How to Remove Paint Scratches from a Car?
4 Answers
Methods for cleaning paint off a car are as follows: 1. Cleaning solvent-based paint: Immediately use a cloth or cotton ball dipped in gasoline, kerosene, or thinner to scrub, then wash with a detergent solution. If water-soluble paint (such as water-based paint or latex paint) or household interior wall coatings are involved, rinse with water promptly to remove. 2. Contaminated paint: If the contamination is recent and the substance has not yet hardened, use turpentine (or benzene, gasoline, etc.) to rub and wash. 3. Old stains (already hardened): First soak with a mixture of ether and turpentine (1:1). After the stain softens (about 10 minutes), scrub with gasoline or benzene, then rinse thoroughly with clean water.
Last time I got some blue paint from my neighbor's car on my bumper, I managed to fix it with just toothpaste. Use regular white toothpaste with fine particles, apply it with a damp cloth in small circular motions, and the stain will fade significantly in about five minutes. For larger areas, head to an auto parts store and get a clay bar for about ten bucks. Spray some car wash soap as a lubricant and roll the clay over the paint like kneading playdough. Remember, never use a steel wool pad to scrub—my coworker ended up with swirl marks that way. After cleaning, it's best to apply a coat of car wax, otherwise the clear coat in that area will be thinner and more prone to collecting dirt on rainy days. If you get dark paint like red on a light-colored car like white, don't wait more than three days to deal with it, or the stain might seep into the clear coat and become much harder to remove.
An old driver tells you a folk remedy: Essential Balm! It's truly a magic tool. Dip a cotton swab and apply it to the edges of the paint stain, wait two minutes for it to dissolve, then gently lift it with your fingernail. It works especially well on latex paint like that on parking lot walls, but if you encounter epoxy floor paint, you'll need to switch methods. It's recommended to keep a bottle of tar remover on hand—spray it on, and it instantly turns white and bubbles up. Don't wait for it to dry; immediately wipe it off with a microfiber cloth. Wear rubber gloves when handling this stuff, as it can harm your skin. If the car wrap gets stained, it's even simpler—just peel off the film and reapply it, which is much more cost-effective than dealing with the paint surface.
Don't rush to polish when your new car gets paint scratches, try alcohol wipes first. Last month, my car door got scratched by a delivery tricycle's red paint. I applied a 75% medical alcohol pad for three minutes, and the paint peeled off completely with just a light scrape of my fingernail. For nail polish-sized spots, even makeup remover oil works. Remember the principle: hard paint requires gentle wiping, soft paint needs firm wiping. Alkyd paint like that on bicycle lane railings is particularly brittle—spray it with freeze spray twice, then tap it with a plastic scraper to shatter it. Never follow online advice to use a hairdryer for heating, as high temperatures can yellow the car paint. After treatment, check with your fingertip—no raised feeling means it's completely clean.
