Dogs are known for being loyal companions, but they can also be a menace to cars. In addition to shedding all over the inside of your vehicle, dogs can also scratch the paint with their sharp claws. If your car has been scratched by your dog, don’t worry – there are ways to fix it. In this blog post, we’ll show 5 steps on how to get dog scratches out of car paint and inside your car.
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Remove dog scratches out of car paint in 5 steps
Before we explain the steps, it’s important to note that this does not work for deep scratches that have penetrated the paint layer and reached the metal beneath. This process is only meant for surface-level scratches.
To check if your scratches are deep or surface scratches, spray water over the scratch and see if the water temporarily removes the scratch. If so, your scratch is probably a surface scratch.
If the scratch is still visible, even when wet, then it’s a deep scratch that has penetrated the paint layer. In this case, you’ll need to repaint the area to cover up the scratch.
Step 1 - Clean the scratch
First you need a micro-fiber towel and soap. Any kind of soap will do, as long as it’s not harsh. Avoid using any kind of cleaner that contains alcohol, as this can damage the car paint.
Spray the soapy water onto the scratch, and then use the microfiber towel to wipe it down. Try to wipe in a circular motion to avoid making the scratch worse.
Step 2 - Tape the scratch
Once the scratch is clean, you’ll need to tape off the area around it. This is important because you don’t want to accidentally scratch the surrounding paint while you’re trying to fix the initial scratch.
Use painter’s tape or masking tape to cover the area around the scratch. Make sure that the tape is parallel to the car’s scratch so that you have a clean line to work with.
Step 3 - Sand the scratch
Before sanding, spray water over the scratch and make sure that the area is wet. This will help to avoid damaging the paint while you’re sanding.
First start with a 3000-grit sandpaper and sand over the scratch in a perpendicular motion. You don’t need to press too hard – just enough to remove the top layer of paint. Check every 15 seconds or so to see if the scratch is gone.
If the scratch is still there, spray water again and sand another round. Continue this process until the scratch is no longer visible.
Once the scratch is gone, your left with a slightly dull area where the scratch was. This is normal and expected. We want to spread this area out with 5000-grit sandpaper to make it less noticeable.
So move your tape slightly over, so that you’re no longer directly over the scratch. Now take your 5000-grit sandpaper and sand in a perpendicular motion until the area looks evenly dull.
Step 4 - Polish the scratch
Get a clean microfiber towel and apply a small amount of car polish or rubbing compound. You don’t need much – just enough to cover the area you’re trying to fix.
Rub the polish into the scratch in a circular motion. The goal here is to restore the shine to the area.
Keep polishing until the area looks shiny and new again.
Step 5 - Wax the scratch
To protect the area you just fixed, apply a coat of car wax. This will help to prevent future scratches and keep your car looking good as new.
Apply the wax in a circular motion and make sure to cover the entire area. Let the wax dry for a few minutes before buffing it off with a clean microfiber towel.
This process should help to remove any superficial scratches from your car’s paint. If you have any deeper scratches, you’ll need to repaint the area to cover them up.
How to remove dog scratches inside your car?
Has your dog scratched your dashboard? Or worse, have they scratched the leather seats?
If so, don’t worry – there are a few things you can do to remove the scratches.
Using a magic sponge
A magic sponge is a soft sponge that is used to remove scratches from cars. To use it, dampen the sponge with water and rub it over the scratched area. The scratching should disappear instantly.
If it doesn’t, you can try using a little bit of dish soap on the sponge. Magic sponges are one of the easiest ways to remove scratches from cars and they can be found at most DIY stores.
Using toothpaste
Toothpaste can be used for more than just cleaning your teeth. It can also be used to remove scratches from items made of wood, plastic, or metal. To use toothpaste to remove scratches, simply apply a small amount to the affected area and rub it in with your finger.
The toothpaste will fill in the scratch and make it less noticeable. Keep in mind that this method may not work on deep or extensive scratches. If the scratch is still visible after you’ve used toothpaste, you may want to try another method.
Use leather oil
If your dog has scratched the leather seats in your car, you can try using leather oil to fix the problem. Simply apply a small amount of oil to the scratch and rub it in with your finger.
The oil will help to hide the scratch and make it less noticeable. In addition, it can also help to condition the leather and prevent future damage. So next time your dog leaves behind a little mess, reach for the leather oil and rest assured knowing that you can quickly fix the problem.
How to avoid potential dog scratches in the future?
For the exterior car paint, waxing will already help to create a barrier against potential scratches.
For the interior, you can use seat covers or car mats to protect the leather from sharp nails. In addition, you may want to keep your dog’s nails trimmed on a regular basis. This will help to prevent them from scratching the leather when they get in and out of the car.
Final thoughts
If your dog has scratched your car, don’t panic. There are a few things you can do to remove the scratches. For the exterior car paint, we recommend following the 5 steps that we gave to remove car scratches out of car paint.
For the interior, you can try using a magic sponge, toothpaste, or leather oil to fix the problem. You can also avoid potential dog scratches in the future by waxing your car and keeping your dog’s nails trimmed. Thanks for reading!
