Best Ways to Remove Scratches from Your Car

Those black rubber bumper guards can easily leave a mark if any part of your car rubs against it but generally leaves a black soft mark. Any other black-colored rubber or plastic-based object can do the same thing and not a lot of force is needed to do it. And if it is only a rubber/plastic-based object will not leave any real damage to your paint job just the topcoat. So, the mark left is a raised one deposited on your vehicle's top coat and not actually embedded into the paint job (scratched). So that is definitely a mark and though it may look like it's easy to get off with just some 'elbow grease' and a harsh cleanser (like Comet) I wouldn't try it! Auto factories now paint vehicles with several coats then do a last and final 'top coat' (or in some cases called a clear coat-highly popular as it gives your vehicle a shiny, like new finish) good for many car washes and waxes. But the topcoat is very thin and not conducive to removal by household cleaners.

If you find a deep scratch it was produced by something harder (fingernails, keys, pens, car door, etc) sharper and where more force was exerted. This leads to scratches that takes off some of your paint and may go down below the clear coat or primer but leaving the metal undamaged (the latter is called a gouge).

If so, where there is still color at the bottom of the scratch, there is still the possibility of removing it with a bit of sanding, buffing or waxing by someone expert or professional in that field. So, varying from marks to scratches to gouges you may want to learn what you can do about them if it ever happens to your car.

There are several avenues you can take depending on the depth of the scratch or mark. Any good body or paint shop can repair it but it may not be cheap. So, it would be better, in the long run, for you to become aware of other options out there that you can easily do yourself.

If it is one of the rubber or plastic-based soft scratch or marks, it may only be a matter of using an adhesive remover. Tougher marks should be removed with a bit of acetone or a lacquer thinner (from any auto parts store or auto section of a drug or grocery store) using a chamois or soft rag, or by using a rubbing or polishing compound to get out the tenacious mark.

First the area should be cleaned with soap and water, and then you should carefully spread some of the rubbing compound (or polish) in a circular motion on the mark until it disappears. Once it disappears then finish by using a clean cloth to remove all traces of the rubbing compound or polish. You should then seal the surface with a proper car wax that can be applied by hand.

Now, if the damage is a scratch (of even or jagged depth) you should see how far below the surface of the paint or the primer that it goes. Some scratches are of different depths and will have to be treated accordingly. If so you can do what you can or just leave it to the experts. Late model vehicles usually have a clear coat over the colored layers of paint providing a much shinier finish. If the damage is limited to the clear coat (or topcoat) then it can be buffed or sanded but (if doing this yourself), you must be very careful and not go too deep into the color layers. So, if the scratch goes into the primer or base coat you'll have no choice. Keep in mind that you are not really removing a scratch so to speak but buffing it down to match the level of the scratch without sanding too far down.

Now if any of this sounds too complicated (or time consuming) there are other more advanced and expedient options out there for the DIY person. Men and women alike can use these products rather then sanding, buffing or waxing. Of course, always check with your consumer agency or BBB first. And, keep in mind, you can 'google' the company name followed by a comma and the word 'scam' to find any internet complaints.