How to Remove a Mirror from a Dresser: Your 3 options

Mirrors are a great way to dress up any room. They can be used for decoration, mirroring your reflection, or as a mirror in which you apply makeup and get dressed.

When it comes time to remove the mirror from your dresser, there are many ways you can do it.

But how do you remove a mirror when you no longer want it on your dresser?

There are a few different ways to remove a dresser mirror. The most common way is to disassemble the mirror and dresser, as they usually come attached in some fashion. Other ways to remove a mirror from a dresser include prying the mirror off and using a heat gun to unstick the mirror. 

In this article, we will go over three different methods of mirror removal that will work on most dressers. Read on to learn the step-by-step process of removing a mirror from your dresser. 

Removing A Mirror from A Dresser

Removing mirrors from dressers is not as hard as one might think. And there are three different methods that most people use to remove a mirror from their dressers.

However, it is worth making some notes on the type of dresser you own. 

The following is a list of questions you should consider when choosing a method to remove a dresser mirror:

• How is the mirror attached to the dresser? – If there are screws that can easily be removed, you are in for an easy removal process. If there is glue involved, it is a bit trickier but still doable.
• What kind of dresser do you own? – Dressers come in all shapes and sizes, and the same can be said for mirrors. A tall dresser with a short mirror on top may be more difficult to lay down to remove the mirror unless you empty it first. A tall dresser can be more difficult to maneuver around if you need to get a step ladder to reach the mirror easily. 
• Is the mirror framed? – Some dresser mirrors will come framed and screwed into the dresser. Other mirrors may need to be removed from the frame, especially if the frame does not easily detach from the dresser. 

In all, once you consider the type of dresser you have and your needs for tools, you can choose a removal method that works best for you!

You’ll need:

• A wire longer than the mirror
• Crowbar
• Drop cloth, cardboard, or old sheets for an easy cleanup
• Heat gun or hairdryer (Heat gun is recommended)
• Masking tape and painter’s tape
• Shims

(All products above are paid links to Amazon)

You may also want a container for disposing of leftover adhesive residue from the mirror removal project. Make sure you don gloves and safety glasses to avoid any injuries. 

Pro Tip: It is a good idea to ask a friend for help. It is difficult to support a mirror as it is coming off the wood while using the tools to remove it. 

Try Prying Out the Mirror

A mirror can be removed by prying the mirror from the dresser.

This method works best when there are a lot of screws holding the mirror in place and you have access to its backside.

If this method does not work for your dresser, then move on to one of our other methods.

Use the following outline of steps to pry your mirror off your dresser:

• Lay the dresser down, so the mirror is lying on the floor. This may not be feasible for taller dressers. If this is the case, use a spotter to help you keep the mirror from crashing to the floor when it is separated from the dresser. 
• Use cardboard or a drop cloth under the dresser and mirror in the area where you will remove the mirror from the dresser so that the floor is protected.
• Tape the mirror so you do not end up with shards everywhere if an accident happens. 
• Place shims, if necessary, around the mirror so you can easily insert a pry bar. 
• Pry gently with the back of a hammer or a pry bar until the mirror pops loose from the furniture backing

This method may damage your mirror. Therefore, it is best to use this method when you are not attached to the mirror, simply want it to be removed, and do not care if the mirror cracks. 

This method is not for all dresser types, as some dressers may not have the space for you to get enough leverage to safely pry the mirror away from the dresser. 

Disassemble the Dresser to Remove Your Mirror

The second method for removing a mirror from a dresser is to disassemble the mirror from the dresser. It only requires a few steps.

And these steps may need to be modified if you do not have access to the screws or nails that connect the mirror to the dresser. 

You can use the following steps to remove your mirror from a dresser:

• Make sure you have all of your tools ready before starting to work on the mirror.
• Use a screwdriver or drill to remove any mounting brackets from the mirror or dresser.
• If there are no visible screws to remove the mirror, you may need to snip the screws with wire cutters. 

Additionally, if the mirror is only attached with glue, then your best bet would be to pry the mirror from the dresser.

Or you may want to use a heat gun to soften the glue and make the mirror easy to remove and separate from the dresser. 

Use A Heat Gun To Remove the Mirror From Your Dresser

The third way you can remove a mirror from a dresser is by using a heat gun. If your dresser’s mirror is glued down to the dresser, the easiest way to remove the mirror is with a heat gun. 

The heat gun will heat the glue, and the mirror will loosen. At that point, you should be able to peel or pop it off. 

If, however, the mirror is secured with screws or clips of some kind, then they need to be removed first before removing the mirror with a heat gun.

The dresser mirror, in this case, was screwed onto its wooden frame, so we needed to remove those screws first from both sides of the mirror before using the heat gun.

Get the heat gun’s nozzle as close as possible for about thirty seconds.

Make sure you avoid touching any other surface other than the mirror itself. 

After that time has passed, carefully start peeling at each side of the mirror while applying light pressure away from your current work area until all edges are free.

If there’s adhesive left on either side after you’ve finished removing the mirror, use a flat paint scraper, gently scrape off the leftover glue.

More on how to remove a mirror glued on wood.

In Summary: Remove Your Dresser Mirror Simply and Easily

There are a few different ways in which you can remove a mirror from your dresser. You can try to pry the mirror out of the dresser frame. 

You can disassemble the dresser and mirror. Use tin snips or wire cutters to cut mounting screws at the bottom edge of the mirror bracket and remove mirror glass from the frame.

Or, you can also try using a heat gun to melt the glue and remove the mirror that way. No matter which process you use to remove your dresser mirror, one of these methods should be perfect for you!

Read about removing mirrors from a wardrobe door here.