How to Get Rid of a Car Scratch
You bought your new car ... er, well, maybe not exactly new. It runs well, has a not-bad interior, low mileage and it's cost was reasonable. But there are a few scratches on the exterior from carelessness and plain old day-to-day wear-and-tear. Fortunately, you can remove many car scratches yourself without the expense of the repair shop.
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Things You'll Need
- Soapy water
- Rags
- Shoe polish (white if the car is dark, black if the car is light-colored)
- 2000-grit sandpaper
- Clean cold water
- Liquid dish detergent
- Auto rubbing compound
- Terry cloth
- Chamois cloth
- Clearcoat
- Automobile wax
Instructions
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1
Look at the depth of the scratch. Typically, a car has a clearcoat on top, followed by a color coat, a primer coat and then the metal. If the color still remains where the car has been scratched, you should be able to repair the scratch without having to paint the entire panel.
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2
Use soapy water and a rag to wash the scratched area carefully. Let it dry. Apply the shoe polish into the scratched area to prevent sanding down into the next layer.
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3
Use the 2000-grit sandpaper to very gently sand the scratched area until the shoe polish has been sanded away around the scratch. Add two or three drops of liquid dish detergent to the clean, cold water. Dip the sandpaper in the water and carefully begin to sand the scratch at 60 degree angles. Continue to dip and sand. Let the area dry.
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4
Apply the auto rubbing compound to the scratched area. Using circular motions, buff the area with a terry cloth to restore shine. Use the chamois cloth to further remove any of the auto rubbing compound.
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Tips & Warnings
If there's color in the water used for the sandpaper, you've sanded into the paint coat. Spray clearcoat onto the scratched area to prevent further damage. Seal your repair job with a car wax.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit eiskratzer image by Ewe Degiampietro from Fotolia.com
