How to Repair Chipped and Scratched Car Paint
"Oh no, someone just scratched your car!"
Of course, those are words that you probably hate to hear, but inevitably they do ring true. In crowded mall parking lots and grocery store shopping areas, cars can often get bumped or scratched by doors and stray shopping carts. Don't despair, because you can usually repair chipped or scratched car paint with little effort. Fortunately, the supplies you need for this minor surface repair won't empty your wallet either.
Step One: Clean Like There's No Tomorrow
Before you actually repair the damaged area on your automobile, be sure to clean the affected area completely. You'd be surprised how much of the damaged area is restored just by cleaning off the dirt and dust surrounding it. Usually, body damage is only severe if the paint has been completely removed from the surface. If you still see the color of your car shining through, or even a slight whitish color, then you probably only have surface damage. Once you have cleaned the area thoroughly, you are ready to proceed to the next step.
Step Two: Rub a Dub with a Little Elbow Grease
If you don't already own some white pasty goop called rubbing compound, then purchase a small jar from your local Wal-Mart or automotive store. You can usually get a small container of rubbing compound for about three dollars. In addition, you might want to pick up a soft buffing pad, so you don't have to risk scratching your car with an abrasive paper towel or wash cloth. Put a nickel size amount of rubbing compound on your buffing pad and gently but assertively begin to rub it on the scratched area. It is best to use a small circular motion when you rub to get the full effect. If some of the white residue from the rubbing compound is still visible after rubbing the affected area, take a soft cloth and carefully wipe it off. You should notice a dramatic difference. Often times, you do not need to take any further action because the rubbing compound has sufficiently repaired the damaged area.
Step Three: Touch Up with Automotive Paint
Once you have carefully cleaned the area and have used rubbing compound to prepare the surface of your car, use a little automotive paint to finish the job. It is vitally important that you use automotive paint that matches the model, make and color of your car. Most automotive stores have a catalogue of paint colors to choose from. The bottle of paint and the attached paint brush isn't usually much larger than a bottle of white out. Carefully, remove the excess amounts of paint from the paintbrush before you begin to touch up your damaged area. You need to use exact precision as you paint, or you will wind up with a slightly raised area that does not blend in with the original paint on the car.
Don't let a door ding get the best of you. These simple steps will help you repair a minor automobile chip or scratch with great ease.
