How to Remove Scratches From a Car

It’s inevitable: at some point in our lives, our cars may acquire scratches caused by small accidents. But these unsightly nicks are usually quite fixable. 5-Minute Crafts has 2 methods to help you get rid of this kind of damage and give your car some shine.

Method 1: toothpaste

Step 1

Wash your car and clean it very well. If you’re working on a small area, you can just clean that part.

Step 2

Take a smooth cloth and dump some water on it. Then put some toothpaste on it.

Step 3

Gently rub the toothpaste into the affected area in a small circular motion. You will start to see the first scratches disappear.

Step 4

If you notice you have some deeper scratches that won’t go away, start applying more pressure until it works. Once you remove what can be taken off, stop immediately so you don’t remove your car’s clear coat.

Note: Make sure to keep the cloth damp and reapply toothpaste when needed.

Step 5

If you notice that there are some scratches that the toothpaste won’t fix, you can fill them with touch-up paint, then use toothpaste to polish it.

Note: The toothpaste method works for car headlights as well, you just need to skip this fifth step.

Method 2: paint and wax

Step 1

Wash and dry the car well to remove all the debris and dirt.

Step 2

Sand the scratched area. Use 2000-grit sandpaper, and do it for about 10 to 15 seconds.

Note: Make sure there is no dirt between the car and the sandpaper so you don’t scratch the car even more. If needed, rinse the area off with water to check the progress.

Step 3

Rinse away any dirt or debris that was left during the sanding process and clean it with a microfiber cloth.

Step 4

Spray some primer coat in the affected area in a back and forth motion. Wait for 5 to 10 minutes until this first layer dries. Then you can apply a second layer.

Note: If possible, use a primer that’s closest to your car’s color.

Step 5

Once the primer coat is set, you can start applying layers of paint that match your car’s color. Do it a few times if needed. Wait for 5 to 10 minutes between each application.

Step 6

Take a microfiber cloth or a buffer pad to apply carnauba wax onto the car’s surface. Start buffing the area. Do this in a circular motion while pressing down on the microfiber cloth or buffer pad. Wax until the car’s surface looks shiny.