Plastic is known for being durable and for that reason, as well as the low manufacturing cost, many of our possessions are now made from this material.
Plastic items tend to experience a lot of wear and tear due to their tough nature. Electronic devices, kitchen appliances and certain surfaces can get scratches and marks as we use them so often.
It may surprise you to learn that you can often get scratches off plastic by using toothpaste. So before you replace your scratched phone case, try removing the mark with toothpaste.
Read on to find out how this household item can help restore your plastic items which are looking a little worse for wear.
How Does Toothpaste Remove Scratches?
Toothpaste is a mild abrasive meaning it can level out the area surrounding a scratch on a surface. It’s effective in removing shallow scratches from materials such as plastic, even black plastic, glass and stainless steel.
While toothpaste may be effective in removing shallow scratches, it won’t work for deeper marks.
To determine whether toothpaste will work on a scratch, it’s recommended to run your fingernail across the affected surface. If your fingernail catches, it’s probably too deep to be treated with toothpaste.
How Do You Remove Scratches from Plastic with Toothpaste?
Once you’ve determined whether your scratch can be treated with toothpaste, follow these simple steps:
- Clean the surface prior to applying the toothpaste with water. Add a little soap if the surface is particularly dirty.
- Apply enough toothpaste to cover the scratch.
- Using a toothbrush or cloth, rub the toothpaste in using circular motions until the surface evens out.
- Rinse off the toothpaste and check whether the scratch has disappeared.
- If it’s still there, repeat the previous steps until it’s gone.
What Is the Best Toothpaste to Remove Scratches?
Most standard toothpastes will remove scratches from plastic surfaces. However, gel ones won’t be effective as they don’t contain any abrasives.
The best toothpastes for the job are whitening toothpastes, as they often contain abrasive ingredients. To be sure, check the ingredient list for “silica” Any brand of toothpaste will work well for removing scratches.
What to Do if the Scratch Is Too Deep
If your fingernail catches in the scratch when you run it over the surface of the plastic, or you’ve tried toothpaste and it just won’t budge, you will need to try a different method.
There are specialist plastic polishes available for this purpose and you can also try using wet sandpaper so as not to introduce more abrasions.
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