No doubt, everyday driving conditions bring you into contact with all kinds of dings, scratches, and other exterior hazards. Someone in the grocery store parking lot opens their door a little too hard and hits yours. You make a narrow turn into your garage and get a little “scrape.” These cosmetic incidents are a price we pay for everyday driving conditions. Peruzzi Toyota in Hatfield, PA is always around to help with the bigger issues of your vehicle’s exterior conditions – but here are some of their expert tips to fix those little “dings’ on your own.
First, assess the scratch. Many of the minor ones can be handled with a simple rubbing compound and some elbow grease, followed by a coat or two of wax. For more serious dings, you’ll need a more serious approach. Here’s a step-by-step outline of what to do:
STEP 1: CLEAN THE AREA
Use plenty of soapy water and a microfiber cloth to get any dirt off. You don’t want to “rub” it into the area you’re working on. Once the area is cleaned, use some painter’s tape to mark off the exact area you’ll be working on.
STEP 2: SAND THE AREA
This can be tricky, so be prudent – and patient. Sanding out a scratch is essential to provide a solid footing for what comes next. Use either 3000 or 5000 fine-grit sandpaper. To keep from getting too aggressive as you work, wrap the sandpaper around a dish sponge (a gentle barrier against intense fingers). Use some soapy water as an assist. This will soften your approach to the task.
Now that you have the tools and the technique, gently sand the scratch down to the point where the area is a little “hazy” and the scratch is no longer visible.
STEP 3: THE NEXT STEPS
When the scratch is no longer visible, take the next step. Use 5000 grit sandpaper to “feather” the hazy edges. Now, grab another microfiber cloth, apply some “scratch polish” and apply it to this area. The polish will work as another light sanding and help restore some of the sheen to the area. To finalize it, apply a coat of wax. Choose a clay-bar wax to get the dinged area back in shape.
Of course, if the idea of working out the exterior scratches on your vehicle is a little overwhelming, the service experts at Peruzzi Toyota is always available to take it on. Let us know how we can help!
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