Scratches on your paintwork can vary from large noticeable marks to fine imperfections, which are hard to spot and reduce the shine and appearance of your car’s exterior. Thankfully, there are ways you can remove scratches from your car without paying over the odds at a body shop or claiming on your insurance. At Simoniz, we have advice and products which can help. Take a look at our guide on how to remove scratches from a car.
Removing Fine Scratches
If the scratches are very fine and superficial, you can use a quality polish to remove them. Simoniz Scratch and Swirl Remover will remove light scratches, swirl marks and areas of oxidation, whilst restoring the colour of the paint. The product is guaranteed to help restore all paint finishes, so you can be confident of using it on your car no matter its age, condition, or specification.
To use Simoniz Scratch and Swirl Remover, start by washing your car with a good-quality shampoo, using the two-bucket-wash method to reduce the risk of further scratches or abrasion. Then, dry the car thoroughly with a couple of microfiber cloths. When you’re confident the car is completely dry, use another microfiber cloth to apply the polish. This should be done using small, circular motions, to buff away imperfections and produce a nice, even finish.
After applying the polish, check the paintwork to see if the scratches have been removed. If they haven’t, apply a little more polish directly on the affected area, using circular movements for a smooth finish. We’d then recommend giving the car a coat of wax to seal the finish and provide protection to the paintwork for longer, mitigating the risk of further swirl marks and imperfections.
For more tips and guidance on polishing and waxing your car to remove small scratches, swirl marks and areas of abrasion, download our free ultimate car cleaning guide.
Removing Deeper Scratches and Abrasions
If the scratches are deeper and more prominent (you can feel them with your fingernail), it might be necessary to fill the scratches and respray the area with quality vehicle paint. This might sound like a job best left to the professionals, but with the right tools and products, and a little guidance from us, you can remove large scratches and imperfections from your car’s paintwork by filling and respraying the affected area.
Here, we provide a step-by-step guide to removing scratches from a car.
- Step 1: Wash and dry the paintwork, ensuring the affected area is free from dust and dirt. It’s better to clean and dry the whole car, so you can avoid getting any grit in the fresh paintwork.
- Step 2: Use 2000 grit sandpaper to rub down the affected area. You need to remove small flecks of paint and bring the area back to bare metal, so the paint will properly adhere to the surface. We’d recommend sanding an inch further around the scratch, for better paint blending.
- Step 3: Use a high build primer to fill the scratch. This spray formula is guaranteed to cover light scratches and surface imperfections, creating a super smooth finish that’s ideal for painting. Wait a few hours for this to dry thoroughly.
- Step 4: Once the primer has set and dried, use the paint to re-cover the area, spraying in a smooth motion around 20cm away from the surface.