Buzz
Car body scratches can occur for a variety of reasons. Common causes include traffic accidents, vandalism, careless parking, or incidents in parking lots. These scratches can impact the car's appearance, but repainting the car or even touching up small areas can be costly. You can polish light scratches with toothpaste, use a scratch treatment product for minor scratches, or sand and repaint if the scratches are deep.
Steps
Use toothpaste for surface-level scratches
Gently run your fingernail over the scratch to assess its depth. If your nail doesn't catch in the scratch, it is a minor surface scratch, and toothpaste is the appropriate solution. If your nail gets caught, the scratch is likely deep, and you will need to use a specialized scratch treatment product.
Clean and dry the scratched area. Before applying toothpaste to the scratch, ensure the area is thoroughly clean. Rubbing dirt into the scratch can worsen the situation.
- You can take your car to a car wash or wash it yourself.
- To wash the car, spray water over the entire car to remove most of the dirt. Then, use a large sponge or brush to apply specialized soap to the car. Apply soap all over the car body and rinse it off with water. Dry the car with a clean towel.
Apply a coin-sized amount of toothpaste onto a damp microfiber cloth. Wet a microfiber cloth just enough to make it damp. Then, squeeze a coin-sized amount of toothpaste onto the cloth, adjusting the amount depending on the size of the scratch.
- Whitening toothpaste is most effective, but you can try any toothpaste you have available.
- Ensure you're using a soft, clean microfiber cloth to avoid causing more scratches.
Rub the toothpaste into the scratched area in circular motions. Gently rub the cloth in small circular motions to polish the scratched area. Continue polishing until the toothpaste is evenly spread across the surface.
- You should apply some pressure, but avoid rubbing too hard.
Rinse off the excess toothpaste. Once you've polished the area, rinse it with water to remove any remaining toothpaste. Use a water spray to rinse the car and dry it with a microfiber cloth.
- You can also use a wet cloth to wipe off the leftover toothpaste.
Repeat the process 2 more times. You may need to apply toothpaste more than once to completely remove the scratch. Check the area to see if the scratch is still visible, and repeat the process 1 or 2 more times if necessary.
- Do not polish with toothpaste more than 3 times to avoid damaging the car's paint coating.
Use a scratch treatment product for minor scratches
Wash the car to remove dirt from the scratch area. It's important to ensure the scratched area is completely clean before applying any product or polishing it. Polishing over dirt can cause additional scratches.
- Use a water spray to rinse the car before applying soap. Then, use a sponge or car wash brush to apply soap to the scratched area. Rinse with water and dry with a microfiber cloth. Remember to use specialized car wash soap.
Purchase a scratch treatment product. You can find scratch treatment products at auto supply stores or online. These products are usually sold in sets, which include a scratch treatment solution and a polishing pad for applying the solution.
- If you're unsure which scratch treatment product to buy, ask the salesperson for advice. Staff at auto supply stores usually have knowledge of their products.
- A microfiber cloth is often a good choice for applying the scratch treatment as it provides gentle friction on the car's surface.
- Some products come with polishing tools you can use to remove scratches.
Chad Zani
Car Care Expert
Car Care Expert
Scratch repair pens are the best option for treating light scratches on the car's inner coating. However, if the scratch is too deep or goes through the paint layer, you'll need to take your car to a repair shop.
Squeeze the scratch treatment solution onto a polishing pad in a coin-sized amount. You may need more or less depending on the size of the scratch. Squeeze the solution onto the pad or a microfiber cloth and fold it in half to evenly distribute the product into the cloth.
- Make sure the solution is evenly spread on the pad or cloth before starting.
Apply the product to the scratch and surrounding area. You can apply the product in circular motions or back-and-forth movements. Do whichever feels easier and allows you to cover the scratch effectively, but don't switch directions! Stick to moving back and forth or in circles. Continue applying the product to the scratch for a few minutes until it’s evenly distributed.
- When applying the product, use light to moderate pressure.
Wipe off any excess product. After polishing the scratched area, use a microfiber cloth to remove any leftover product. Polish the treated area using circular motions.
- Do not allow the excess product to dry on the car’s surface.
- Check the manufacturer’s instructions to see how to properly remove any excess product.
Repeat the process 2 to 3 times if needed. Check if the scratch is still visible. If the scratch remains, you can repeat the process 2-3 times. Be cautious not to overdo it to avoid damaging the car’s inner coating.
- Consult the manufacturer’s instructions before applying another layer.
Use paint to cover deep scratches
Wash and dry the car completely. If the car is still dirty while you’re repairing the scratch, dust and dirt can cause additional scratches. Make sure to thoroughly wash the car to remove all dust and sand. You should spray water on the scratched area several times to ensure it's fully cleaned.
- Pay close attention to the area that needs repair. Spray water on the spot to remove any dirt from the scratch. Then, clean the scratch with car-specific soap and rinse off the soap with water.
Sand the scratched area to remove the outer layers of paint. Wrap 2000-grit wet/dry sandpaper around a sanding tool (the tool with a handle that holds the sandpaper) and start sanding the scratch. Sand for 10-15 seconds at a time, then check to see if further sanding is necessary.
- Always sand in the direction of the scratch. You don't want to create additional scratches or expand the area that needs repair, right?
- Rinse the scratched area to see how the sanding is progressing. You need to rinse to check if you’ve sanded down to the bottom of the scratch.
- If the scratch is deeper than the surface layer, use 1500-grit sandpaper to flatten the area, then use 2000-grit sandpaper to smooth out any rough edges left by the coarser paper.
- Avoid getting dust or sand between the sandpaper and the car. It will cause even more scratches.
Rinse and dry the scratched area. Spray water to remove fine particles created by the sanding process. Then, use a microfiber cloth to dry the surface.
- Avoid using old or dirty cloths for wiping as they will cause additional scratches on the surface.
Spray a few layers of primer onto the sanded area. Pour the sanding primer into a spray can. Spray the primer onto the area you just sanded. Spray in a smooth motion. Wait 5-10 minutes for the primer to dry, then apply a second coat. In total, you will apply 3 coats.
- Choose a primer color that closely matches your car’s paint color. The primer doesn't have to be an exact match, but the topcoat should match closely.
Spray a few coats of paint that matches your car’s color. Next, spray the main paint that matches your car’s color onto the primed area. Wait 5-10 minutes between coats for the paint to dry completely.
- To ensure the new paint matches your car's color, ask the car manufacturer for the paint code. You can purchase the paint from an auto parts store or order it from the manufacturer.
Apply wax to the area to seal the newly sprayed paint. Use high-quality carnauba wax to cover the car’s surface, then buff it using a polishing pad or a soft microfiber cloth. You can purchase a wax kit, which includes everything you need to wax your car, such as the wax itself and a polishing pad or microfiber cloth.
- Take a coin-sized amount of wax on the polishing pad or cloth, or more if necessary.
- Buff the wax into the surface in circular motions with moderate pressure.
- Continue buffing until the wax is evenly spread and the car’s surface shines.
Tip
- Polishing powder can be used to fix scratches in the car’s paint. Search online for more information on how to use this powder effectively.
Warning
- If the scratch on the car is too deep or extensive, consider taking the car to a professional repair shop. Auto repair shops have specialized techniques to restore the car’s surface to a smooth, shiny finish.
Items You'll Need
Use toothpaste for scratches on the surface.
- Soap
- Water hose
- Sponge
- Microfiber cloth
- Toothpaste
Use scratch repair products for minor scratches.
- Soap
- Water hose
- Sponge
- Microfiber cloth (for drying the car)
- Scratch repair kit
- Polishing pad or microfiber cloth
Use paint to cover deep scratches
- Soap
- Water hose
- Sponge
- Microfiber cloth (for drying the car)
- 1500- and 2000-grit sandpaper
- Sanding tool
- Sander machine
- Sandable primer
- Main paint matching the car’s original color
- Car polish wax
