Bathrooms are moisture-prone, high-traffic zones. Mirrors can suffer as a result.

Water and cleaning supplies can seep beneath your vanity mirror and wear away the silver backing. This damage is called “desilvering” and it’s what causes those familiar jagged, blackened edges on a mirror.

Keep reading to find out how to fix mirror desilvering.

How does mirror desilvering happen?

Mirrors are coated on one side with a reflective compound, followed by a coat of paint. This gives the mirror its reflective quality. Even with these protective layers, moisture and cleaning products can seep underneath the glass, especially if a mirror is right above the sink.

Water leads to oxidation, and oxidation causes desilvering—those ugly black marks around the edges of a mirror.

Should I replace a desilvered mirror?

Desilvering makes mirrors look dated and dingy, detracting from the whole space. If your bathroom mirror is desilvering, your first instinct might be to just replace it. But this could be a bigger project than you think.

While many plate-glass bathroom mirrors are attached to the wall with clips, some are glued to the wall. If you’re not extremely careful during the removal process (and even if you are) the mirror can shatter, leaving behind a big mess. Not to mention the potential for injury. 

How to repair mirror desilvering

There’s a better way to fix a desilvered mirror. Cover up those black edges with a MirrorMate frame.

Our patented mirror frames are the only one of their kind with a recess in the back to fit over clips that hold a mirror to the wall. It’s an innovative solution that makes it easy to cover mirror edge desilvering, saving you time and money.

Whether you’re flipping a house or freshening up your main bath, MirrorMate is the perfect solution to this common problem.

3 Reasons to Reframe Your Mirror

You can extend the life of your bathroom mirror for years by reframing it. Here are three reasons to salvage your mirror.

1: It’s cost-effective.

Reframing a desilvered mirror is a quick and budget-friendly solution. With MirrorMate’s self-adhesive frames, you can cover up desilvered edges and give your mirror a fresh new look in minutes—with no special tools or skills required.

2: It’s easy.

Removing a plate glass mirror is a hassle. And it can create a big mess if the mirror breaks during removal. Then there’s the spackling and repainting of the wall. Before you know it, you might have a big project on your hands.

Avoid the hassle by retaining your mirror and simply covering up desilvered edges with a MirrorMate frame. Our kits arrive with everything you need to install your new frame. Assembly is a breeze, and the frame sticks directly to the mirror. It’s that easy!

3: It’s eco-friendly.

More than 7 million tons of glass end up in U.S. landfills each year, and glass melting to make mirrors is an incredibly energy intensive process.

Reframing your mirror keeps waste out of the landfill and saves energy. And you’ll have a beautifully framed mirror for years to come!

Find Your Perfect MirrorMate Frame

MirrorMate offers dozens of mirror frame styles, from coastal to farmhouse to industrial. Our innovative frames are custom cut to your mirror’s exact dimensions. Note: When selecting a frame for your desilvered mirror, be sure to factor in the area you want to cover up as the frames can vary in width from slim to over 3” in width.

MirrorMate frames work on any square or rectangular mirror. The frame adheres directly to the mirror surface with professional-grade 3M tape designed to withstand moisture in the bath. It’s the best solution to fixing a desilvered mirror!

Shop the entire store to find your perfect frame.