Removing Car Scratches: The Revenge of the Frugal Body Shop

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After the unexpected popularity of my previous post on dents, I thought it would be good to follow up with perhaps an even more annoying and prevalent form of car damage — scratches. We all get them, they really look awful and I have been on the hunt finding new and old techniques for removal.

Once again, I can't vouch for the success of all of these as I have only tried a couple. And as always, the type of scratch and model/make of car will also vary the result you get. But they're always worth a try. Here we go...

1. Super glue, aluminum foil, grease wax and paint scrapings

OK, I admit it. I'm way too scared to try this one as I have a 6-month-old Civic and don't want to make my scratch look any worse. Plus, I don't think this one works with clear coat. But if you have an older model car and want to try it out, be my guest. (See also: 6 Slick Tools to Save Money on Car Repairs)

2. Rubbing compound and wax

Sorry, no video for this one but I got this from a mechanic and it's solid advice for minor scratches. I trust it 100%.

• Apply a polishing compound with the MILDEST abrasive to a damp sponge.
• Use a circular motion and buff the area until the scratches have gone. NOTE: Practice first on an unseen part of the car, maybe in the trunk.
• Wash the area completely with your usual wash-and-wax cleaner.
• Apply wax (liquid wax works best) to a sponge and buff the area, again in a circular motion.
• Using a soft towel, buff the wax away. The minor scratches should be history.

3. Car touch-up paint and rubbing compound

A similar version to No. 2, but for slightly deeper scratches. The full account with photographs can be found here but the basic principle is this:

• Apply a layer of touch-up paint over the scratch.
• Remove excess with a sharp piece of plastic, after it has dried.
• Using an abrasive polish and a soft cloth (or buffing machine) begin buffing
• When all of the paint is removed, wash, wax and buff as usual. Not perfect, but a lot better than before.

4. Toothpaste?

Nope. Sorry, doesn't work. It didn't work on my CDs either. Another busted technique is Colored Car Wax, which will only mask the scratch for a while but it soon wears off. Of course, you can always splurge a little and buy a scratch/swirl remover. I found some good ones at Autogeek. Or better yet, just buy a complete rubber bra for the whole car! (By the way, that last one's not really my advice...I mean, c'mon...that's going a little overboard, yes?)

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