How to Fix a Minor Scratch on Your Car
Minor scratches on your car sometimes lead to difficult decisions. Many times it takes less than the insurance deductible to repair them, but repairs can still cost several hundred dollars out of your pocket if you have your car repaired at a body shop. The easiest and least expensive way to fix a minor repair is to do it yourself. You can repair minor scratches in less than an hour using materials from local auto parts stores.
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Things You'll Need
- Car soap
- Sponge
- Water
- Automotive scratch remover
- Microfiber towel
- 800-grit sandpaper
- Touch-up paint
- Toothpick or paint brush
Instructions
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Wash your car with car soap and a soft sponge to remove any surface dirt or debris. Let the car dry completely and park it in the shade, out of direct sunlight.
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2
Feel the scratches with your fingernails to see how deep they go. If there is little depth, use the scratch remover to completely remove the scratches. Apply the remover to a microfiber cloth and rub it vigorously along and across the scratches. Repeat several times until the scratches are no longer visible.
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Fix deeper scratches with sandpaper and touch-up paint. Fold the sandpaper and sand along the deeper scratch to roughen the surface. Apply a small amount of touch-up paint with a toothpick or a hobby paint brush. Let the paint dry for 30 minutes. Apply a second coat and allow it to dry for four hours before handling the area.
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Tips & Warnings
Be aware of the area you are working on, remember that rubbing compound and polish are different and so treat your car differently. It is safer to use the product sparingly and add more than to use too much and make the area on your car worse.
