In the modern world, many things and parts are made of plastic, this trend is easy to explain - the material is easy to use and has a low weight. Strength indicators depending on the composition are also high, but not one hundred percent. One way or another, one day the question will visit you - how to remove scratches from plastic, what means are the safest and most effective?
When it comes to vehicle elements, damage often appears on the doors or dashboard. It's all about the location in these areas of phones, keys and other items of use. The key to effective scratch removal is careful handling of the surface and the material used.
There are many ways and they all differ from each other, and the main factor of choice is the localization of the scratch, its size and depth, and the color of the plastic. In some cases, you won't be able to count on anything other than masking the damage, but you can often get rid of it completely.
You can find more detailed information on how it is carried out in the article of our specialist.
You might be interested in our expert's article on how to prevent scratches with help.
Types of scratches
To understand how to remove scratches on plastic, it is worth studying the nature of their occurrence.
- Often the plastic in the car interior deteriorates due to small scratches. There are many of them and they form a kind of web between themselves, thanks to which you have to forget about the attractive appearance of the surface. However, masking such defects is a simple matter, even getting rid of them completely is not difficult.
- Working with deep scratches is more troublesome. Simple methods do not always even make it possible to disguise such defects, let alone completely eliminate them. Read on to find out how you can save money on costly repairs.
- Another type of damage in the interior of the car is associated with exposure to UV rays on the plastic surface. Alternatively, the surface of the dashboard loses color under the influence of the sun, becomes faded, which in no way adds solidity to the car in combination with scratches. This situation is the most problematic and requires a complete replacement of the interior surface.
- The overhaul option also applies to the situation where scratches appear on plastic with a corrugated structure.
Removing small cracks
The following tools allow you to quickly eliminate minor cracks and at the same time save the state of your wallet. Their effectiveness is based on the principle of polishing and preparatory work should consist in a thorough cleaning of the surface to be treated and its further drying.
Wax is used to polish plastic surfaces. You need to use it in combination with a soft dry matter. Movement during rubbing should be circular. A cotton swab will get rid of excess wax. A good alternative to wax is GOI paste or engine oil.
Glass cleaners
Glass cleaners should be used in the same way. In combination with a dry cloth, the action of such compounds is quite effective in relation to minor scratches.
Products used for polishing glass surfaces with abrasive components in the composition are also suitable for plastic. This method, in the case of small scratches, not only masks them, but removes them completely. Hydrofluoric acid can act as an abrasive component, so if there are elements on the surface that are not made of plastic or glass, refrain from using this option.
Polishing agents for copper and silver can be used in tandem with microfiber or a dry cloth. Rubbing should be continued until the trace of cracks is visually invisible.
Household or building hair dryer
A household or building hair dryer will allow you to quickly deal with a minor defect. Be sure to clean and dry the surface. Start heating the scratched area with a hair dryer, but don't keep it in one place. Wait until the plastic begins to melt slightly. It is forbidden to touch the restored surface with your hands until it cools down.
Tools for computer equipment
Means for computer equipment and disks also demonstrate effectiveness. They are also convenient to use in combination with microfiber.
Polish for wood and plastic surfaces
A wood polish will work for plastics as well, but it should be paired with Vaseline. The damaged area will be filled with such a composition and the crack will not be so visible. Do not stop rubbing the surface until the Vaseline is completely absorbed.
Dye use
A dye designed specifically to mask this kind of damage will cope with minor scratches. It should be applied with a toothpick or a thin brush. Polishing is carried out with machine oil.
You can find more detailed information on how to choose the right one in the article of our specialist.
Fabric paint or camouflage markers
Fabric paint or camouflage felt-tip pens are also effective, but require additional finishing polishing. Felt pens, if their quality is beyond doubt, can be quite expensive, but this method is very economical.
deep scratches
In the case of deep scratches, things are somewhat more complicated. The scratch must be filled with a special paste, but the previously deformed surface must be primed.
When working with deep and extensive scratches, use a composition that is identical in color to the surface to be treated.
melting plastic
If such a disguise has not borne fruit, use another technology.
- Pick up a small piece of plastic and melt it by heating it. The color and texture must completely match the surface of the treated area.
- Use white spirit to dissolve the material and start rubbing it into the crack as soon as the plastic becomes liquid.
- At the final stage, use a polish to achieve the perfect result.
Displex
This tool can be purchased at a hardware store, sold in the form of tubes. The principle of operation is similar to the previous method with melting plastic. The difference lies in the fact that the plastic microparticles in the composition are already ready for use and there is no need to spend time on additional melting. Rub the product for two minutes using any dry and soft material. If after the first call your efforts were unsuccessful, you can try a few more times.
Since it is not always possible to remove scratches from plastic, if it is a deep damage, you can contact car wash specialists, they often have scratch removal services.
If you have not been able to defeat a deep scratch, no matter what methods you use, you will have to admit that all that remains is to completely restore the damaged element.
- Clean the surface thoroughly and dry it.
- Sand the plastic if it is not embossed. For a smooth surface, you can use sandpaper.
- Use primer products in the form of a can. The composition should not react with the surface and you need to make sure of this before buying.
- There should be several layers of primer on the panel, after which it will be time to use abrasive material to achieve a perfectly even surface.
- Use putty in an area with large cracks.
- Purchase a suitable paint to cover the panel after the repair work is completed. If necessary, you can additionally use varnish, but drivers often refuse this stage, because glare appears on such a surface, and they interfere with comfortable driving.
During operation, the plastic parts of the interior lose their original appearance, are overwritten, covered with defects. The masters of the Avtoscratch company will help to fix this. We are professionally engaged in the restoration and painting of interior plastic on client cars.
We always manage to achieve amazing results. To do this, we not only use our experience, but also select the right consumables and professional equipment. We always find an individual solution for the repair and painting of interior plastic, combining all available methods.
| Name | Price |
| Repair of plastic interior elements | |
| scratch repair | from 1000 rub. |
| Crack repair (up to 3-5 cm.) | from 1500 rub. |
| Detail tinting (with the removal of the old paint) | from 1000 rub. |
| Repair of drilled holes up to 1 cm | from 1500 rub. |
| Restoration of missing pieces of plastic | from 2000 rub. |
| Removing the effects of fragrance traces | from 1000 rub. |
| Remove traces of superglue in 1cm² | from 500 rub. |
| Repair of fasteners for interior elements | from 500 rub. |
| Steering wheel and gear knob painting | |
| Steering wheel painting | from 2500 rub. |
| Steering wheel rim painting (light wear, scratches, scuffs) | from 1000 rub. |
| Repaired gear knob painting | from 700 rubles |
| Seat painting | |
| Seat repainting | from 2500 rub. |
| Restoration of damaged edging on the seat | from 1500 rub. |
| Painting torpedoes, armrests and door skins | |
| Repair of light damage on the dashboard | from 1500 rub. |
| Repair and tint of leather, car interior leatherette | |
| Scratch on seats or door trims | from 1000 rub. |
| Small scuffs on the area up to 10 cm (leather, leatherette) | from 2000 rub. |
| Cut on the seat | from 2000 rub. |
| Repair of the front of the seat or one seat | from 5000 rub. |
| armrest repair | from 1600 |
| Scuff removal 1 element | from 1200 rub. |
Removing scratches from car interior plastic
Over time, many plastic interior parts lose their original appearance even with gentle operation. They are covered with micro-scratches from nails, keys and hard objects. All these problems are easy to solve - you just need to perform polishing.
The procedure is as follows:
- the treated surface is cleaned of dust and other contaminants;
- with the help of a film and adhesive tape, bordering parts are protected;
- polishing paste and machine are being prepared.
Then, during a three-stage treatment, the scratches on the plastic are removed. First, deep and medium scratches are polished, and then minor defects are eliminated and finishing is carried out. After that, the remnants of the paste are removed, the result of the work is evaluated. If everything is in order, the car is transferred to the owner.
In terms of price level, using a polisher to repair scratches on car plastic is the most affordable way to solve problems. However, it does not always fit. For example, if a part is burned or has a damaged paint layer, a more complex repair method is used.
Painting plastic car interior parts
This is a complex repair method that uses sophisticated computer equipment. Without it, it is almost impossible to return the original appearance of the part. That is why it is very difficult to independently paint the plastic of a car interior.
At the first stage, the surface is cleaned of contaminants, degreased and polished manually or with a machine. This provides a higher level of adhesion. Then the correct shade of paint is selected using a computer.
The very process of restoring the plastic of a car interior by painting is best done in a special chamber. This will prevent dust and specks from entering the uncured paint layer. If necessary, the part is also covered with layers of matte or glossy varnish.
When our master completes the plastic restoration work, the painted parts, after they are installed in the car interior, will ideally fit into the interior. They will return to factory condition.
Restoration of plastic car parts
If you notice deep mechanical damage on the interior plastic that cannot be eliminated by polishing or painting, do not rush to order new parts. You still have the opportunity to save money by ordering the restoration of car panels. This is a very complex process and may also require the use of polishing pastes and surface painting.
The surface preparation process is standard: the damaged area is cleaned and degreased. When restoring the plastic of a car, the recesses that spoil their appearance are filled with a special material. The Avtoscratch company uses professional plasticizing gels.
The final stage of car interior plastic restoration is removing excess material, leveling the surface and, if necessary, polishing and painting the part. The master achieves such an effect in which the place of damage will be impossible to detect.
Do you still want to try to remove scratches from the plastic of the car interior yourself? You will have to prepare everything you need for this in advance:
- gel plasticizer;
- the right paint;
- polishing machine;
- pastes with different grain sizes.
Also, be prepared for the fact that you can inadvertently spoil some details. They will have to be replaced. This will require additional funds.
If you value your time and want the car plastic painting to be done quickly and professionally, it is better to immediately contact the Autoscratch company. Choose a convenient time, sign up and come to us!
Plastic in the modern world surrounds us everywhere, whether it be car panels, window sills, sunglasses or a mobile phone. Distribution is due to the fact that it is light in weight and easy to handle. Nevertheless, it is prone to damage, so sooner or later the question arises of how to remove scratches from plastic on one thing or another.
Most often, damage can appear on car parts, for example, a dashboard or doors, this may be due to the careless location of keys, phones and other items on it. In addition, it is quite easy to scratch glasses that have a plastic base when they are casually placed on a table or in a bag.
How to remove scratches from glossy plastic at home
To remove scratches on plastic, use one of the following quick methods:
- Apply a few drops of machine oil to the damaged surface, then carefully polish it with a flannel cloth. It is worth noting that the plastic should not be painted, otherwise this type of polishing is unlikely to give meaningful results.
- An indispensable tool in every household is GOI paste, it can also help in solving this problem. It is enough to apply it to the fabric and carefully rub the substance and the plastic base.
GOI paste copes with almost all scratches on plastic surfaces.
- Good results are obtained by using special felt-tip pens that can mask a scratch on a painted surface; in addition, textile paint can be used for this purpose. In conclusion, treatment of the damaged area with a paste containing wax is required.
- There is a special dye in hardware stores that removes scratches on a glossy surface. It is applied to the right place with a thin brush or toothpick, and after drying, polished with a cloth dipped in machine oil.
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If it was not possible to remove the scratch, apply other methods:
Heating with a hair dryer. A fairly simple solution to the problem, hot air quickly levels the plastic surface and eliminates the smallest defects. Removing scratches is as follows:
- remove debris and dirt from the processed part of the plastic;
- clean with sandpaper with a not too large cell;
- remove dust with a damp cloth and degrease the surface;
- then heat the plastic by pointing the included hair dryer at it to a temperature of 300 degrees;
- it is important to move the device in the direction of the scratch, not lingering in one place, in order to prevent streaks from appearing;
- when the surface is hot, leave it alone for 15-20 minutes;
- in conclusion, a primer and painting of the plastic element is required.
Polishing with a special product that can be purchased at an auto supply store.
- First, clean the areas where the scratch is located with a soapy solution.
- Dry the element.
- Apply the paste with a sponge and leave to act for the period indicated in the attached instructions.
- After waiting for the paste to acquire a light shade, proceed directly to polishing. It is allowed to use both a special device and ordinary sandpaper;
- Shake off the dust from the surface, evaluate the result of the work.
Pencils used to paint over scratches on a plastic surface are able to fill in the damage and make it invisible to the eye:
- first, carefully select the shade of the pencil so that the scratch becomes truly invisible;
- then wash the plastic and dry it;
- now shade the scratch with a pencil, and after drying, remove its excess and polish the surface.
How to remove deep scratches on plastic
To remove deep scratches on plastic that completely spoil the appearance of any thing:
- melt a small piece of plastic that will be exactly the same as the area being repaired;
- dissolve it in White Spirit;
- now that the substance has taken a liquid form, rub it into the crack;
- finally polish the surface.
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Special tools hide deep scratches.
You can remove large plastic-based damage by using a special Displex tool, which is sold in hardware stores, packaged in tubes. It is worth noting that this substance contains microparticles of a plastic nature, so they fill deep scratches in the most accurate way and make them invisible to others.
You need to use this tool as follows:
- apply the paste to the scratch using a cotton pad, flannel or other cloth;
- you need to rub the product, making circular movements, for 2 minutes;
- in the case when the scratch has not disappeared after one procedure, repeat the manipulations several more times.
As a rule, Displex does an excellent job with deep damage, but in the case when all the effects were ineffective, it makes sense to turn to specialists. For example, if the scratch is in the interior of a car, take advantage of the special damage removal service that most car washes offer.
How to remove scratches on a plastic window sill
COSMOFEN 10 perfectly restores the gloss of a glossy plastic surface.
A plastic window sill, of course, is superior in many ways to its wooden counterparts, but scratching it is easy. It is not uncommon for damage to be left by an awkwardly moved flower pot or by the hostess who cleans it using a brush with stiff bristles. It is worth noting that scratches can become a source of additional dirt that will get into them, and removing it will not be too easy.
Of course, the ideal option would be to completely replace the window sill with a new one. But if this method does not work, try to repair the damage yourself:
Using sandpaper, you can remove all the bumps from the windowsill.
- if it is supposed to treat small scratches, then this remedy can be applied immediately to them;
- in the case when removal is required for deep damage, their surface must first be cleaned with sandpaper.
Scratches on the plastic bumper 
Building hair dryer 
Removing scratches from plastic 
Scratch Pencil 
Fine sandpaper 
