Originally published in AAHOA Lodging Business, October 2007

Mirror Maintenance

How to select and maintain beautiful mirrors in your hotel.
By Florence Segal

Pictured above is an example of an unframed vanity mirror. By using a specialty frame, such as the Royal Oak frame by Mirredge (pictured below), you can cover up the mirror edges for a framed look while hiding any unsightly, or potentially dangerous, damage to the edge of the mirror.

Mirrors are commonly used for decoration and to enhance lighting in a room or hallway. You will generally find at least one mirror in a hotel’s guestroom, which is located in the bathroom above the vanity, but, depending on the hotel, you may even find a full length mirror placed on a wall or the back of a door and/or a mirror above the desk in the workspace area. It is not uncommon to find unframed mirrors adhered to the wall above the vanity in the bathroom.

Mirror Thickness

Most mirrors are manufactured to a thickness of 1/8 inches, 3/16 inches, or 1/4 inches.

To obtain the best quality of true undistorted reflections, always use 1/4 inch thick mirrors. Using mirrors with thicknesses less than 1/4 inches, particularly when affixed to a wall, will most certainly provide a distorted image because most walls are not perfectly flat. Additionally, as the adhesive (that holds the mirror to the wall) dries out, it tends to draw the mirror towards the wall surface distorting the mirror even further. Therefore, it is recommended to use a mirror with a 1/4 inch thickness.

Supporting the Base of the Mirror

If you choose to use an unframed mirror in your guestroom, then remember to support the bottom of the mirror with mechanically fastened wall retainers or have the mirror sit on an appropriate rigid element that will support the base of the mirror.

Mirror Mounting

There are two time-proven techniques for mounting a mirror: brackets and adhesion. With brackets, you have four or more metal units that clip onto the mirror and screw into the wall. The bracket method is popular because it's fast, easy to clean and reversible if you change your mind.

Using an adhesion technique simply means that you are applying a strong commercial grade adhesive to the back of the mirror. When you place the mirror against the wall, it will firmly stick, or adhere, to its surface. Adhesion works best for small applications or jobs; however, it is a more permanent procedure and thus will require professional expertise to remove the mirror from the wall with minimum damage to the wall. Small repairs to the wall may also be necessary if a mirror is removed. When installing mirrors in your guestroom, you should consult a professional because you need to make sure that the mirror will properly adhere to the surface and that the mounting method that you chose will not give way in the future.

To hold a frameless mirror system in a vertical position, use either mechanically fastened wall retainer clips, which you would use at the top of the mirror or use a special petroleum-based mirror adhesive, which you would apply to the wall. The mirror is then placed onto a cushioned base and then pressed into the multiple applications of this slow drying adhesive. The pressure creates a suction vacuum, which will hold the mirror into an acceptable vertical position without the need to apply clips at the top of the mirror.  However, for security purposes, it is recommended that retaining clips be utilized at the top of mirrors. We recommend the metal Z-type clips.

Toxic Chemicals in Mirrors

Toxic chemicals in your mirror create the mirroring process or reflection. These toxic chemicals include, silver nitrate that is used for the reflective surface, red lead protective coatings, and a painted seal coat used on the backing. While on the wall, these substances are contained and not harmful. When mirrors are broken or disposed of, then these toxic substances are released into the landfills.

After years of use, edges of a mirror may become worn or chipped. In years past, you might have opted to replace your old mirrors, but now with the use of modern techniques, you do not have to break or throw out your old mirrors, you can simply adhere a specialty frame over top of the mirror to cover up the damage while protecting your guests from sharp and jagged chipped mirror edges.

Scratched Mirrors

If your mirror is scratched, try this do-it-yourself tip before calling a service professional: Rub a little toothpaste into the scratch. (Normally gel-type pastes are not as effective as regular pastes.) Then polish the mirror with a soft cloth to minimize the look of the scratch.

Cleaning Mirrors

It is best to clean mirrors with a cleaner that does not contain ammonia. If you are not sure of the cleaner’s ingredients, then spray a rag with cleaner, being careful not to get the liquid near the edge of mirror because cleaning agents with ammonia can cause mirror deterioration. Another reason that your mirror is deteriorating is that the backing was not initially sealed properly and over time moisture has seaped between the mirror and the wall. I recommend that you stop using ammonia-based cleaners on your mirrors because ammonia will get behind the mirror glass and oxidize the mirror’s silver finish. If you must use an ammonia-based cleaner, always spray in the middle of the mirror and avoid getting the edges wet with the cleaner.

Keeping mirrors fresh and attractive for your customers is very important because it is the first thing they will look at when entering your guestroom’s bathroom area.

Florence Segal is the vice president of Millennium International Development Corp. She can be contacted at (800) 757-2990 or via e-mail at mirredge@aol.com.


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