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Car Wax To Fix Scratches – Editorial note: This content has been researched and produced by an expert review team. Links in this article may result in us receiving a commission, but do not constitute our advice or recommendations. Learn more
Aidan Pounder is a product tester who has written reviews covering everything from tonneau covers to roof racks. If he’s not burning out of the clutch of his 2003 Ford Focus Zx3, you’ll find him keeping up with the latest in the world of European soccer.
Car Wax To Fix Scratches
Every car probably has a scratch or two after being nicked in a parking lot or scraped against a garage door. They can also allow water damage or rust to show up and cause an expensive repair bill. With car scratch removal, you can treat these spots and make your car look like new again.
Turtle Wax Scratch Repair And Renew 7oz
The car scratch removers in this article went through two rounds of review. We started by scouring retailers like Amazon, RealTruck, and Advance Auto Parts for the best products, looking at factors such as application methods, types of removers, customer ratings, and prices.
Our product testing team then ordered the car scratch removers that best met these criteria. A member of the team tested each product on one of our test cars, looking at how easy the car scratch cleaner was to use, how effective it was, and whether it left any residue.
One of our team members scraped his car on a cement pillar in the parking lot before the test. This gave us the perfect test vehicle to simulate the damage often seen on daily driver vehicles. The scratch was large enough to test all five products, as there were scratches on the corner of the door and front bumper.
Each car scratch remover was given a 5.0 star rating based on ease of use, effectiveness and residue.
Ml Car Scratch Remover Kit Car Scratch Repair Polishing Wax Anti Scratch Cream Car Body Paint Retreading Wash Scratch Repair
Our review team thoroughly researched the most popular car scratch removers on auto enthusiast message boards and on sites like Amazon. We searched for products with positive customer reviews that were known for removing small vehicle scratches easily and effectively.
Then we ordered some of the best car scratch removers from different brands and at different price points to test.
Before testing, we thoroughly washed the scratches on the car to get rid of any cement pillar dust or residue. We then used a cordless drill and one type of polishing pad to test each product (except for the 3M Scratch Removal System, which came with the pads).
Most of the scratches on our test car were deep. Automotive scratch removers are only designed to remove the top layer of clear coat, not to fill deep scratches. You will see that some scratches are still visible after the test. However, the product removed most, if not all, of the minor scratches on the car.
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After using each car’s scratch remover according to the included instructions, we evaluated ease of use, the overall effectiveness of each product, and how much residue was left after use.
Some car scratch removers are easier to use than others. For a specific product, can we easily understand how to use it and apply the appropriate techniques? Did the product require heavy scrubbing or multiple flicks of the wrist to apply? Car scratch cleaners that are simple and quick to work are top rated in this category.
What car scratches did the product remove and what did the car look like afterwards? We measured performance by noting how well (or how poorly) each product hides scratches. We tested each remover on car scratches of varying depth with the expectation that these products would not remove deeper scratches.
Car scratch products tend to leave a residue after the foaming process. How much product was left and did it make the car difficult to clean? Products that left the least amount of residue or residue scored the best in this category.
Amazon.com: Car Scratch Repair Polishing Wax Kit Sponge Body Compound Cream Wax Car Body Compound Scratch Remover Vehicle Paint Scratch Repair Auto Paint Scratch Remover Kit Car Scratch Repair (universal)
Every year we test more than 350 automotive products on vehicles and in our test lab. Our team of product testers scrutinize the best products, open the boxes and get our hands on each component, and test things out on real cars before making recommendations to readers.
We publish hundreds of product and service reviews to bring car enthusiasts detailed guides to automotive tools, detail kits, car seats, pet products and much more. For more information on our testing methodology and evaluation of each product, please visit our methodology page here.
After we tested several options, ranging from price, we decided that Meguiar’s Car Scratch Remover was one of the best options based on cost and effectiveness. That said, our other recommendations are also effective scratch removers that some may prefer depending on your time, budget, and vehicle.
*As cost data fluctuates, the prices in the above table are approximate values, which are updated regularly by our team.
Amazon.com: Turtle Wax 53881 Scratch Repair And Renew, Removes Fine Surface Scratches, Swirls, Paint Transfer, For Vehicles Including Cars, Trucks And Motorcycles, Safe For All Paint Colors, 7 Oz (pack Of 3)
For those interested in learning more, we’ve provided a detailed overview of each of the best car scratch removal products in the sections below:
Meguiar’s Car Scratch Remover ranks first because of its versatility and affordability. It removes all types of paint defects, including scratches and swirls. You can also apply it to any paint using your hands, a polisher, or a buffer.
The product costs about half of what other brands charge. It even comes in an eight-ounce bottle, which means you’ll have enough product to remove multiple scratches.
We found the Meguiar’s to be easy to work with and it removed all the small scratches on this area of the car. We tested it in the center 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 car were too deep for DIY car scratch products to treat.
Amazon.com: Iidack Vrsgs Car Wax,car Scratch Repair Cream Wax,scratch Remover For Vehicles Deep Scratches,car Coating Fast Wax Polishing Spray 1pcs
Customers are pleased with how well Meguiar’s Mirror Glaze Ultra-Cut Compound removes superficial to moderate scratches. Customers even say it leaves cars looking polished, implying that it contains a wax that matches the rest of the car’s shine. However, some reviewers complain about how difficult it is to remove this product after you’re done scratching it.
This is one of two car scratch removal kits for this review. It comes with a liquid bottle and a buffer pad. The application process is easy and only requires putting some liquid on a pad and rubbing it into the scratch.
In addition to removing scratches on any paint finish or color, it restores paint, making the paint job look shiny and new again.
We found that Carfidant Ultimate Scratch & Swirl Remover removed most scratches quite well. This product also left a nice shine on the car’s surface. That said, you can see that the product didn’t manage to come out of every scratch. Most of these scratches penetrated the paint layer beneath the clear coat.
How To Remove Paint Scratches From Your Car
Users say Carfidant Ultimate Scratch & Swirl Remover removes light scratches and scuff marks. Some customers even say it has exceeded their expectations and lightened or removed deeper scratches that they thought would require professional work. There are some complaints that the varnish only stays until the car gets wet. After that, the scratch allegedly reappears.
This mini 4.0 ounce bottle of Shine Armor Revive Scratch Repair & Swirl Remover is perfect for the car owner who only needs to treat a few spots. It removes scratches as well as other imperfections such as swirls, water spots and oxidations.
This product is also wax-free and filler-free, which means you can treat the stain once and not have to worry about the repair fading over time.
Oh, this part of the car suffered the deepest scratches from the cement post, and the Shine Armor scratch remover had its work cut out for it. You can see that the sill actually goes through all the layers of clearcoat and paint to get to the metal underneath.
Lyla Solid Car Wax Easy To Use Repair Scratches Protection Automotive Coating Wax| Automotive Tools & Supplies
Overall, Shine Armor Revive Scratch Repair & Swirl Remover did a great job getting rid of minor to moderate scratches on the car. For some reason, the actual liquid was the easiest to work with and press onto the foam pad. Maybe the smaller bottle makes it easier to handle.
Customers say that Shine Armor Revive Scratch Repair & Swirl Remover removes minor scratches and that deeper scratches are only visible with a close look. They report that it works best when used with Shine Armor’s Fortify Quick Coat. Some customers say it’s too expensive, especially compared to other car scratch cleaners that are more effective.
This kit is a bit more complicated than the Carfidant, but it gives you all the tools you need and detailed instructions to get you going. The 3M Scratch Removal System comes with a scratch remover, a lubricant, two squeegees, sandpaper, and a buffer attachment.
This kit is ideal for light damage and will remove scratches, scuffs and other marks from the paint surface.
Do Car Wax & Exterior Detailing Remove Scratches?
Above you can see what the 3M Scratch Removal System did
