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Keeping your car looking its best doesn’t mean you have to keep visiting an auto repair shop so often; not if you already know how to tackle some minor external repairs yourself at home. Regularly paying a repair garage for small touch-ups or maintenance can end up costing you a ton of money over time, but a little time learning some simple DIY could end up saving you that fortune.
What’s more, the satisfaction you’ll feel after knowing you saved your money and fixed those small scratches on your bumper, small dents or paint touch-ups yourself will be worth it! Taking care of these kinds of minor external issues can not only make a big difference in your car’s appearance but also its longevity.
If you think that you could benefit from learning some of the basics to help you keep on top of all the essential car repairs then make sure to keep reading our handy guide; we’ll walk you through some practical DIY tips to keep your car looking its best.
Fixing Scratches on Car Bumpers
How many times have you pulled up onto your drive and gotten out of your car only to realise there are scratches on your bumper; it’s a common nuance nearly all car owners face no matter how careful they are. Most monitor scratchers on a car bumper are likely to be Clear coat – meaning they often look worse than they are. That means you can likely fix them at home using simple DIY methods…
For Clear Coat scratches, here are some effective DIY fixes:
- Clean the Area: Thoroughly wash and dry the scratched area to remove any dirt and debris.
- Sand the Scratch: Gently sand the scratch(s) and surrounding area with fine-grit sandpaper to smooth out the surface.
- Apply Polish: Use a high-quality scratch removal polish. Make sure to apply it directly into the scratch with a microfiber cloth, working it in with small circular motions.
You might want to buy and use a dedicated Scratch Kit that typically includes all the necessary sanding, polish and buffer tools. Alternatively, you can use some household items like toothpaste to remove minor scratches with a wet cloth and follow the same circular motions to buff them out.
Example picture of a bumper taken from autodoc.co.uk
Fixing Dents at home
Another common nuisance for many car owners is the need to fix dents, especially when they seem to appear with no explanation. Fixing dents, as well as minor scratches, can end up being very costly. That’s why we wanted to lend a hand by sharing some tips on how you can fix minor issues yourself. Dents, especially, shouldn’t be left as the deformity in the metal over time can end up leading to bigger dents as well as other issues if not treated quickly.
Fortunately, you can often repair small dents at home, and here’s how:
- Heating Agents: Apply heat to the dented area using a hairdryer or a pot of boiling water. The heat can help to soften the metal, making it easier to reshape.
- Pulling Agents: Use a suction cup dent puller or even a plunger that’s appropriately sized for the dent. Make Sure the dent puller or plunger is firmly attached to create a strong seal to pull any dents out efficiently.
Be sure to check out good quality blogs for more support on how to fix dents and buff out minor scratches on your car at home.
Support with other minor car DIY and repairs:
If it’s not just scratches to your bumper, or small dents you need help with fixing (at home), maybe you need to remove tar from your car – then there are plenty of resources online with practical tips like ours to guide you. However, care maintenance and DIY should not be rushed or underestimated as you could make scratchers or even dents worse if you do not take care when repairing minor external abrasions. So be careful, take your time and if you think your car needs a professional hand then we still advise going to the garage or repair shop for help.
Resources used in this article:
https://www.autodoc.co.uk/info/diy-guide-how-remove-tar-your-car
https://masterauto.tech/home-fixes-for-your-cars-exterior
David Prior
David Prior is the editor of Today News, responsible for the overall editorial strategy. He is an NCTJ-qualified journalist with over 20 years’ experience, and is also editor of the award-winning hyperlocal news title Altrincham Today. His LinkedIn profile is here.
