Many large mirrors are glued onto the wall for safety reasons.
Replacing an outdated mirror is an easy way to update a room, but many mirrors are adhered to walls for stability and safety reasons. Removing a mirror glued to the wall might seem like a daunting task, but you should be able to accomplish it with just a few common household items, a helper or two and a some patience. Keep in mind that removing mirrors can be hazardous work, so be sure that you take every precaution during the removal process. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Prepare to remove the mirror. Lay an old sheet or a tarp beneath the mirror to catch any glass shards that might fall. Cover the entire surface of the mirror with duct tape to prevent glass from going everywhere if the mirror breaks. Remove any clips holding your mirror to the wall.
2. Make a thin homemade saw. Cut a piece of dental floss, picture hanging wire, piano wire or cloth fishing line so that it measures 2 to 3 feet longer than the mirror's total width.
3. Dress yourself in protective clothing. Wear thick gloves, long pants, heavy-duty footwear and a long-sleeved shirt to protect yourself from glass shards. Put on a pair of goggles or other eye protection gear.
4. Heat your mirror to soften the glue. Set a high-wattage hair dryer to the hottest temperature. Slowly go back and forth over the front of the mirror so that you evenly heat the glass. Have a helper hold onto the mirror so that it doesn't fall if it comes loose.
5. Pry the edges of the mirror with a flexible putty knife. This loosens any glue on the corners and edges of the mirror. Have your helper hold onto the mirror so that it doesn't fall if it comes free from the wall.
6. Slip your homemade saw behind the mirror. You hold one end and your helper holds the other. Starting at one of the top corners of the mirror, pull the saw back and forth through any glue until the mirror comes off of the wall. Have a second helper positioned in front of the mirror so that it doesn't fall when it comes loose.
7. Clean up the mirror removal mess. Place large glass shards directly into a trashcan. Pick up the sheet or tarp at the edges and pour any glass into the trash. Sweep the floor with a broom to get up any loose pieces of glass and then vacuum the area to remove all tiny bits of glass dust.
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