There is nothing more frustrating than buying a new phone or pair of sunglasses, only to have scratches appear merely days later. Replacing them, or even the screen or lens, can be a costly exercise.
The miracle solution to your problem is actually hiding away in your bathroom cupboard. Yes, that tube of toothpaste you roll out every morning and evening can, with the right technique, remove or reduce the look of scratches on your favourite gadgets!
So, how does it work?
For starters, the toothpaste you use needs to be paste-based as it acts as a mild abrasive that levels out the scratch. Technique is extremely important as you could potentially create more scratches or dull the finish.
How abrasiveness is measured
Abrasiveness is measured by RDA (Radioactive Dentin Abrasiveness). Not all toothpastes are the same and anything below 70-80 is considered to be low, non-abrasive.
Avoid products such as whitening, plaque removal or toothpastes designed for sensitive teeth.
It’s always a good idea to do a test first small area just to make sure it doesn’t damage the surface. Remember, don’t be too aggressive when rubbing sensitive surfaces!
Let’s talk technique:
Scratched Phone Screen
What you need:
A soft cloth, paper towel, cotton swab or toothbrush
Non-abrasive toothpaste
The Process
- Squeeze a little toothpaste onto either a cloth or cotton bud
- Rub a small amount into the scratched area using a soft cloth or bud. Use a circular motion and remember to be patient and don’t exert too much pressure.
- Clean the screen with a different cloth and your phone should be good as new!
Scratched Watch Face
What you need:
Micro-fiber cloth
Paste-based (not gel) toothpaste
The Process
- The best way to locate the scratches is by inspecting the watch under bright lights.
- You should consider covering the bezel (the ring holding the face in position) with masking tape to avoid damage
- Apply a small dab of toothpaste onto the watch face and use your finger to rub it into the scratch
- Wait a few minutes then polish the watch face with a clean cloth using a circular motion.
Car Scratches
What you need:
Micro-fiber cloth
Paste-based (not gel) toothpaste
Note: You will only be cleaning the scratch, not removing it entirely. In fact, most car scratches look worse than they actually are — dirt penetrates into the scratch making it more obvious to the eye.
The Process
- Apply the toothpaste to the cloth and lightly rub along the scratch
- Polish with a circular motion
You’ll find that
- Smaller and shallow scratches are quite easy to clean
- You may need to apply more hand pressure for larger scratches
- A badly-rusted scratch will need even more hand pressure and may take a little longer to clean.
Stainless Steel Appliances
What you need:
Micro-fiber cloth
Toothbrush
Paste-based (not gel) toothpaste
The Process
- Apply a small amount of the scratch remover compound (the toothpaste) to a microfiber cloth and then very gently rub it back and forth over the scratch, working in the direction of the metal’s grain. Continue until the scratch buffs out.
- Gently wipe the surface with a fresh, barely damp microfiber cloth to remove any compound residue. Dry with another fresh microfiber cloth. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 if needed to completely remove scratches from stainless steel surfaces.
Eye Glasses
Source: https://www.selectspecs.com/guides/how-to/fix-scratches-on-lenses/ And https://www.fabhow.com/remove-scratches-from-glasses.html
What you need:
Use non-abrasive toothpaste
Damp micro-fiber cloth
Note: Using non-abrasive toothpaste is highly important when cleaning scratches from eye glasses so that you don’t damage the sensitive lenses.
The Process
Use a clean microfiber cloth to remove any dust particles from the surface of the lenses.
- Dab a bit of toothpaste on the lenses.
- Rub it on the scratches using circular motions for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Remove the toothpaste from the lenses using a microfiber cloth.
- You can also rinse the lenses with cold water and wipe them dry.
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