How To Dispose Of A Large Mirror (Safely & Easily!)
Large mirrors are a great way to accentuate a room or make a room appear larger than it is. Mirrors can be found in any room of the house and can help to brighten a space. Unfortunately, when it comes time to renovate and change a space, removing a large mirror and disposing of it can be quite challenging. Large mirrors are clumsy, cumbersome, and very breakable.
To dispose of a large, whole mirror, it is best first to tape the mirror to prevent breaking the glass and then wrap the mirror in protective bubble wrap until the trash collection team can pick up the mirror for proper disposal. Broken mirrors should be carefully placed in a thick, contractor-style trash bag and labeled clearly as broken glass for the trash collection team to gather on trash day. Unfortunately, even though mirrors are made of glass, a mirror cannot be recycled.
Disposing of a mirror properly only requires some basic tools and minimal DIY know-how. Be sure to use thick tape, such as packing tape or masking tape, to stick to the mirror’s surface to prevent the mirror from shattering. Properly securing and wrapping your mirror when ready for disposal can not only keep you safe but can help keep your trash collection crew safe also. If you have a very large mirror, consider asking a friend for help to help manage the heavy weight.
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What Tools Do I Need To Dispose of a Mirror?
Disposing of a large mirror can be tricky, but you can make light work of disposing of a large mirror with the right tools. To properly dispose of a large mirror, you will need:
- Duct Tape (or thick packing tape)
- Paper
- Marker
- Bubble wrap or an old, padded blanket
- Thick work gloves and safety glasses
- Trash Bag
How Can I Dispose of a Whole Mirror?
Disposing of a whole, intact mirror is very different from disposing of a broken mirror. Once the mirror has been successfully removed from the wall, follow the steps below to remove a whole mirror:
Step 1: X Marks The Spot
Using your tape, place a large “X” across the mirror. Make sure you make an “X” out of tape on both the front and the back of the mirror. While the tape may not prevent the mirror from breaking, it will prevent the mirror from shattering and splintering into several tiny pieces. This critical step helps to keep you better protected.
Step 2: Wrap The Mirror
To protect your mirror from possibly breaking and shattering, you must wrap and protect the mirror. You can use bubble wrap or an old blanket. Remember that the mirror will be disposed of, along with the material you use to wrap the mirror. Only use an old blanket that you don’t mind getting rid of with the mirror!
Step 3: Mark the Package
Using the marker, write “Mirror,” “Fragile,” or “Glass” on a piece of paper and affix the paper to the mirror package. You want to be sure to notify the waste collector that there is a potentially breakable piece of glass wrapped in the package. Plus, different waste services will dispose of the mirror in different ways, so alerting them to what the package contains can help them dispose of the mirror properly.
Step 4: Carry To The Trash
Be sure to carry your mirror out to your trash the night before trash collection. You want to leave the mirror next to your trash can and never in the trash can. Have your paper sign facing outward, so your trash collector can visibly see that the mirror is present.
How Can I Get a Large Mirror Off the wall?
Large mirrors can be anywhere in the home but are common in the bathroom and living areas. Sometimes, a mirror is simply glued to the wall rather than hung in a decorative frame. With the right tools, you can safely remove a large mirror from the wall. To remove a mirror, follow these steps:
Step 1: Protect Against Breaking
Just in case your mirror breaks while you are in the process of removing it, you want to make sure you keep yourself protected. Using thick tape, like packing tape or masking tape, cover the mirror’s entire front surface. This step will prevent the mirror from splintering or shattering if the mirror breaks.
Step 2: Wooden Shims
Gently insert angled, wooden shims into the gap between the mirror and the wall. Sometimes you may have to gently use a small pry bar to insert the shim initially.
Step 3: Pry Bar
Choose an area opposite your inserted shim. Position another shim into the gap between the wall and the mirror to protect the wall. Position the pry bar between the shim and the back of the mirror. Gently begin working the pry bar around the mirror and further toward the mirror’s center to remove the glue backing holding the large mirror in place.
This project is a great project for at least two people. Make sure you have a person holding the mirror’s weight in the event you pop the mirror loose with one of your pry bar attempts.
How Can You Dispose of a Broken Mirror?
Unfortunately, sometimes no matter how careful you are, mirrors will break when you remove them from the wall. To properly dispose of a broken mirror, you must follow the steps below.
Step 1: Safety First
Glass is extremely sharp and can easily puncture the skin. Always make sure to dress safely when working with broken glass. Wear thick work gloves if you are handling pieces of broken mirror, and be sure to wear long sleeves to keep your arms protected.
Step 2: Trash Bag
Carefully pick up the pieces of the broken mirror and place the mirror in a trash bag. Using a thick contractor-style trash bag can prevent sharp corners from tearing through the trash bag. Never overload a trash bag and make it too heavy. Only put a few pieces of the broken mirror into a single bag.
Step 3: Contact Your Trash Collector
Different trash collection companies will have different policies when it comes to disposing of broken glass. Call your local company and ask what the proper policy is. Some companies are okay to have the broken glass in a trash bag, while other companies want the trash bag with the broken glass safely confined to a cardboard box.
Step 4: Label Your Trash
Make sure to take a piece of paper with “Broken Glass” written on it in very large and clear handwriting. Tape the paper to the trash bag to alert your trash collector that there is dangerous material in the trash bag. Be sure to put the broken mirror out with the trash the morning of your trash collection, so the collection crew can take your mirror.
Can Mirrors Be Recycled?
While glass is a commonly recycled material, unfortunately, mirrors cannot be recycled. This practice is because a mirror is a mix of materials, including a glass front with a silvered backing. Both whole and broken mirrors must be disposed of properly in the trash. Never place a whole mirror or pieces of a broken mirror in a recycling bin with the trash.
If you do not want to waste an intact mirror, consider upcycling your mirror and repurposing the large mirror for another room of your house. There are plenty of fun, creative, and easy craft projects that can transform an unwanted mirror into an entirely new and functional piece.
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Related Questions
Are Large Mirrors Expensive to Replace?
Large mirrors can be quite expensive and can be costly to replace. Usually, what makes a large mirror pricey is the cost of the frame surrounding the mirror. Extremely detailed wood frames will cost more money and often run thousands of dollars depending on the type of material used for the structure and the overall size.Large mirrors that do not include a wood frame but are just left with exposed edges are usually much cheaper. You can purchase a large mirror for about $200 to replace a mirror in the bathroom. Of course, before installing any new mirror or fixture, be sure to use the correct hanging mechanisms to ensure the heavy mirror is firmly affixed to the wall.
Can Old Mirrors Be Restored?
Restoring a mirror is a great way to preserve an antique mirror or a mirror that has sentimental value to your family. Restoring a mirror to bring back the original reflective properties and luster is an easy process that can be completed as a DIY project. To restore a mirror, you will want to complete a re-slivering process.To resilver a mirror, you need to remove the original silver backing on the mirror. Then, reapply new silver in very thin layers to the back of the glass. Creating a smooth and polished silver layer to the back of the mirror will make a restored, beautiful antique mirror.
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