It’s inevitable to get paint scuffs on your car, and this may make anyone lose their cool. You parked your car one day, and when you came back, you saw scratch marks from another car’s bumper bar. Or, your kids were playing ball too close to the car and now there’s a big paint transfer on the side.
Not to worry. In this guide, we’ll show you how to get rid of paint scuffs on your car without damaging the paintwork.
Table of Contents
1. Examine the Damage Extent
The first thing you need to do is to check how bad the paint scuff is. If it’s just a light surface scratch, then you can probably get away with just polishing the area. However, if the scratch is deep enough to reach the primer or metal below the paint, then you’ll need to touch up the paint.
2. Get the Right Tools for the Job
To remove paint scuffs from your car, you’ll need a few supplies. For light scratches, you’ll need polishing compound and a soft cloth. For deeper scratches, you’ll need touch-up paint, a fine brush, and masking tape.
3. WD-40
You will need the following if the stain cannot be eliminated with your fingers: a Magic Eraser-style foam cleaning pad and a WD-40-style spray can of rust-removal oil. Most grocery stores and other big-box retailers carry both of these.
If not, you can find these or similar tools in the automotive area of a hardware store or an auto parts store.
The paint that was applied to your car will first need to be softened with WD-40 before being removed using an eraser. The new paint on your car should adhere less readily due to the chemicals in WD-40 and similar sprays. It should be sprayed directly onto the paint, followed by an eraser wipe in the same plane as the paint. If the scrape is horizontal, wipe it off in a horizontal motion.
4. Touch Up the Paint
For deeper scratches that have reached the primer or metal below the paint, you’ll need to touch up the area with fresh paint. To do this, start by masking off the surrounding area so you don’t accidentally get paint on it. Then, using a fine brush, apply a thin layer of touch-up paint to the scratched area. Allow the paint to dry completely before removing the masking tape.
5. Prevention is Key
Prevention is the key to protecting your car. To avoid paint scuffs, you can use a car cover when parking, and avoid driving in areas where there’s a lot of debris on the road. You should also regularly wash and wax your car to protect the paintwork.
Final Thought
Now that you know how to remove paint scuffs from your car, you can keep your paintwork looking like new. Just be careful when parking and driving on debris-strewn roads, and regularly wash and wax your car to protect the paint.
