How to remove scratches from any plastic: useful tips

Many positive features of plastic can be significantly spoiled by the only drawback: this material is easy to scratch. Luckily, there are simple ways to remove scratches from plastic without leaving a trace. Let's figure out how to remove scuffs from plastic products, returning them to their former beauty.

Types of scratches on plastic inside a car

During operation, damage will certainly occur in the interior of the car. They are left behind by bags, items being transported, parts of passengers' clothing, heels, etc. These cosmetic defects, of course, do not interfere with the use of the car, but they spoil the impression. In addition, scratched parts are grounds for reducing the price when selling a used car.

All scratches can be divided into three categories, differing in appearance and origin:

• Consequences of plastic aging under the influence of solar ultraviolet radiation. In those places where the sun's rays fall on polymer parts, the material begins to change its structure.These areas appear lighter in color and may have a different texture to the touch.
• Scratches from objects without sharp edges. These can be buckles from bags, buttons and decorative elements on clothes, etc. When they come into daily contact with interior trim parts, these objects leave small marks resembling threads of a cobweb.
• Traces from contact with sharp objects. Such scratches are caused by tools, large cargo, metal products, etc. carried in the cabin. Such damage looks like a deep cut. If you carefully examine the inner surface, you can see layers of polymer. In addition, some of the plastic will stick out, forming burrs.

The deeper the damage, the more difficult it is to remove. Determining the nature of the damage will help you choose the right strategy to correct things.

Removing scratches from the dashboard with a hairdryer

The first method is based on the thermoplasticity of plastic - the ability to soften when heated, healing damage. This method will allow you to remove a web of small scratches from the torpedo. It is better to take a hair dryer, but you can also use a household device.

The procedure looks like this:

1. We wash off dirt from the surface of the panel and thoroughly degrease it. The fact is that a film of fat prevents uniform heating.
2. Warm up the plastic with a hairdryer. Set the temperature regulator to 300°C.
   

   Don't bring the hair dryer too close! When directing the stream to the scratch, do not stay in one place for a long time. If you overheat the plastic, untidy stains will appear on the surface, which will be difficult to get rid of.

3. The heated surface is left for 20 minutes. During this time, the softened polymer will heal minor defects.

The method will not work on deep scratches. But it copes quite effectively with minor damage.

Removing scratches from the instrument panel with polishing agents

Panel polishes differ in composition from pastes used on the outside of the body to smooth out the paintwork. They have a different composition and use softer abrasives. Good results are obtained by leveling the plastic with MOTUL E8 Scratch Remover, Liqui Moly Scratch Eliminator, Sonax.

For work, take a grinding machine, a drill attachment or an angle grinder. Work is carried out in a place protected from sunlight. The plastic of the instrument panel must be in a cold state. The work algorithm looks like this:

1. Remove all dirt from the surface and dry thoroughly.
2. Apply polish to the area.
3. Wait a few minutes until the paste dries to a dry coating.
4. Polish the surface until all the paste turns into fine dust.

All that remains is to wipe off the remaining polish with a soft flannel. The method is effective against shallow scratches and areas lightened by ultraviolet radiation.

We remove damage to the exterior plastic of the car

External car parts made of plastic are also susceptible to ultraviolet radiation and mechanical damage. Therefore, they also have to be polished periodically. In general, the procedure is similar to the options described above (heating with a hairdryer, polishing with special compounds). But there are several nuances:

• External parts usually get more dirty and covered with grease films. It is worth paying more attention to cleaning them.
• The best results are achieved if the part can be removed. In this case, you can remove it from the sun, give the polymer time to properly cool and stabilize.

A specific task when polishing external surfaces is to remove the effects of mechanical damage from transparent plastic. These are headlight and turn signal covers.

How to remove scratches from transparent plastic?

During operation, the surface of the transparent headlight cover gradually becomes covered with a network of small scratches or becomes cloudy. The cause of such damage is a suspension of sand and dust flying towards when moving. Pebbles thrown by the wheels of a moving car can leave more serious marks.

blockquote>Transparent plastic is especially demanding in terms of polishing quality. When viewed against the light, all surface defects will be especially noticeable.

Several compounds can be used to polish transparent plastics:

• Regular toothpaste works well for minor damage. This is a cheap and accessible product, but the polishing effect will not last long.
• Composition for polishing jewelry made of precious metals. It can be purchased at a jewelry store. A small portion of the composition is applied to the damaged area, and then polished with a microfiber cloth.
• A mixture of Vaseline and wood polish ensures a gentle leveling of the surface. Polishing is not completed until traces of Vaseline have completely disappeared.
• A good result is achieved by using paste to remove scratches from laser discs. This composition can be found in computer parts stores.

Knowing how to polish transparent plastic will be useful not only for motorists. For example, this method can remove cobwebs of traces from glasses, watch glass, container walls and other household items.

We remove deep scratches on the plastic of household appliances and furniture

A deep scratch can ruin the appearance of a plastic window sill, furniture, household appliances or other item. Polishing in this case will not give significant results, because it is necessary to remove a lot of material to level the surface. Therefore, methods are used to mask the scratch or seal it with putty, followed by sanding.

Repairing a scratch on a plastic tabletop

To remove a scratch on a countertop, first of all, remove burrs from the surface. Sandpaper grade “00” or “0” will help to do this. It’s not scary that traces of abrasive particles will remain on the surface: it will still have to be polished.

When the edges of the cut are aligned, you need to fill the void with a mass of suitable texture. It is best to purchase Displex paste from a hardware store. It contains plastic particles and fills damage well.

The operating procedure looks like this:

1. The surface is cleaned of dust remaining after removing the burr.
2. A little paste is applied to the scratch.
3. Taking a piece of flannel or a cotton pad, rub the paste in a circular motion. In 2 minutes the composition should fill the cut.

After processing, you need to wait a few minutes, allowing the composition to harden. If after the first treatment the scratch does not disappear, you need to reapply the product 1-3 times.

You can make your own scratch filling mixture. It is enough to dissolve a piece of the same plastic in white spirit.

Removing damage from the plastic of the phone

You constantly have to put the gadget in your pocket and take it out again. During use, the phone's body quickly becomes covered with a network of scratches. To polish the case, you need soft abrasives:

• talc powder for children;
• powder for cleaning teeth;
• baking soda.

The abrasive is diluted with a few drops of water so that the paste has the concentration of thick sour cream. The composition is applied to a cotton pad and gently rubbed into the scratch. Remains of the polishing compound are removed with a clean cotton pad.

When polishing plastic, there is no need to rush. The time and effort invested will pay off handsomely - because your things will look like new!