If you are a lover of pieces that take you back in time, you will be impressed by antique mirrors. By installing them in your home, you can bring in the aesthetics of the Victorian era. It's a great way to show off your taste and add elegance to your care station. Other advantages of an antique mirror in your room are increased brightness, airiness and illusion of space. In order to take advantage of the beautifully crafted mirrors, you should know how to maintain them.
It is especially not uncommon to find black spots on vintage mirrors. This shouldn't stop you from getting this outstanding piece at the flea market. Knowing how to deal with the stains can make a vintage mirror look as good as new.
Why dark spots appear on vintage mirrors
Here are some of the causes of the black spots on antique mirrors.
- humidity
Condensation may occur during shipping due to the change in temperature. Over time, the moisture that forms can contaminate the face of the mirror and cause black spots. Alternatively, it can destroy the back of the mirror and cause the silvering to decay.
As soon as this happens, black spots appear on the front of the mirror.
- Lack of ventilation
This usually happens in wet coastal areas with poor ventilation.
The silverback normally oxidizes and leads to the formation of black spots.
- Temperature changes
Storing the mirrors in locations without temperature control catalyzes the formation of black spots.
Note that extreme temperatures cause the mirror to expand and contract. This can destroy the silver background and lead to the formation of black spots.
- Chemicals
Chemicals are another cause of black spots on antique mirrors. These chemicals are typically found in detergents.
The other source of chemicals that cause black spots to form in body salts typically dissolve the back of the mirror, creating the black spots.
Solutions for dark spots on antique mirrors
Here are the solutions to remove black spots on antique mirrors.
- Silvering the mirror again
Keep in mind that the reason for black spots on mirrors is the removal of the silver support. One of the best solutions for black spots is to remove the existing silver layer and replace it with a new one. Once this is done, the black spots will disappear and the formation of other black spots will stop.
- Hide the black spots with aluminum foil
Sometimes the black spots escalate to a point where you can see through them. The solution to this is pretty simple. An aluminum foil can remove the unsightly spots. All you have to do is stick it on the back of the mirror.
If you look at the face, you will see neither the black spots nor the mirror. It will only be a reflection of the slide.
- Spray paint
Aluminum foil can be tedious, especially if you need to cover multiple areas. Mirror-like spray paint can serve the purpose of aluminum foil and even better. All you have to do is spray the entire back of the mirror and the black spots will be gone.
This is more effective and takes even less time.
- Paint around the edge of the frame
With most antique mirrors, the black spots form on the edge of the frame, where they connect to the mirror. This is because moisture is dripping to the sides and this is the part where the mirror is likely to come in contact with chemicals.
The stains can be hidden by painting the back of the frame.
How do I avoid further black spots?
When you're done, keep your antique mirror free from black spots. Next, you need to prevent more from forming. Here's what you need to do.
- Leave some space between that Wall and mirror
One of the causes of black spots is lack of ventilation. If you leave some space between the mirror and the wall, the air can circulate and the surface of the mirror will stay dry.
This prevents the silverback from oxidizing.
- Prevent cleaning agents from staying in contact with the mirror for too long
Do not leave the liquid detergents in for too long to avoid the formation of black spots by chemicals. Also, don't spray them directly in the mirror. Instead, spray the cleaner on a microfiber cloth and use it to clean the mirror. Ammonia cleaners also decompose the carrier: Please avoid them.
Moisture, temperature changes and chemicals can cause black spots on an antique mirror. To prevent this, keep your mirrors free of moisture and do not use detergents with aggressive chemicals such as ammonia. To remove black spots, you can re-silver the back of the mirror, use mirror-like spray paint on the back of the mirror, and paint the back of the frame.
