The third method to remove scratches from glass is to use baking soda and water. Step 2. There are 16 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This will also have to be soaked. If the scratch is not too deep, there might still be hope with some “home remedies”. Finally, clean and polish the area so it looks like new! Katelin Hill, The Best Winter Camping Destinations in America, How To: Remove Scratches from Stainless Steel, 45 Things Every Homeowner Should Know How to Do. Non-abrasive cleaners will only remove dirt and grime from the scratch and not the scratch itself. How do you remove scratches from plastic lenses? Wash the scratched area with a specialized soapy water. Combine equal parts water and baking soda to create a thick paste and apply with a cotton round or cloth, working in into the scratch with gentle, circular motions. I used a white rubber eraser, but you can also use the type that's found on the end of a pencil. In many cases, you can buff the scratch out with some simple polishing compound. The Heat ‘n Rub: Surface to Moderate Scratch Repair. Scratches can easily be inflicted onto plastic surfaces in your car as they are fairly soft in comparison to paintwork and other materials. How to Repair Plastic Bumper Scratches: Is your car bumper scuffed or scratched? While scratches on glass lenses cannot be removed, scratches on plastic prescription eyeglasses can be buffed out, allowing you to extend their use. Generally, if you run your fingernail over the scratch and the nail doesn’t hook, it’s shallow enough to be successfully treated with light abrasives, such as toothpaste or baking soda. So rather than trash those plastic items, get them looking good as new again with our tips for how to remove scratches from plastic. The “heat ‘n rub” is a popular choice for surface to moderately deep scratches. Don’t worry as we’ve got 5 hacks to rid your car’s finish of deep scratches. Because they are made of plastic, face shields can easily become scratched. “C an you remove deep scratches?” This is a question we get a lot… YES, THEY CAN! Polishing acrylic sheets can not only fix scratches but should also prevent future damage that might affect its durability. For minor cosmetic damage, like a surface ... Take a sheet of coarse sandpaper and remove any obvious dust from the top layer of the hardened filler. This is only affective on plastic lenses, which is most common these days with prescription glasses and reading glasses. If you have a deeper scratch, start by getting several grades of sandpaper. The silica in toothpaste may be just abrasive enough to touch up minor scratches. It’s important, however, to proceed with caution: Use the wrong technique, and you could dull the finish or create more scratches, worsening the problem. Put some toothpaste (without granules or whitening effect) onto a cotton pad or a piece of cotton cloth, and gently rub it into the glass surface using circular movements for about 10 seconds. You may need to repeat the process a few times, but, eventually, the plastic will gleam as good as new again. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 271,016 times. The rear window is Plexi (hard plastic) and was severely scratched up after 50 years of high-speed driving. Make sure to wet the sandpaper each time, and to work gently. How can I clean a scratched plastic screen? An occasional shallow mark can go unnoticed, but over time they’ll add up and leave your plastic possession looking quite worn out. If you’re going to use sunscreen to remove a scratch, you’ve got to remove the entire layer of mirror coating — dramatically altering the appearance of your lenses, the view tint, and the light transmission of the lens. HOW TO FIX PLASTIC SCRATCHES, GOUGES AND BREAKS PART 1: ATV & UTV,Dirtbike : Fenders, gas tank, side panels the works. If the scratches are deeper than 5mm, it may not be possible to polish out the scratches. Some ways to remove scratches from a plastic screen include: wiping with a Magic Eraser, using a specifically designed commercial scratch remover, rubbing with a pencil eraser or polishing with car headlight cream. Then, rub the sandpaper over the scratch in a circular motion. For the deeper scratches you end up having to start with 400 grit or worse, and work your way up to 1500 grit to get a smooth surface. Deep scratches may require the use of a coarser 1,000-grit paper, but do not use a lower grit than that, or you risk adding scratches to the acrylic instead of removing them. Using dish soap and warm water, wash the window first, ensuring the scratched area is well cleaned and wiped. If the scratch is deep, follow up with a finer grit of sandpaper, 1000 grit or more. Fortunately, it’s possible to banish such blemishes with a little elbow grease and a few household supplies as easy to find as opening up a medicine cabinet. Unfortunately, deeper scratches on acrylic products require a little more effort to remove. Take a clean, damp cloth and dip it into some warm, soapy water. First buff using a mild abrasive, like toothpaste or baking soda. If neither toothpaste nor baking soda has done the trick, move on to wet sandpaper. The window had hazing, light scratches, and few deep gouges. You don't have to cover your car with hard-to-remove bumper stickers to make it look better, however. Follow the instructions outlined above in the article for sanding and polishing to remove the scratches. The scratches distort your vision and make the shields dangerous to wear. Remove light scratches in acrylic with a liquid polisher. However, accidents and inattentiveness can sometimes cause scratches on the lenses of these glasses. If you want to learn how to remove scratches from acrylic, acrylic sheets or acrylic products, also commonly known as Plexiglass or Perspex, read this step by step guidance from the team of plastic experts at The Plastic … While scratches on glass lenses cannot be removed, scratches on plastic prescription eyeglasses can be buffed out, allowing you to extend their use. These scratches can look very unsightly especially in direct light and if it is a clear plastic affected they can even detract from and obscure what is underneath or behind it. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Rinse periodically to check your progress, repeating until you’ve completely removed the scratch. It's … To remove scratches from sunglasses, start by putting a pea-sized amount of non-abrasive toothpaste on a cotton ball. If your plastic lens has only superficial oxidation on the glass, all you need is good plastic polish. Call us crazy, but we enjoy the … You can find sandpaper at any store that sells hardware supplies. I’ll use this to actually just fill the scratches. This article has been viewed 271,016 times. Don’t expect miracles; bad scratches won’t shift just by using a basic paste; the lenses may need professional polishing or even replacement. Wait for the filler to dry completely. Using wet sand paper could even work for medium to deep scratches, but I don’t like removing that much plastic from my ATV parts. Lift the excess filler off with your fingers. To check whether a scratch is deep or not, rub over it with your fingernail. All you need is a clean towel, some water, sandpaper, and a plastic rubbing compound. My go-to is this JB Weld Plastic Bonder Gap Filler found here on Amazon. You’re now left with a deep scratch that will really cost you a lot to repair and get fixed. How to Remove Scratches from a Phone Screen, How to Remove Scratches from Plastic Lens Glasses, https://www.todayshomeowner.com/how-to-hide-or-repair-scratches-in-plastic-laminate-countertops/, http://www.diydaddyblog.com/the-plastic-people-how-to-remove/, https://itstillruns.com/remove-scratches-plastic-bumpers-5076749.html, éliminer les rayures d'une surface en plastique, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. While not as severe as a crack or dent a trip to a repair shop not only costs quite a bit, but they will probably need to keep your car for a day or two. There are no special tools needed to remove scratches from a plastic motorcycle windscreen. If you’re not sure whether your toothpaste is non-abrasive, it’s best to avoid using it … Clean the area with a dampened cloth and dish soap. wikiHow's. 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