How to remove scratches from car plastic

Even the most careful driver will not be able to avoid scratches on the plastic parts of the car.

You can ignore them or try to return damaged items to normal.

For information on how and by what means to remove minor scratches and deep scratches from plastic inside and outside the car, read the article.

How to remove minor scuffs on a car?

There are several ways to remove scratches from plastic car parts. They are polished, ground or heated. If you spend a little time, then even multiple defects can be dealt with on your own.

Polish

Plastic polishes are special formulations based on silicones. As auxiliary additives are used:

• polymers,
• wax,
• antistatic,
• fragrances,
• humidifiers

You can buy enamel in the form of:

• pasta,
• spray,
• soap,
• fluid.

The most convenient to use are spray polishes. In them, silicones are replaced by surfactants and aliphatic carbons.

The use of polishes allows you to solve 2 tasks at once: restore the surface and protect the plastic from environmental factors - it fades less.

You can also buy compositions with antistatic and water-repellent effect. Each manufacturer provides instructions for their product, which may vary.

The universal algorithm of actions is as follows:

1. The surface is prepared, dust and other contaminants are removed, and then dried.
2. Holding the can at a distance of 20 cm from the product, spray evenly. This method is suitable for getting rid of surface scratches.
3. If the damage is deep, choose gel polish. It is pressed against the plastic and left for a while. When the paste changes color, start polishing.
4. Clean the surface with a sponge or soft cloth. Often such material is supplied with polishing.

If the first time it was not possible to completely restore the surface, the enamel is applied again. At the end of the treatment, the product residues are washed off with clean water.

Wax

Wax is a popular polish that drivers have been using for quite some time now. Unlike classic wax, the modern product contains auxiliary components that allow better masking of existing defects.

Application Mode:

• wash and dry the treated area;
• soak a soft cloth in polishing wax and apply it to the plastic in a circular motion;
• wait for the composition to dry, when white spots appear on the surface, they are removed with a clean, dry cloth.

The wax is easy to use. It has a thick consistency and adheres well to the surface.

Household or building hair dryer

A hair dryer is often used to remove scratches from plastic. Helps to cope with deep shortcomings. To ensure that the parts are not damaged during processing, it is necessary to strictly follow the instructions.

Process:

1. Degrease the area, remove all contaminants from it.
2. The hair dryer in the case is turned on by adjusting the temperature in the range of 200-400 degrees.
3. Plug the device into the network and start warming up the defects.
4. The hair dryer should move smoothly from side to side all the time. You can't keep your hand in one place. If the plastic is overheated, it will deform.
5. After a short warm-up, the parts should be allowed to cool. Do not try to achieve the result from the first approach.
6. The heating procedure is repeated after 10 minutes.

Until the plastic has cooled down, it should not be touched by hands or any tools. The soft material is very flexible, it will instantly absorb all impressions. As a result, instead of getting rid of scratches, the output will have an indented structure.

When working with a building hair dryer, the following points should be considered:

• If you overheat a piece, it will change color. This is not very noticeable on black plastic, but gray or light-colored products will suffer significantly.
• It is impossible to achieve a specific effect of hot air on scratches. It will always hit nearby parts. When overheated, they deform and lose their functionality. For example, plastic buttons may stop working.
• If a pattern is applied to the plastic, it may change.
• The tissue surrounding the plastic is often fired. Use duct tape to protect it.

Do not bring the hair dryer too close to the surface. The general recommendation is 20 cm, however, plastic parts differ in their structure and composition, so the space can be increased or decreased in the process of work.

Sometimes you can come across a recommendation to use a household hair dryer to combat scratches on the plastic of a car. However, this method is ineffective, since it does not allow reaching the desired temperature. At a distance of 5-10 cm, it will heat the plastic up to 70 degrees.

If you press the closure, you can achieve an increase in temperature up to 120 degrees (not for all models). With such indicators, success tends to zero.

Firstly, the heating is too weak, and secondly, it is simply inconvenient to work with a hairdryer pressed against the panel. The only thing that can be achieved in this way is to burn the piece, causing the color to fade.

What if the damage is deep?

If the scratches are very deep, it will not work to cope with them with the listed methods and means. You will have to change the damaged part or resort to cardinal methods for solving the problem, which include:

1. Car painting. The composition takes on the tone of a plastic part. The paint is carefully applied with a thin brush on a clean, fat-free surface. When the scratch is filled, it is covered with a layer of clear varnish, and then a gloss or matte varnish is applied. Before painting, the surface of the scratch must be leveled. If it is not smooth, the paint will not adhere well.
2. Use a vinyl sheet that is spread over the damaged surface and heated with a hair dryer. This method allows you to mask even deep flaws. However, over time, the film will become unusable and will need to be replaced.
3. Drag the detail with leather. If you do not have the skills to work with this material, you will have to contact specialists. Such a service will be expensive, but the leather panel looks stylish and modern.

Before deciding on one of the cardinal methods of dealing with deep scratches, you need to calculate what is more profitable financially. Sometimes it is easier to replace a part with a new one than to try to restore it.

Features of surface treatment outside and inside the car

To process parts located inside the cabin, you can not use polishes and abrasive compounds intended for car body care. They contain particles that can change the structure of the product and impair its appearance.

It is always more convenient to work outside than inside, as it is possible to get full access for high-quality polishing or heating.

Details located in the cabin are made of softer plastic, often shiny. Therefore, they can only be polished with soft, non-abrasive materials.

Plastic bumpers and body panels are made primarily from thermoplastic alloyed with propylene or fiberglass. This ensures its durability, so abrasive sanding tips are used to remove scratches, which will be detrimental to interior plastics.

Helpful information

Tips for Removing Scratches from Automotive Plastic:

• when using clarifiers, you need to take care of the access of fresh air to the room - inhaling an excess amount of even the safest clarifiers will lead to dizziness and deterioration of well-being;
• before proceeding with the processing of a part that is in a conspicuous place, you need to test the selected method on an unnecessary plastic product;
• when using glaze, it is necessary to correctly calculate the amount of product; its excess will negatively affect the quality of the work performed;
• you need to apply the part treatment agent on a rag, and not on the plastic itself.

A lot of useful and important information about the ways and means of removing scratches on a car can be found here.

Video related to the article

How to remove scratches without painting the bumper will tell the video:

Conclusion

Getting rid of scratches on the plastic of the car is easy. They can be polished or smoothed with a hairdryer. These methods do not require significant financial investments. If the damage is significant, the parts are masked with coloring compounds, vinyl or leather.