We remove scratches from the plastic surface. How to remove scratches from car plastic

14.09.2016

How to remove a scratch on the plastic of a car?

Even slight damage to the trim elements give the interior a sloppy, neglected look. This is especially true for the front panel, as it is constantly in front of the eyes.

In many cases, you can eliminate scratches on the plastic of a car interior on your own, using special techniques and restoration materials.

Types of damage to plastic surfaces

The most common defect is small scratches on the plastic of the car interior. They usually form in a multitude, as a result of which a kind of "web" is formed on the surface. It makes it worse appearance finishes, but damage of this type easy to disguise or completely eliminate with the help of specially designed tools. Such repairs can be done independently, it takes a minimum of time.

More deep defects usually happen due to the negligence of passengers or the driver, as well as due to annoying accidents, childish pranks, as a result of the transportation of animals (traces of teeth and claws remain), etc. this case elimination of damage is carried out using more complex techniques.

Another common defect is the deformation or fading of polymer surfaces under the influence of sunlight. In combination with roughness and other mechanical damage this has an extremely negative effect on the appearance of the interior.

Removing scratches on plastic with a hair dryer

The method is well suited for dealing with small and "spider" damage. To do this, it is not necessary to have a powerful building hair dryer - an ordinary household appliance will suffice.

In this case, it is not difficult to eliminate damage. The principle is to heat the relevant areas: in this case, the defects either completely “tighten” on their own, or are greatly reduced and become almost invisible.

Before removing scratches from the plastic of a car, you should thoroughly wash the surfaces to be treated using effective detergents. This is necessary to remove dirt from damaged areas (otherwise it will prevent tightening). After the surface has dried, you need to turn on the hair dryer at low power and send a stream of heated air to the area to be treated.

Monitor status while working plastic surface. In the absence of the desired effect, increase the power of the device and reduce the distance between it and the panel.

Elimination of damage with a lighter

This method is in many ways similar to using a hair dryer. With the difference that in this case the effect on defects is carried out with the help of open fire. To get rid of scratches on the plastic of the car, bring a lighter to the appropriate place and draw the flame several times along the damaged fragment.

After exposure to a flame on a plastic surface, do not touch it until it has completely cooled down. To remove soot, you can use cotton wool or a soft cloth soaked in alcohol.


Polishing

This is one of the simplest and safest methods for restoring plastic surfaces. It is based on the use of special polishes. It should be remembered that the use of products intended for the treatment of paintwork is unacceptable in this case - due to their specific structure, they can damage the pliable and soft polymer surface. In addition, the method cannot be used for corrugated materials.

To remove scratches on the plastic of the car, it can be polished both manually and with the help of special grinding equipment. However, the spindle speed when processing polymeric surfaces should be minimal. AT general case The damage elimination algorithm looks like this:

  • thorough cleaning of the surfaces to be polished. It is important to free them from old and stubborn dirt;
  • drying and subsequent cooling of surfaces;
  • application abrasive paste(this is conveniently done with a small piece of foam rubber). After that, it must be left for about five minutes to gain working condition;
  • polishing the surface until the complete disappearance of the applied agent.

The process is completed by removing the dust formed during the processing and thoroughly washing the restored fragments.

You can eliminate scratches on the plastic of the car using a special pencil. This is one of the simpler methods. You can implement it yourself. The only downside is that markers and other restorative agents of this type have a relatively high price. On the other hand, one pencil is enough for repeated use.

It is a special bottle, inside of which there is a special composition for eliminating scratches on the plastic of the car interior. When applied this tool on the damaged fragment, the recess is filled, as a result of which the defect disappears.

An important condition for a successful repair is right choice color and shade of the restorative composition.


Overhaul of plastic surfaces

This method is the most complex and time-consuming, since it consists of several stages and involves the preliminary dismantling of damaged trim elements.

After removing the panel, it is cleaned and washed using appropriate compounds. Next, grinding is performed (provided that the surface is not corrugated).

The next step in the fight against scratches on the plastic of a car is the application of a primer. When choosing a composition, pay attention to the fact that it does not react with polymeric materials. Paint is applied to the primed and dried surface, after which the panel can be coated with a special varnish.

The interest of drivers in solving the problem of how to remove scratches on the interior plastic is natural and easily explained. Many people have to spend a lot of time in a car, even if they only drive to and from work: just remember the scourge modern movement- plugs and toffees.

It is clearly more pleasant and comfortable to be in a well-groomed and tidy cabin than in a shabby and sloppy one. This is especially true of the torpedo: it is always in front of your eyes, and damage to the plastic begins to irritate and spoil the mood. In addition, if the scratches are deep and not healed in time, the edges will diverge, lengthening and expanding the defect.

As a result, over time, you will have to drag the affected element - if the owner does not agree to drive in a car that looks like abandoned ruins from the inside. And hauling will cost much more than repairing minor damage, even if you do it yourself.

How to remove scratches on the interior plastic, there are many ways, both official and developed by experimental motorists. Which one to apply depends on the scale of what happened.

Types of plastic damage

Conventionally, they can be divided into 3 types:

  • small scratches. Most often, they form a whole web, since they arise in places that are constantly exposed to the same type of influences. It will be easiest to deal with them, despite their abundance;
  • Deep scratches or cuts. They can show up anywhere, as they are the result of rough physical contact with something sharp, but most often appear on door linings as a result of loading a bulky item. You can remove them, although in more complex ways than defects in group 1;
  • Combination of damage types 1 and 2 with the effects of ultraviolet radiation. Burns out naturally dashboard. In combination with even small scratches, the look is terrible and cannot be removed with home remedies.
Difficulty in removing defects can create a surface type. If the plastic trim in your car is textured, a smoothed spot will remain at the work site. But with smooth plastic, you can achieve almost perfect condition.

Temperature method

Smoothes even scratches with fairly sharp edges. A household hair dryer can be borrowed from a wife or daughter; it is undesirable to use construction materials - you can also melt a hole. The lighter, in principle, will also work, but the heating will be uneven, and you will spend unreasonably much time.

  • The repaired area is washed and dried;
  • The hair dryer turns on at a minimum and goes to the defect. It is not necessary to keep at one point - drive along the damage not quickly, but not too slowly.
The main thing after the repair is not to touch the restored surface, otherwise you will ruin the repair with your fingerprints.

Polishing

The method was sent to second place only because it requires investments: you need to buy a restoring polish. When buying, do not make a mistake and do not purchase an abrasive for coatings- plastic can warp from it.

  • The surface is again cleaned with water and detergent and dried - the dirt that has accumulated in the defects will not allow them to drag on well;
  • Paste with a soft washcloth for dishes or foam rubber is applied to the damage;
  • The time indicated on the package is expected - usually about 5 minutes. The signal for readiness for polishing will be the formation of a whitish coating;
  • It is better to polish manually: there are not so many plastic surfaces in the cabin, and the strong heating of the grinder can damage them beyond repair.
Polishing is carried out until the complete disappearance of the abrasive. From time to time it is necessary to brush off the resulting dust, and after completion of work - gently wash the surface.

Pencil way: Even more expensive than the previous one, as scratch masking markers are expensive. But they allow you to restore the plastic very quickly and eliminate even fairly deep defects. Color matching can be a problem if your overlays are of a non-standard shade - markers come in only 8 tones.

Working with them is extremely simple: the corresponding end of the pencil is drawn along the scratch, filling it with the mass inside, and then gently polished to compare the seal with the edges.

global recovery

If the defects are deep and there are a lot of them, you will have to do a major overhaul. The affected element is removed from the passenger compartment according to the manufacturer's instructions. Cleaning, washing, drying is carried out - as in all previous cases. The overlay is polished over the entire surface to smoothness - naturally, if it is not corrugated. You can use the finest grit sandpaper.

If there are too deep wounds that cannot be sanded, they are sealed with putty. Next, the element is treated with an aerosol primer designed specifically for plastic, and after drying, with paint. So evaluate the amount of upcoming work and choose the most suitable way how to remove scratches on the plastic interior of your car.

Everyone in the apartment has a lot of plastic things, often for daily use. For example, it can be a refrigerator, kettles, blenders and other household appliances, a phone case, as well as car showrooms. Due to the fact that these things are used quite often, scratches appear on the plastic from prolonged use, sometimes deep. But don't worry, there are some tips on how to remove scratches from plastic effectively and affordably.

Today you can find a large number of products that will help eliminate scratches and microcracks on the surface of objects made of plastic. The most common is considered to be such means as a polish that removes damaged areas on plastic; special pencil; crack-filling paste. However, they only work when the scratches are not deep.

You can fix small cracks yourself using polishes designed for car bodywork. The polish can be rough (that is, its texture has an abrasive property), as well as finishing (in this case, the texture is quite soft and silicone). For household plastic items, it is best to choose only a finishing polish so as not to cause even more damage to the coating that you want to restore.

How to remove scratches in the car interior?

You can fix scratches on the plastic inside the interior of your car yourself. The choice of tools depends on the degree of damage and the type of coating, including a hairdryer, polish, pencil, and if none of the proposed options help, then overhaul details.

hair dryer

You can perform the following steps with both an ordinary hair dryer and a construction hair dryer. During this procedure, the plastic will heat up, and the damage will heal by itself, due to the fact that they will melt somewhat.

  1. Before starting work, wash the part well with detergents.
  2. When it dries, you should turn on the hair dryer (it is recommended to use the minimum power), and then direct it to trouble spot in need of restoration.
  3. In case you don't notice any change, turn up the power so that the heat melts the plastic surface a little.
  4. Never keep the tool in one place because you risk overheating the plastic.

Note! You can touch the restored part with your hands only after it has completely cooled down.

Polishing

  1. Wear rubber gloves and wash everything with detergent. Places where dirt and dust have accumulated require special attention.
  2. Then you need to dry the area you are interested in.
  3. Next, you need to apply a paste with abrasive properties to microcracks using a small foam sponge. Be careful! For the best effect of the polish, wait a little while, which is usually indicated in the instructions for use.
  4. Wait until the polish becomes white color, and start the polishing procedure.
  5. Moving in a circle, it is necessary to clean off excess abrasive, from time to time removing the resulting amount of dust.
  6. Wash the cover afterwards.


Camouflage pencils

This method is the fastest and easiest to eliminate cracks inside the cabin, as well as those that can be found on the bumper of the car. Pencil High Quality usually has high cost, but it is quite economical and effective means. In order to carry out the procedure, you need to perform the following steps:

  1. Remove dirt from problem areas and dry.
  2. Use the tip of a pencil to fill in the damage.
  3. Wait for the surface to dry.
  4. You can then remove any remaining product and start polishing. This should smooth out the transitions of the restored area and the rest of the coating.

Major interior renovation

Painting is the most complex and time-consuming way to restore such surfaces. However, this option will definitely be effective and help to hide the existing shortcomings.

  1. The element requiring restoration must be thoroughly washed and dirt removed with detergents.
  2. Next, you must sand the damaged area, however, if the panel is embossed in its structure, then this step should be skipped.
  3. In the case when it is smooth, you can start grinding with the help of special equipment or improvised means (sandpaper is often used).
  4. Then a special primer is applied to the prepared coating, which is produced in the form of spray cans. It is necessary to choose a composition that will not react with the surface.
  5. After you have applied several layers of primer, the plastic needs to be polished with an abrasive until it is perfectly smooth.
  6. In the case when the panels have large cracks, you need to fill them with putty.
  7. When you're done repair work, the coating should be coated with an appropriate paint.
  8. If necessary, plastic panels are also treated with varnish, however, it can cause glare, which sometimes interferes with driving.

Small cracks are removed using the following tools:

  • Abrasives for polishing glass surfaces. Such products are also often used by artists, and they are the only way to eliminate all scratches, not mask them. Hydrofluoric acid can be found among the ingredients that make up such abrasives, so in no case should you use them on parts that are not made of plastic.
  • Means for washing glasses. If you want to remove a scratch on a plastic item, use a glass cleaner, for example in a car. It should be applied to the coating and polished with dry wipes. This option will help get rid of small cracks.
  • Wax. Wax is suitable for efficient polishing of plastic surfaces. It is enough to apply a little product on a piece of dry soft cloth and rub the plastic, moving in a circle. Remove excess with dry wipes or a cotton swab.
  • In addition, sometimes use a polish intended for processing wooden products mixed with vaseline. You need to buy at the appropriate point of sale products that polish the tree, and treat the problem area with it, mixing the product with a few drops of petroleum jelly. This product fills the damaged area and makes it not so noticeable. Polishing must be continued until the vaseline is completely wiped off.
  • Also, you can use the tools to computer technology, which most often process discs, because in this way worn areas and small microcracks can be removed. Apply the product to the plastic coating using a soft fiber.
  • Polishes for silver and copper will help you, which should be applied to the problem area and wiped with dry wipes or a piece of fiber cloth. This process should continue until the moment when you do not get rid of all the cracks.

During the operation of the car, the owner is faced with such a problem as the appearance of scratches on the plastic. A quite fair question arises, how to remove scratches from the plastic and return the car to its previous appearance. In this article, we will look at the most popular scratch removal methods.

scratches on plastic bumper

List of basic ways to eliminate scratches

There are several methods for removing scratches, the choice of which depends on the complexity of the damage and the type of surface. Here is their list:

  • hair dryer repair
  • smoothing irregularities with an open fire;
  • scratch polishing;
  • masking with special means;
  • complete plastic repair.

It is important to know! Embossed plastic parts can only be repaired with the latest methods. Any other influences can lead to further deterioration of the material.

Hair dryer repair

You can remove small scratches on the plastic elements of the car with an ordinary hair dryer - it is not even necessary to use a construction tool. The essence of the process lies in the fact that when the surface is heated, shallow damage is tightened by itself. If you are using a building hair dryer, you need to distribute the air flow evenly over the surface being treated to prevent overheating. Ideally, the defects will completely heal. If not, they will decrease in size, thus facilitating subsequent polishing.


Building hair dryer

First you need to thoroughly wash the plastic so that there is no dust and dirt left in its pores. After the surface has dried, turn on the device in low mode and direct warm air to the problem part.

The essence of this method is the same as the previous one. You need to heat the plastic so that the damage itself heals. To do this, you need to bring an open flame to the surface for a short time, and then wait for it to cool. Do not touch the car eraser until it has completely cooled down. Traces of soot should be removed with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol.


Removing scratches from plastic

Polishing

The safest and most effective car plastic repair is polishing. It will require a special dispersion agent. Do not use pastes to polish the car body - they will only further damage the plastic. Repairs can be done manually or with a machine.

It is important to know! High RPM grinding wheels can overheat and ruin the plastic, so without proper experience it is better to polish manually.

Step by step instructions for polishing

    1. Wash plastic. In this case, it is better to use a detergent to remove dirt.
    2. Dry the surface in a closed dark room.
    3. Manually apply a layer of paste and wait a bit.
    4. When the applied product looks like a plaque, you can start polishing. As a rule, repairs take no more than five minutes.
    5. Surface needs to be polished in a circular motion with light pressure until all plaque is wiped off. After the scratch is removed, carefully remove the remaining paste.

Elimination with camouflage

Most simple method Removing scratches on the plastic of a car is masking with a pencil. Such elimination is quite expensive, but in this case the pencil can be used many times. Its shelf life is practically unlimited. The tool itself is a container filled with a special substance that fills deep scratches car and makes them invisible. The main criterion for choosing such a tool is the color of the plastic of the car.


Scratch Pencil

Making repairs is easy. As in any other case, you should wash the plastic of the car and dry it, then apply the substance to the defects and wait until it hardens. Then - get rid of excess composition by polishing.

Complete plastic repair

This option is the most difficult and expensive. It is used in cases where deep scratches have appeared on the plastic of the car, which cannot be hidden by any of the above methods. But with its help, you can completely remove visible defects and even change the color. plastic parts auto.


Fine sandpaper
  1. Such repairs require dismantling plastic elements.
  2. After desired element removed, it should be thoroughly washed using a special detergent for plastic car parts.
  3. Sand the damaged surface, removing deep and fine scratches. You can do this manually or with a circle. As an abrasive, it is better to use fine sandpaper.

It is important to know! Embossed surfaces cannot be sanded, so skip this step for them.

  1. Apply a coat of primer from a can. It is better to choose a product that does not react with the plastic of the car.
  2. Mat the plastic of the car with a fine abrasive until a perfectly smooth surface is obtained.
  3. After priming, you can start painting the plastic of the car in the desired color. If desired, the surface can be varnished.

It is important to know! Lacquered surfaces reflect sunlight, so certain elements should not be covered with them.

29.10.2016 5 76 935 views

Surfaces of all kinds of plastics surround us. They are comfortable and practical, but prone to deformation. Therefore, the question of how to polish plastic from scratches is always relevant. In order for your favorite smartphone, window sill or TV to retain an attractive appearance, you need to familiarize yourself with our tips and, with the help of simple steps, turn them into almost their original appearance.

It is enough to look around to see how indispensable plastic has become in everyday life. It is made from: Appliances, means of communication, kitchen utensils, car parts, finishing materials.

This material is light and cheap, easy to use and unpretentious, and also resistant to temperature fluctuations. The only negative is the relatively low density, which is a consequence of the appearance of scuffs and scratches on it. Because of this, it is too expensive to change the entire product.

Training

Getting started, it is necessary first of all to decide what we are actually going to do and what improvised means. Polishing is easy, you just need to know how. To begin with, it should be understood that jacks of all trades distinguish at least three different kind such actions:

  1. Thermal (using a hair dryer).
  2. Chemical (that is, acting on plastic with toothpaste, polish or GOI paste).
  3. Mechanical (using a drill or other polishing machine).

Initially, we assess how great the damage is, and based on this, we choose a methodology for further work:

  1. Remove scratches from plastic by hand polishing.
  2. Deeper damage can be overcome using thermal effects.
  3. After chemical treatment, the coating acquires the perfect shine, and your headlights will shine like new ones.

When the future strategy of action is determined, it remains to carefully prepare the product for work. Using the most conventional means for washing dishes or cleaning glasses, carefully remove accumulated dirt and grease stains. Surely the plastic has a frame made of a different material. These places are pasted over with masking tape, which will be removed after work is completed.

Sanding plastic

This method machining plastic surface is used if there are deep scratches that cannot be effectively removed in any other way. The material lends itself well to grinding, having low temperature melting. As a result of slow, careful work, we should get a uniform matte surface where there were deep scratches before. Here is the next range of actions:

  • pre-cleaned material is placed where it will be convenient to deal with it;
  • cooking workplace, remove all unnecessary items;
  • as a processing material, we take several waterproof skins of various textures;
  • a special grinding machine is useful as an auxiliary tool;
  • if there is no machine, then it should be borne in mind that grinding with soapy water gives a good effect.

We begin work using a skin that has a large texture. Grinding is a slow business, accuracy is required. We process the product in slow mode, monitor the temperature, it should not overheat. We methodically move from a large texture of skins to smaller ones. After using each of them, we wipe the treated area with a dry cloth, this allows us not to miss the remaining shortcomings.

How to polish plastic from scratches yourself?

There are several ways that removing scratches and scuffs will stop being an impossible dream. At home, with the help of simple devices, you can make a shabby product perfect with your own hands.

If the plastic surface that your kitchen table has has stopped sparkling and is covered with scratches, then it will not be difficult to polish it to its original shine.

The same method will allow you to make the window slope as textured as it was a few years ago. A few hours of focused work will save you a lot of money.

hand polished

After getting rid of scratches, it's time to move on to the next laborious process - polishing, which makes old part almost new. Services involving the removal of scratches are widely provided by car dealerships and mobile phone dealers, as well as specialized cleaning companies.

They are not cheap, the same work is easy to do with your own hands. After all special means and fixtures that professionals use are sold in all car dealerships. The main thing when choosing a polishing paste: do not forget that we will process plastic; in order not to miss the choice, you should consult the seller, who will give professional advice.

By the way, GOI paste has proven itself well with the chosen processing method. It should be familiar to those who served in the army and scrubbed a belt badge. With this tool, you can ideally polish objects that do not claim to be pristine transparency.

If we are talking about a TV that has scratches or a phone that has major abrasions, then it is better to use special pastes. Let them cost more, but the effect will be desired.

Hand polishing:

  • optimally handles small parts and small surfaces;
  • we take a homogeneous paste, impurities and grains are excluded;
  • oil will give a special gloss;
  • apply the paste on the surface with felt or felt
  • use circular motions;
  • the hand goes easily, the pressure is small;
  • the whole process takes 15 to 20 minutes.

We use a polishing machine, which in the most budgetary version consists of a drill with a special nozzle:

  • an inexpensive polishing nozzle is sold in the store;
  • the best use of such a machine is the surface of the headlights;
  • good savings are obtained by replacing the nozzle with a piece of ordinary felt.

This material requires a thorough fixing so that it does not jump off.

Polishing

Among the products purchased at a specialized store, do not forget about the polish. With it, the result of your work will be a glossy plastic, no different from the one we purchased in the store. The technology of work is as follows:

  1. The agent is applied to the surface in the form of a small uniform layer.
  2. It is necessary to thoroughly grind it with a special cloth or nozzle.
  3. Then, in fact, the process of work begins, which achieves the desired result, the plastic will bring the polish to a mirror shine.
  4. If the surface of the phone is polished, then, exposed to periodic moisture, the transparent plastic loses its result over time, and the process should be repeated.
  5. Repetition is necessary in any case if you see that your plastic is black and worn again.

Conclusion: to avoid frequent updates, protect household items from moisture.

Using a polishing machine

It's quite professional tool, allowing you to bring the restoration of the product to the ideal process. Such a tool is useful and convenient. It is especially recommended for motorists who from time to time perfect the headlights of their car, as well as its plastic surfaces. The main convenience lies in the speed, in a few minutes the amount of work is done, which manually will take, perhaps, more than one hour.

The consideration that guides a person who acquires such a technique is the need from time to time to put things in order in his household. Such a polishing masterpiece is not so expensive, it is available in stores selling power tools.

A few nuances that should be observed in the process of using the tool:

  • before putting special tools into operation, it is necessary to remove the remaining dirt with a wet nozzle;
  • when the action is nearing the end, one of the special pastes purchased in the store is used;
  • to bring a special gloss to the product, a special nozzle made of foam rubber will help.

The whole method takes a few minutes.

Video: how to polish plastic from scratches with a polishing machine?

hair dryer

One more pretty original method getting rid of scratches is to use the most ordinary hair dryer. The meaning of the method is simple: plastic reacts quickly to sudden temperature changes, so heat treatment is optimal way"heal wounds" on the surface of your phone.

Two types of tools are used for work: an ordinary hair dryer used for drying hair, and a special building unit.

  1. Before working with plastic, impurities are removed.
  2. The process is best started with minimal power.
  3. We direct a jet of hot air to the desired area.
  4. If the scratches continue to remain, the power must be gradually increased, but without fanaticism.
  5. The main expected result is that the area with scratches will acquire a matte base, and they themselves will disappear.
  6. After cooling, polishing of the plastic begins.

Toothpaste

In some cases, there is no need to purchase expensive products. As practice shows, such improvised means as ordinary toothpaste can serve as an abrasive for polishing the same headlights. Despite the low cost and extreme availability, the gloss of the surface, in the end, is no worse than when using a proprietary product from a specialized store.

How this tool works:

  • with the help of detergents we get rid of pollution;
  • the composition of the product must be neutral;
  • after degreasing, the product is washed and dried;
  • the paste is applied to a piece of flannel;
  • circular movements, clockwise or counterclockwise;
  • periodically it is necessary to wash off the resulting slurry;
  • the remaining paste is best removed with a damp sponge.

Obviously, using simple methods and a budgetary arsenal of funds, you can save a lot of money and get a truly brilliant result.

5 methods of polishing plastic from scratches and scuffs

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