Several ways to remove scratches from plastic at home

Plastic, or plastic, is a common material based on natural and synthetic polymers.

It does not have high strength; mechanical stress on it leads to unwanted damage - scratches and cracks of varying depths.

This does not mean that the product is completely damaged. There are several ways to remove a defect or carefully disguise it.

We will tell you in this article how and what you can use to remove scratches from plastic (transparent, black, matte, etc.).

How can I remove minor damage?

Professional products will help you deal with minor damage to plastic products. Special pencils, markers, pastes, polishes and even household appliances will help put the product in order and give it a shiny new look.

Polish

A variety of industrial polishing compounds can get rid of scratches on matte or glossy plastic. It is enough to choose the appropriate composition, focusing on the manufacturer’s instructions.

Mode of application:

1. Clean the damaged surface from dirt.
2. Apply a small amount of product to a soft cloth.
3. Rub the polish into the scratches without applying strong pressure.
4. Remove any remaining product with a damp cloth.
5. Let the plastic dry.

To avoid getting the opposite result, it is not recommended to use products with coarse abrasive particles.

Wax

To combat mechanical damage to plastic products, soft wax is often used. It fills voids and polishes the surface.

Mode of application:

• Apply a small amount of product to clean, dry plastic;
• Use a soft cloth (microfiber) to rub the wax into the scratches;
• remove excess with a cotton swab;
• polish the surface.

Hairdryer

Plastic has a low melting point, so Hot air will help remove minor defects on it. The voids of the damage are filled under the action of the surface tension forces of the molten plastic.

For these purposes, construction and household hair dryers are used. A construction hair dryer differs from a household hair dryer in terms of power; it is capable of heating air up to 700 °C

Step-by-step instruction:

1. Clean the surface.
2. Direct hot air from the device towards the defect.
3. Move the device in the direction of the scratch, without staying in one place for a long time.
4. Let the plastic cool for 15-20 minutes.
5. Polish the restored surface.

It is necessary to select the optimal heating temperature and the distance from which the air flow comes. If the product overheats, streaks may form. Minor damage can be repaired using a regular lighter.

How to get rid of deep marks?

An effective method for dealing with deep damage to a plastic surface is sandpaper (sandpaper) with different grain sizes. It is moisture resistant, has abrasive properties, and is suitable for preparation, grinding and polishing.

Mode of application:

• wet the 800-grit sandpaper, this will soften the particles and prevent the appearance of new defects on the plastic;
• sand the damage in a circular motion until the scratch disappears;
• treat the surface with a damp, clean cloth;
• wipe the plastic dry;
• perform final sanding with fine sandpaper (grit size - 1200-1500);
• polish the surface with a special product.

Features of eliminating damaged areas on a plastic product

The color of the material and structure will help you choose a suitable product for masking shallow damage on a plastic product.

On transparent

Hard rags and sponges, time, ultraviolet rays, household chemicals with an aggressive composition are an incomplete list of reasons why transparent plastic loses its appearance.

Traces of mechanical damage can be removed from it only by polishing. Suitable for this:

• disc scratch remover;
• glass cleaning liquid;
• polish for jewelry.

You can use compounds intended for wooden surfaces if you mix them with Vaseline. The algorithm of actions for all methods is the same:

1. Apply the product to a microfiber cloth.
2. Treat the damaged surface.
3. Polish thoroughly.

It is believed that transparent plastic is more susceptible to damage due to mechanical stress. In fact, scratches do not appear on it more often than on colored or matte ones, but they are more noticeable.

Black

Scratches on black plastic can be masked by painting; damaged areas are always visible due to the lighter color.

Mode of application:

1. Clean the surface thoroughly using detergent and a cloth.
2. Wait until completely dry.
3. Apply the contents of the pencil to the damage.
4. Polish the surface using a wax-based product.

It is necessary to choose the correct shade of the filler so that it matches the main color as closely as possible.

White

Traces of mechanical damage on white plastic are less noticeable, but dirt and dust accumulate faster in the voids of scratches, so you need to get rid of them immediately.

You can replace the damaged part, but advice from manufacturers will help you avoid unplanned expenses. All irregularities from white plastic can be removed with 600-grit sandpaper.

If the surface is glossy, additional treatment will be required to add shine with an industrial product, for example, COSMOFEN 10. The product is a solvent, you must work with it with gloves and follow safety precautions.

Matt

Damage on matte plastic is less noticeable; often for white surfaces, sanding scratches and cracks with sandpaper is sufficient.

For multi-colored materials use:

• sponges with shoe polish,
• proofreaders,
• markers,
• silicone,
• and even powdered coal.

Tsvetnoy

Mechanical damage to colored plastic cannot always be masked using polish. To make the scratch truly invisible, you need to use a wax pencil, which is easy to use.

It is enough to clean and degrease the surface and trace the damage with a colored pencil several times. The wax will fill the voids. With the correct selection of shade, the treated area will not differ from the main color.

How to fix scratches on plastic in a car?

To care for the plastic surfaces of your car, you can use both traditional methods of combating scratches and specialized products that are sold in car dealerships.

The damaged area must first be degreased with alcohol. or acetone. It is not recommended to use degreasers with aggressive chemical compositions; this will lead to the formation of new defects.

The simplest and most convenient way to deal with minor scratches is to use industrial wipes. A few minutes of active exposure of the microfiber cloth to the plastic surface and minor defects will disappear. Towels are also indispensable for maintaining cleanliness in the car interior.

Adviсe

Industrial pencils, abrasive gels, and polishing pastes effectively remove defects from plastic, but they are quite expensive.

Available tools that can be found in the arsenal of any housewife will come to the rescue:

1. Toothpaste. The method is suitable for cleaning plastic screens and displays. Apply a small amount of product to the damaged surface and rub in in a circular motion.

   When the surface dries, the residue should be washed off with a damp cotton swab.

2. Vegetable oil. The liquid masks minor scratches and adds shine to the plastic.Apply 3-5 drops to the damaged surface and polish until the characteristic greasy drops disappear.
3. Baking soda. The abrasive acts like toothpaste. Add water to the powder until it reaches a paste consistency, rub into the surface, and rinse off any remaining residue.

The methods are not suitable for eliminating deep traces of mechanical damage.

If you are interested in how to remove small and deep scratches from various surfaces and objects, take a look at this chapter.

Conclusion

Scratches spoil the appearance of the plastic.. You can get rid of them at home if you choose a product taking into account the color, structure and method of using the surface. If none of the above methods work, the product may have reached the end of its service life and needs to be replaced.