—in many cases, you’ll apply a resin compound directly to the scratch, then let it dry by parking your car in direct sunlight.

   • Zani doesn’t recommend trying DIY methods like toothpaste on windshields: “There's a couple of different kinds of urban myths out there about toothpaste being used to restore headlights and different parts of the vehicle. I don't know any professional [or] semi-professional person that takes those things seriously.”
   • Instead, he recommends polishing the scratches out: “Glass can be polished like anything else. So, you know, you can start out and actually apply a compound or a polish to the glass.”
2. 2
   How do you remove scratches from phone screens? Repair your phone screen with a Magic Eraser. Lightly dampen the sponge and gently rub the scratches until they disappear. Alternatively, rubbing the surface with a pencil eraser can sometimes remove small scratches, as the eraser’s particles will fill them in.

   • While some people have had success with other DIY scratch removal methods, it’s generally best to avoid things like baking soda or toothpaste, as they’re too abrasive for phone screens.
   • Consider buying a screen protector to prevent future scratches.
3. 3
   How do you remove scratches from eyeglasses? In general, optometrists do not recommend attempting DIY methods to remove scratches from your glasses, as they often cause more damage. If you really want to attempt to remove the scratches yourself, first clean the lenses with a microfiber cloth. Then make a paste with equal parts baking soda and water and apply it to the scratch with a soft cloth. Rub the paste in with gentle, circular motions, then rinse the glasses with warm water, dry them, and repeat if necessary.

   • If the scratches are too deep, visit your optometrist to see if they can be fixed or if your lenses need to be replaced.
   • While DIY methods can sometimes remove scratches, they may also remove special coatings on your glasses, like UV or blue light blocking. Try them at your own risk.
4. 4
   How do you remove scratches from windows? In general, any of the DIY methods for removing scratches from glass can also be used on windows, including toothpaste, baking soda, nail polish, and metal polish. If the scratch is too deep or you’re having trouble removing it, however, it may be better to hire a professional to replace the glass.

   • These methods also work for surfaces like glass doors or glass tables.
5. 5
   How often should you remove scratches from glass? To keep your glass looking its best, try to get rid of scratches as soon as you notice them. It’s much easier to remove one or two scratches than to remove multiple. Removing scratches quickly can also help prevent them from becoming deeper or harder to get rid of.
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Expert Q&A

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• Question

  What are the things I should not use to clean glass?

  

  Jon Gholian
  Cleaning Specialist

  Jon Gholian is a Cleaning Specialist and the Founder of Cleany, a home and office cleaning concierge service based in New York City, New Jersey & Miami. Cleany specializes in providing quality cleaning and handyman services to all their customers. All Cleany employees are insured, bonded, and professionally trained. Cleany has been featured in the New York Times, Bravo & Redfin.

  

  Jon Gholian

  Cleaning Specialist

  Expert Answer

  Do not use paper towels, lint towels, or newspapers to clean glass. They leave marks and scratches behind.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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  Not Helpful 4 Helpful 7
• Question

  How can I clean glass without streaks?

  

  Jon Gholian
  Cleaning Specialist

  Jon Gholian is a Cleaning Specialist and the Founder of Cleany, a home and office cleaning concierge service based in New York City, New Jersey & Miami. Cleany specializes in providing quality cleaning and handyman services to all their customers. All Cleany employees are insured, bonded, and professionally trained. Cleany has been featured in the New York Times, Bravo & Redfin.

  

  Jon Gholian

  Cleaning Specialist

  Expert Answer

  You can use a squeegee and work in an S pattern. Wipe any excess water and dirt from the blade as you go. After that, wipe with a microfiber towel.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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• Question

  How can I remove scratches from the camera lens on my phone?

  

  Community Answer

  As a photographer for over 40 years, I would suggest not trying to remove scratches from a camera lens. You could damage it more and remove the coatings that are applied at the factory.

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  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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Tips

• When in doubt, consult the manufacturer or a professional glazier.
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• In some cases it may be helpful to have someone else hold the glass object for you as you attempt to repair it, to lessen the chances of dropping or breakage.
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• Glass that has been coated or has a film applied to it, including some eyeglasses, cannot be repaired with these methods. For those, you must remove the coating with a product such as Armour Etch, or consult a professional.
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Warnings

• Do not continuously scrub over any scratch spots. This will further damage the glass.
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• If your fingernail fits into the scratch, you should not try to fix it using these methods. Consult a professional to refinish or replace the glass.
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