Scratched plastic can be a real eyesore, but as the old saying goes, beauty is only skin deep. The true value of any material lies in what it can do and how it can be used. Whether you’ve got an expensive car with a beautiful body, or an everyday shopping basket that may not have been so cheap after all, scratched plastic doesn’t have to spell the end for your beloved items. In fact, with a little bit of time and effort, you can bring those scratches back from the depths of despair. Here’s everything you need to know about getting scratches out of plastic and rediscovering that sparkle.
How To Get Scratches Out Of Plastic
Sand
Sanding is a good way to remove scratches from plastic. You need to use sandpaper with a grit of between 180 and 240. Start by rubbing the sandpaper across the scratched area in an up and down motion, in short strokes. Continue until you’ve completely covered the area, but don’t press down too hard as this can cause damage to the surface underneath. Then, take another piece of sandpaper and once again rub it over the area in an up and down motion, but this time with long strokes. Repeat this process until all of the material has been removed from both sides of the scratch.
Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol will help to remove scratches from plastic if you’re using it on a polycarbonate-based product like a CD or DVD case or water bottle, or on polystyrene plastic like that used for cups and plates. To begin with, wash off any dirt from your item using warm water and soap before drying it off thoroughly with a clean cloth or paper towel. Then take some rubbing alcohol (not alcoholic) on another clean cloth or paper towel and rub it over each side of your scratch for about 20 seconds at a time before rinsing off both sides with warm water again and drying them thoroughly once more. This should remove any grime from around the scratch that is preventing it from being repaired properly by other methods later on. Repeat this process as often as needed until all traces of grime have been removed, and then move on to the next step.
Toothpaste
Toothpaste is a good way to remove scratches from plastic if you’re using it on polystyrene plastic like that used for cups and plates. To begin with, wash off any dirt from your item using warm water and soap before drying it off thoroughly with a clean cloth or paper towel. Then take some toothpaste on another clean cloth or paper towel and rub it over each side of your scratch for about 20 seconds at a time before rinsing off both sides with warm water again and drying them thoroughly once more. This should remove any grime from around the scratch that is preventing it from being repaired properly by other methods later on. Repeat this process as often as needed until all traces of grime have been removed, and then move on to the next step.
Sanding Block
If you’ve got an outdoor furniture set that has scratches in it, sanding blocks can be a great way to get rid of them so that you can maintain its original look without having to replace the entire thing completely. All you need to do is take your sanding block outdoors, preferably in an area where there are no plants around as they will be damaged by the flying debris, and then apply some extra-fine sandpaper onto one side of it using some glue or tape if necessary. Then rub this side over each individual scratch in an up and down motion for about 20 seconds at a time before turning the block over and repeating the process on the other side of your scratch. Repeat this process as often as needed until all traces of grime have been removed, and then move on to the next step.
Rubbing Compound
Rubbing compound is a great way to remove scratches from plastic if you’re using it on polystyrene plastic like that used for cups and plates. To begin with, wash off any dirt from your item using warm water and soap before drying it off thoroughly with a clean cloth or paper towel. Then take some rubbing compound (not abrasive) on another clean cloth or paper towel and rub it over each side of your scratch for about 20 seconds at a time before rinsing off both sides with warm water again and drying them thoroughly once more. This should remove any grime from around the scratch that is preventing it from being repaired properly by other methods later on. Repeat this process as often as needed until all traces of grime have been removed, and then move on to the next step.
The Functional Coating On Your Plastic Bumper
Paint over it
If you’ve got a scratch on your bumper, the first thing you can do is to paint over it. Use a color that matches your car and apply several coats of paint to give the area a uniform look. You can also use nail polish for this purpose, but remember that this fix is temporary—the scratch will still be there when you remove the polish. This solution works best if you’re looking for a quick, temporary fix. If your plastic bumper is scratched badly enough to make it look really ugly, try covering up the scratches with some good old-fashioned paint. A coat or two of paint will conceal most scratches and give your car an overall uniform appearance. Don’t forget to sand down the surface before applying the first coat of paint; this will ensure that your finish has a nice, smooth texture and won’t end up looking patchy or uneven.
Sand it down
If you don’t want to cover up your scratches, you can also try sanding them down. This is a good solution for shallow scratches, but if the scratch is too deep it may be better to cover it up with paint; this way, you won’t have to worry about how the scratch looks from a distance. If you choose this route, make sure that you use fine-grit sandpaper and apply several coats so that the scratch isn’t as visible. You can also try using a plastic filler or body putty to fill in the deep scratches; once the filler has hardened and dried, sand it down until there are no more traces of the damage.
Buff out scratches with toothpaste
If your plastic bumper is scratched but still looks okay from a distance, another great way to improve its appearance is by polishing out those scratches with toothpaste. Just rub some toothpaste into the affected area and then wipe clean with a damp cloth. The abrasive nature of toothpaste will buff out any microscopic grooves in your bumper this will make your plastic look smoother and shinier than ever before! Just make sure that you don’t use toothpaste on soft materials like painted bumpers or glass surfaces it may leave marks behind!
Clear up cloudy headlights with rubbing alcohol
Clear headlights are essential for driving safely at night, which is why many car owners take good care of their headlights by washing and waxing them regularly. Unfortunately, even the best car waxes and cleaners will fail to prevent your headlights from getting cloudy over time. If you’re looking for a quick fix, try cleaning your headlight covers with some rubbing alcohol; just pour a little bit of rubbing alcohol onto a soft cloth and rub it into the headlight. This should remove most of the dirt and grime that has accumulated on your cover, leaving your headlights looking as clear as new!
Polish away scratches with toothpaste
If your plastic bumper is scratched but still looks okay from a distance, another great way to improve its appearance is by polishing out those scratches with toothpaste. Just rub some toothpaste into the affected area and then wipe clean with a damp cloth. The abrasive nature of toothpaste will buff out any microscopic grooves in your bumper—this will make your plastic look smoother and shinier than ever before! Just make sure that you don’t use toothpaste on soft materials like painted bumpers or glass surfaces—it may leave marks behind!
How To Fix Scratched Plastic With Sandpaper
Prepare the surface
Scratches on plastic can be repaired with sandpaper, but you need to prepare the surface first. Start by cleaning the scratched area with an alcohol solution and a lint-free cloth. This will remove any dirt and grease that may have built up over time, as well as any residue from the last sanding attempt.
Find the right sandpaper
Sandpaper is available in different grades, from coarse to fine. The grade of the paper you need depends on how deep the scratches are and how big an area is affected by them. If your plastic item is really scratched up, you may want to use a fine grade of paper for this step. Grade 80 or 100 will do just fine. If there are only a few minor scratches, or if you’re fixing something smaller like a CD or DVD case, then it’s probably best to start with a coarse grade of sandpaper instead – something in the 40s range should do it nicely.
Sand the surface
Sand the damaged area using a circular motion until the scratches are gone. Make sure you sand both sides of the plastic, not just the outside. If you want to get rid of scratches on both sides, then you’ll need to repeat this process on both sides as well. When you’re done, wipe everything down with a clean cloth and inspect your work for any missed spots.
Buff out remaining scratches and smudges
If there are any remaining scratches or smudges after sanding, move on to step 4. Now it’s time to buff out those pesky little marks with a polishing compound and a clean cloth. (You can use an old t-shirt for this.) Apply some compound to your cloth and rub it into the plastic in circular motions until all traces of scratches are gone or at least significantly reduced in size and visibility. Once again, double-check every inch of your work before moving on to another step!
Conclusion
This article has discussed ways to repair scratched plastic. Scratches on any material are actually a natural part of its aging process, but plastics are particularly susceptible to them due to the molecular makeup of their structure. By removing the outermost layer of the scratched plastic, you can get rid of the scratch and restore the appearance of the surface. We’ve also discussed how to fix scratched plastic with sandpaper, chemicals, and paint. Hopefully, this article has given you some great ideas for fixing scratched plastic and restoring it to its former glory. For more information, make sure to read through the site.