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But at the end of the day, were human so mistakes might be there. With our detailed step-by-step guide on how to remove scratches from car interior plastic, youll become a pro at this. Thats all about the car vinyl scratch repair process. Before you go ahead and use any kind of paint or glue, you have to clean the panel. All Rights Reserved. Apply the grain pad to the intended area using light pressure. However, paying a professional to fix a scratch is usually the most expensive option, even though it also offers some of the best results. Large gaps probably aren't fixable with this method, unfortunately. If the plastic starts to look slightly shiny, its probably ready. I understand that I can unsubscribe at any time. However, our method might take a few tries to perfect the repair. Simple soap and water are more than enough for regular cleaning. 2022 iFixit Licensed under Creative Commons Privacy Finally, wipe the area with another rag and it shouldnt have scratches. However, if you dont have much time, you can use a heat gun to speed up the process. The extra plastic makes kind of an uneven edge and high spot. Power. Using the heat gun, gently apply heat to the plastic until it begins to soften. We tried to make the guide as detailed as possible. This should smooth out the scratch and will give a textured finish that will blend in with the rest of the panel. The first thing you need to do to repair a plastic scratch is to make sure the whole area is clean. After that, it's very easy for these trim pieces to get scratched. Spray a thin layer of prep spray so that the surface holds on the paint perfectly. Terms Next, use a mild abrasive such as baking soda or toothpaste on the damaged area. Unfortunately, this method doesn't work for larger scratches and doesn't work for large gashes through the plastic. As there are many varieties, make sure you get the one that has glue sticks and a glue gun. So, thats all we had on how to remove scratches from car interior plastic. You can go to an auto parts store and buy a specialized kit that comes with the tools you need to fix and buff scratches. Day to day use over time will add up, and youre almost inevitably going to scratch the surface of your plastic interior - especially if you use your car every day, have kids, or like to take long trips in your vehicle. First, youll have to make sure the surface is clean. Finally, give the prep spray some time to properly and itll be ready for the step. Accessibility. At the end of the day, WD-40 is oil. You can keep the panel on the car if you want. However, you can use a metal tool to manipulate the plastic for a larger scratch and help cover any gaps. How to Remove Scratches from a Car's Interior. Now, if youre using the same razor blade as before, its essential that you scrape off any residue from it. To do so, you can use anything from a razor blade to a piece of sandpaper. Unfortunately, plastic is not impervious to damage. Privacy Policy. The next step is to use your heat gun to start to soften the plastic around the scratch. Moreover, youll be saved from any kind of contamination that might get trapped from the repair. Fortunately, interior panel replacements are usually more affordable than replacing exterior panels. Remember the texture you created in step 3? No matter what you do, make sure to dry the area with a piece of clean and dry rag. So, the first thing you need to do is to remove those high spots from the affected areas. At the end of the article, youll know what you should and shouldnt do. After a few tries, itll be perfect. The pad should have a few different standard textures to choose from, so look for the matching texture. You never know if youre going to damage the interior even more with the excessive heat from the heat gun. Many new cars use piano-black plastic interior trim, which only looks nice for about the first five minutes after taking delivery of the vehicle. The texture should now look similar to the unaffected area. But the good news is you can fix it quite easily. Use a super- fine grain sandpaper to sand out the area, making it smooth and authentic looking. But dont worry you wont have to waste countless hours only for this purpose. This is when you can start spraying the paint on the interior. You can apply some toothpaste on a rag and rub it on the surface to remove the scratches. To apply the putty evenly on the panel, you can use either a spreader or a razor blade. In those cases, you'll likely have to replace the interior panel. Clean the area around the scratch with the interior cleaner. Although its better not to do it. Much like re-texturing the plastic, it's best to wait for the plastic to have fully hardened before you begin cleaning. For restoring the texture, youll have to find a DIY car interior scratch remover. Top-Rated 2020 Sedans in Quality According to Consumers, Crafting heat gun (helps make the plastic pliable and easier to shape), Interior grain pad (essential for matching the texture of the surrounding plastic). Use the pad to press the texture into the plastic to cover the scratch. Power. Wed suggest you use a razor blade. Now that youve made the perfect repair with the right texture, its time for some prep spray. Now, wait for some time to let it dry a little bit. Go slow here. 2022 MH Sub I, LLC. Those small pads also need to be cleaned more frequently, Kosilla said. Your email address will not be published. Scrub the sandpaper across the plastic for a minute or so, occasionally checking to see if the texture is right. That requires multiple cycles of applying polishing compound to the pad, hitting a small area of interior trim, cleaning the pad off, and repeating. If you don't want to go through that laborious process again soon, you can also put a clear bra on plastic interior trim, Kosilla said, noting that it's not something he personally does. After youre done with the cleaning process, you should go ahead and use some prep spray. All rights reserved. Come back a couple of hours later and reheat the plastic if you need to retexture it. For this demo, Kosilla used a stick light that hangs from a bar, which attaches to the roof pillars. First of all, you have to clean out any dirt or debris from the surface. Scratches on an interior surface can look ugly and can also depreciate your cars value over time. I agree to receive emails from Motor Authority. However, a scratch kit is usually only filled with enough supplies to handle a couple of scratches. It's important to prevent that residue from contaminating the tiny cleaning pads used to polish away scratches, Kosilla said. That way youll see what youre doing and itll give you a better result. However, if you dont know how to do that, there are many videos on YouTube thatll show you how its done. When there are multiple scratches on your vehicle, it often results in the plastic going far away from the scratches. But with constant use, there are going to be some scratches here and there. If the texturing doesnt entirely take, wait for the plastic to cool. Now lets move on to the actual process. This first step is making sure you can see everything, which can be difficult for dark-colored car interiors. After a light coat of paint, you should let it dry for at least 5 to 6 hours. These kits tend to be a little easier to use. So, clean the plastic with a clean damp rag for a while. Next, Kosilla cleans the area to be detailed with compressed air, a brush, and picks (to get into the gaps between trim pieces), then masks off the area with blue painter's tape. How to Install Tri-fold Tonneau Cover (DIY Tutorial), How to Test the Ignition Switch An Essential Guide, How to Fix Steering Wheel Locked up while Driving, How to install a Subwoofer in a car: Easy Step, How To Remove Tar From Car The Complete Guide. If youre dealing with a particularly large plastic scratch, the kit may only give you enough to repair a single scratch. Toothpaste is quite effective in removing shallow scratches from plastic surfaces. If, while youre cleaning, you notice that the plastic is a little rough feeling or is too smooth, thats when youll grab your fine-grit sandpaper. That being said, lets step into the process-. The timing is the most important part of this step. How To Remove Scratches From A Plastic Car Interior. 2022 J.D. Check the plastic occasionally to see if its started to soften. If the repairs not up to your liking, you can redo the entire process. Next, youll have to put in the texture tool. Wed go for the spreader just so you know. So, without further ado, lets start, shall we? Its a good idea to wait about an hour before you clean the plastic to be on the safe side. Don't leave it on too long or else the plastic will burn and warp. In this article, well guide you through every step of the process. Kosilla also has plenty of other how-to videos on his YouTube channel, covering the basics of car detailing and other common projects like removing scratches from door handles. You see, the glue needs to be removed at the right time. Extra moisture could cause problems and even make the plastic more brittle as it evaporates under the heat gun. Plastic car interiors are often some of the most durable and popular options since they need far less maintenance than other kinds of interior. A car plastic scratch repair is quite simple. Of course, you can also get some car repair and aesthetic specialists to repair the scratch for you. Unlike other methods of how to fix scratches on plastic dashboards that mostly rely on a car interior plastic scratch remover kit, were going to show you a much better method. No one likes scratches on their car, thats a true fact. For most scratches, you won't need to manipulate the plastic to cover it and hide it. Make sure you use a grain pad that closely resembles the trim of your car. Taking pets on car rides can also cause particular wear and tear on your plastic interior, making it that much more likely that you'll need to remove some scratches to keep the plastic looking good. Clean and dry the area again using the same method as in step 1 (the interior cleaner) and you're done! In other words, itll look like a clear coat. But you do have to use masking tape to cover those areas. Next, grab your interior grain pad. After youre done with the cleaning, you should use some PDR glue on the glue sticks and put it on the undamaged area. What is the Recommended Tire Pressure for 44 psi Max. Linn Benton Community College, Team S1-G18, Johnson Fall 2020. The upfront cost is usually a little higher for putting together your own kit, but the long-term prices are lower since you wont have to replace the entire kit every few new scratches. Before you start applying the paint, make sure to get the right color code of the surface. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. A registered trademark of the National Automobile Dealers Association, under license to J.D.