Which scratch removers

Advertiser Disclosure. Every car likely has a scratch or two on it from getting dinged in a parking lot or scraped by the garage door when pulling in. With a car scratch remover, you can treat those spots and make your car look new again.

To learn about your options, read our review on the five best car scratch removers. First, our review team compiled information on all of the most popular car scratch removers on Amazon. Then, we narrowed down the top five contenders and purchased each product to test in person. Fortunately for the purposes of our review, one of our team members had scraped their car against a cement pillar in a parking garage prior to testing. The scrape was large enough to test out all five products.

There were scrapes on the door as well as the corner of the front bumper. We also considered the following factors when reviewing each product:.

Before testing, we thoroughly washed the scratches on the car to get rid of any dust or residue from the cement pillar. We then used a cordless drill and a single type of polishing pad to test each of the products except for the 3M Scratch Removal System, which came with its own pads. Be aware that many of the scratches on our test car were very deep. DIY car scratch removal products are only meant to resurface the top layer of clear coat, not fill in deep scratches.

However, the products removed most if not all of the smaller scratches on the vehicle. It removes all kinds of paint imperfections, including scratches and swirls. It can also be applied to any paint finish using your hands, a polisher, or a buffer. The product costs about half of what the other brands are charging.

It even comes in an eight-ounce bottle, which means you will have enough product to remove several scratches. We tested it in the central area of the photo above. You can see that there are significantly fewer scratches on the door and that the remaining scratches are less noticeable.

Again, many of the scratches on our test vehicle were too deep for DIY car scratch products to cure. More than 2, Amazon customers have reviewed this product and given it an average rating of 4. Customers are pleased with how well it removes shallow and moderate scratches.

They even say that it leaves cars polished, which suggests that it contains some wax to match the shine of the rest of the car. This is the only car scratch remover that advertises its ability to treat both moderate and deep scratches in the paint. This means you should be able to remove everything from a small ding to a deep key scratch with this product.

This car scratch remover comes in a This allows you to treat all of the scratches around your car and save the rest for future scratches. We found the scratch remover product from Chemical Guys to be very effective. In the image above, you can see that it took care of almost all of the scratches except for the very deep ones.

However, be sure to use this product with adequate ventilation. This product has an average score of 4. They say it removes moderate scratches well and greatly diminishes the appearance of deeper ones.

There are some complaints by customers that the product doesn't help with swirls, and some say that it may make them worse. This is one of two car scratch remover kits in this review. It comes with a bottle of liquid and a buffer pad. The application process is easy and only requires putting some liquid on the pad and buffing it into the scratch.

Deeper scratches will require a pro-grade compound that removes the scratches for good and keeps your paint job intact. If you can afford it, get a paint removal kit. They typically come with everything you need to complete a job from start to finish.

In addition, manufacturers design all the pieces in the kit for their particular compound. While buying a kit is not necessary, it makes the job a lot easier and eliminates the guesswork of buying the right removal tools.

Most car scratch removal kits are not stand-alone products. Once you finish removing the scratches, you will need to follow up with a sealant or wax.

This will protect the paint and reinforce the job. You are less likely to see the scratches come back if you take this extra step. A simple application by hand is all you need to do the job. The only exception is a heavy-duty compound designed for professional scratch removal. The micro polishing formulation can leave a brilliant shine on the surface.

You simply apply the remover by hand and buff it out. It is a simple product that handles the tiny blemishes on your car. After you apply and remove the compound, you will notice a clear, smooth surface with no residue. The micro-abrasive technology leaves a glossy finish allowing your car to look brand new. It is safe to use on any car, truck, or SUV. You can apply it by hand or use a dual-action polisher.

It helps you remove fine scratches, scuff marks, and swirl marks. The polishing compound makes it easy to detail your car, as it is tough but safe to use. Just buff the compound in the scratch area and then wipe it off.

Cleanup is easy, and you can complete a job fast. The compound is versatile enough to be used on both scratches and polishing. Apply it using a soft cloth. Simply rub the compound into the scratch in a small circular motion. The limited wiping in our test meant it trailed a little after the first attempt, but all signs of the scraper mark were removed at the second try.

It made good progress on the wire wool and we liked the improvement in the overall finish of our tired paint. Not the cheapest option, but an effective all-rounder even without the help of a power tool. Buy it from the Auto Finesse shop here. Results were close among the products in the midfield in our test, but Britemax Perfect Prep just emerges on top. It claims to remove swirl marks and clean paint, too, which was why we saw a good improvement in the overall shine, but slower progress on the marks on our scrap bonnet.

It took a second attempt before it eradicated the screen scraper mark. A good performer, although there were faster formulas on test. Lacks the bite of the best scratch removers, but it strikes a good balance between that and improving the finish. Buy it from Britemax Direct here. You get a paltry amount of paste, but Quixx also supplies sheets of sandpaper and two cloths. If the scratch is deep, use the paper before tackling the mark with the two pastes. Splitting our wiping between the two stages, we found initial progress slow compared to the best here.

But on the second attempt, we achieved a good, shiny finish and the plastic mark was removed with just traces of the tricky swirl left. Comprehensive, but comparatively expensive.

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