Is Toothpaste Harmful to Car Paint?
2 Answers
Toothpaste is harmful to car paint. The methods for maintaining car paint are: 1. Remove dust from the car body in a timely manner to minimize the adsorption of dust by static electricity on the body; 2. Rinse off rain stains with clean water as soon as possible after rain to avoid damaging the paint surface; 3. Do not wash the car under direct sunlight or high temperatures; 4. Use clean and soft cloths or sponges when wiping the car to prevent mixing in metal shavings and sand particles, which can leave scratches; 5. Remove highly corrosive stains promptly to keep the paint surface clean and aesthetically pleasing. Solutions for corroded car paint include: 1. Using polishing wax; 2. Sanding the paint film in the cracked area and repainting after exposing a complete surface.
I've always been fascinated by car maintenance and learned a lesson from using toothpaste to treat paint scratches. Back then, I saw online suggestions that toothpaste could polish out scratches, so I tried applying it to a minor scratch. While the scratch did fade slightly, the paint surface became less smooth and developed fine abrasion marks. Later, when consulting a repair shop, the technician explained that toothpaste contains abrasive particles like calcium carbonate or silica, which can wear down the clear coat of the paint, reducing its glossiness. Long-term use might even make the paint more prone to dust accumulation and oxidation. Now, I've switched to professional scratch repair compounds and regularly apply wax for protection. Car paint is delicate, consisting of primer, base coat, and clear coat—damage to the clear coat affects both appearance and longevity. For scratches, always assess the severity first; minor ones can be treated with gentle care products, and avoid cutting corners by using household items casually.
