This blog tackles another common question that comes through via my social media direct messages – patterns and how to get them off of the glass. 

Now some people criticise me for removing patterns – I have never been a fan of them, especially when using flamboyant wallpapers to line the back. I want people to see the print at the back, not some dated, fussy pattern causing a distraction! 

The techniques required to remove patterns depend on how the pattern has been applied so I will share with you two different approaches that I use… 

This is the most common type of pattern I remove I remove from glass cabinet. Typically the pattern will be painted onto the inside of the cabinet doors. Scratching the pattern with your fingernail will often cleanly remove it – that’s how you know you are working with a painted pattern. 

• Glass scraper blades 
• Glass cleaner 
• Kitchen towel 
• Face mask 

Make sure the cabinet is steady and take your glass scraper blade and gently scrape the pattern off the glass. Keep the angle low so you are not digging it into the glass, but instead sliding it against the glass and pattern. I recommend wearing a facemask just in case the paint you are removing contains any nasty chemicals. 

Place some newspaper under the area you are working so that as you scrape the pattern off, the dust and debris land there and not on your floor. Once you have removed all the patterns, dispose of the waste and then give the glass a really good clean using your glass cleaner. 

Job done! 

I've created a reel on Instagram which you can view by clicking here.

I have only done this once. Partly because I have given cabinets with mirrored patterns a wide berth in the past and because the process is a little more fussy (but doable). 

• Glass scraper blade 
• Glass cleaner 
• Kitchen towel 
• Face mask 
• Acid resistant gloves 
• Wire wool (0000)
• Brick cleaner 

As before, make sure the cabinet is steady and prepare the area by placing suitable material under the cabinet to catch any drips. The brick cleaner is acid so something like a glass dish will work well. 

I start by using my glass scraper to get off as much of the pattern as I can. Mirrored patterns typically leave a halo/ghost outline on the glass after scraping but that’s fine. 

Wearing appropriate acid-resistant gloves and a facemask decant a very small amount of brick cleaner into a glass dish and dip a small piece of your 0000-grade wire wool into the cleaner. 

Next, gently rub the glass to remove any remnants of the mirror and clean it with plenty of water to neutralise it.  

Finally, give the glass a really good clean using your glass cleaner and you’re done! 

Here’s a reel I shared on Instagram showing the process from a while back - click here to view it.  

I hope you found this blog helpful! This approach has always worked well for me, and I hope it works for you too. Please do tag me on social media or use the hashtag #percyandalbertinteriors so I can see how you do!

Until next time, be sure to sign up to our mailing list so that you can keep up to date with Percy and Albert Interiors - you can subscribe by clicking here.

See you soon!

Paul