A scratched car can be a real pain. It can also be expensive, especially if you take your vehicle to a body shop for repair.
The good news is that there are several things you can do at home to fix scratches on your car. These methods won’t eliminate a scratch, but they will help reduce and make it less noticeable. Here are some of the most popular methods:
Toothpaste contains mild abrasives that are good at polishing out scratches in the clear coat of your car’s paint job. You need to apply a small amount of toothpaste directly to the scratch and rub it with a soft cloth or sponge until the scratch disappears. This method works best if the scrape is shallow and not too deep into the transparent coat layer of your car’s paint job. If it is more profound, you will probably have better luck using one of the other methods listed below instead.
Baking soda is an effective polishing compound for removing minor scratches from automotive finishes because it contains mild abrasives like toothpaste. The only difference is that baking soda has no waxes or oils so it won’t leave behind a shiny finish. Instead, it will leave your car’s paint job matte and dull because you are removing some transparent coat layers from its surface. This can be a problem if you want to use baking soda as an alternative method for polishing out scratches because it may not suit your needs.
When you’re trying to fix a scratch, it’s tempting to sand down the area until it’s smooth. However, this can worsen things because it creates more damage that must be fixed later. Instead of using sandpaper or other abrasive materials, use wax and grease remover, so you don’t over-reach when selecting your car’s finish.
Scratches happen. They are an unfortunate part of owning a car. But you can take some simple steps to repair them before they worsen. The first is don’t over-reach. If you have a scratch on your bumper, don’t try and sand out the whole thing as if it was a dent. The more sanded surface area, the more likely you will create new scratches or worsen existing ones. If you’re unsure what size area has been affected, take photos of the affected area before starting any repairs so that you can judge how much work needs doing by looking at them afterward.
If you’re working on your car, lay down a drop cloth first so that paint chips can fall onto it instead of the ground. The last thing you want is the paint chips from your repair job to get mixed in with other scratches in your car’s finish.
If you’re looking to take care of some minor scratches in your paint, these tips should help. Use the right products for the job only when necessary, as overuse can do more harm than good.