With the use of a vehicle, it is common for it to begin to have different defects that make many wonder how to repair scratches on the car, both on the outside, which can lead us to polish the car, and on the inside, where it is common for interior plastics suffer from various scratches.
The daily wear and tear of the car and the introduction of objects or our own clothing will cause friction that will cause marks or scratches to appear inside the car, which, in addition to having a visual impact, can also depreciate its value in the time of its sale. For this reason, just as it is important that you know how to remove scratches from the car body, it is also important that you do it with its interior plastics.
No driver likes to see scratches inside the cabin, but fortunately it is possible to take action if you want to know how to remove scratches from car interior plastics. As long as the damage is not very deep, you can easily remove or reduce it; while if they are, you will have to completely replace the part.
Instructions to remove scratches from car interior plastics
If you want to know how to remove scratches from car interior plastics, we are going to differentiate between the methods to be carried out depending on the type of surface.
Plastic/vinyl surfaces
- First of all, you should clean the entire damaged area with soap and water. To do this, opt for a liquid soap for vehicle plastics and mix it with warm water. Clean very well with a rag and use a soft-bristled brush to remove deep-seated dirt if the plastic has an uneven texture.
- After cleaning, let it dry completely and take a fine-grained sandpaper to be able to remove the small creases of the damaged material, which will usually leave them.
- Once you’ve sanded these ridges down, it’s time to use a heat gun on half power or a hair dryer on full power, applying heat so the damaged area is soft to the touch. However, be careful not to overheat the area. When the material has a leather-like texture and is getting shiny, you can continue with the process.
- With the surface still hot, it will be time to press the plastic with a fine-grained polishing sponge with the palm of your hand. In this way you will get the pad to make the plastic match the rest of the surface, a pressure that may be enough to close the inner edges of the scratch.
- You ‘ll then want to let the area cool and harden before you get to the final step.
- Then you can see how the scratch will no longer be seen as much. When it is completely cool, it will be time to check with the superfine sandpaper for the removal of imperfections.
- After sanding you will have to clean it with isopropyl alcohol or interior cleaner. Finally, you must add a transparent layer of protection such as varnish.
Leather or synthetic leather surfaces
Unlike with plastic or vinyl, removing vehicle gears on a faux leather dashboard or body requires another way of proceeding. If it is only a superficial mark, it will be enough to use a leather repair wax or spray and a microfiber cloth.
However, if we find deep scratches, other measures will be necessary to deal with these scratches that may affect the condition of the interior of the vehicle. In any case, you should know that leather repair is tedious and requires a greater amount of time.
The steps are quite similar to plastic and vinyl, but with techniques and products suitable for leather treatment. To begin with, you will have to remove traces of dirt and burrs from the scratch, and then get a repair product, which will usually consist of a putty.
You will need to gently apply the compound to the damaged area to fill in the scratch. For deeper scratches you will sometimes need to use a backing pad.
If possible, push the pad down with the tools to create a layer of padding. Once covered, you can spread the excess product on the outer layer to achieve a uniform surface. Then you will have to give a few touches with a damp piece of paper or towel and let it dry.
Once it is dry, you will have to rub the repaired area with a little alcohol and a microfiber cloth in a circular motion. This way you will get the edges to be softened, this step being key to achieving the best finish. If you find that an additional layer of padding is needed, follow the steps above.
When you see that everything is fine, it will be time to protect the surface. To do this, cover the area with a ceramic coating.
