What are the methods to deal with car scratches?
4 Answers
Methods to deal with car scratches include: 1. Repair by sanding with sandpaper—clean and dry the scratched area, then gently rub the scratched area with water-dampened sandpaper; 2. Repair with chilled cola—pour cola onto a cloth and repeatedly wipe the scratched area; 3. Repair with essential balm—apply a small amount of essential balm onto a cloth and repeatedly wipe the scratched area; 4. Repair with toothpaste—clean the scratch with a cloth, squeeze toothpaste onto a damp towel or soft sponge, and wipe the scratch up and down; 5. Repair with nail polish—apply a layer of nail polish to the scratch to prevent rusting.
As the car owner, I find scratches quite annoying and have dealt with them several times myself. For light scratches, it's no big deal – just use some toothpaste or polishing wax during car washing, and they'll fade immediately. For deeper ones that expose the primer, I first buy a touch-up pen to apply, which works okay but not as well as professional shops. If you can't be bothered, just drive to a repair shop for a paint job – it's more expensive but hassle-free. I recommend assessing the scratch depth before handling it, to avoid making things worse. Park carefully, keeping away from trees or walls, and waxing after washing can help prevent scratches. In short, handle minor scratches yourself, but leave deeper ones to the experts to save trouble.
I often see scratches on cars. Light scratches usually only affect the clear coat and can be fixed with a polishing machine or manual sanding without damaging the base. Deep scratches that reach the metal layer require repainting to prevent rust. I recommend car owners first clean the scratch with a soft cloth and apply a scratch repair product. If that doesn't work, take it to a shop immediately. Avoid using hard objects to scrape, as this could worsen the problem. Be mindful of parking in high-temperature environments, as scratches in rainy areas are prone to corrosion and rust. Regularly inspect the car's paint condition—keeping it clean greatly helps extend its lifespan, saving money and ensuring safety.
Dealing with scratches depends on your budget. I've had experience buying a bottle of repair solution for just over ten bucks, applying it to fix shallow scratches—easy and cheap. But deep scratches are much tougher; DIY repairs look poor, and spending a few hundred at a paint shop is more cost-effective, especially for metal surfaces. Leaving them untreated risks rust, which complicates things and lowers resale value. I always assess the scratch location: door handles or bumpers, I handle myself; obvious large scratches get professional attention fast—don’t skimp on this cost. Prevention is key: avoid dusty driving conditions, wash and wax regularly to save on long-term repair costs.
