Nothing’s worse than walking back to your car after stopping at a store and doing a double-take when you notice an unexpected ding or paint streak on your vehicle caused by a car swiping up against it. Or maybe you accidentally spilled paint on your car’s interior and need a quick fix to remove it.
Paint streaks are unsightly and can significantly reduce the value of your car. If you’re like most people, you want the paint removed as quickly as possible. As long as the damage isn’t extensive, there are some easy DIY fixes you can perform right from the comforts of your driveway and garage.
In this article, we’ll discuss how to remove paint from plastic car parts and car bumpers so you’ll be ready the next time unwanted paint finds its way onto your vehicle. Read more about How to Remove Paint from Car Window.
How to Remove Paint from Plastic Car Parts?
Today’s cars are manufactured with more plastic than ever before. Plastic makes up about 50% of a car’s body and parts, although only about 10% of its total weight.
Different types of plastic are found throughout a car’s interior and exterior. Most plastic car parts come from four polymers: polypropylene, polyurethane, polyamides, and PVC.
Common car parts that are manufactured with plastic include air conditioner parts, the battery shell, the cooling fan, the steering wheel, roof racks, and parts throughout the car’s interior and exterior trim.
It’s important to properly remove paint from plastic car parts so you don’t cause any damage to them. Commercial paint removers, for example, can melt away at the plastic surface and cause significant damage.
Here are three recommended methods to consider for removing paint from plastic car parts:
Method One – Rub the Paint Off with Vegetable Oil
Vegetable oil is a great way to loosen or remove paint from car parts, and you probably have a bottle of it in your kitchen pantry.
Materials needed:
- Vegetable oil
- Microfiber towel
- Putty knife or plastic scraper
Use the following steps to try and rub the paint off of plastic car parts.
- Use soap and warm water to clean the affected area.
- Apply some of the vegetable oil to a microfiber cloth and firmly rub the area in circular motions.
- Rub the area repeatedly until the paint loosens or has been fully removed.
- Use a putty knife or plastic scraper to fully remove the paint.
Method Two – Scrub the Paint Off with Rubbing Alcohol
This method might work better than the first if you have a larger area of paint that needs to be removed, or if method one failed to work. Rubbing alcohol is a good choice to remove paint from car parts because it won’t melt the plastic as harsh paint thinners can.
Materials needed:
- Rubbing alcohol
- Rag
- Work gloves
- Face mask
Follow these steps:
- Clean the area with soap and water.
- Wear work gloves and a face mask when working with rubbing alcohol to protect your skin and prevent inhaling fumes, respectively.
- Pour the rubbing alcohol over the paint.
- Use a rag to rub the affected area repeatedly until the paint is gone.
- Be patient. The process can take a bit, but your hard work should be rewarded at the end with a clean surface.
Method Three – Use Nail Polish Containing Acetone
For stubborn paint stains that are hard to remove, using stronger chemicals might do the trick.
Materials needed:
- Nail polish containing acetone
- A rag or cloth
Steps to follow:
- Use soap and water to clean the area.
- Use a cloth to dab the nail polish on the affected area.
- Let it sit for 5-10 minutes.
- Use the cloth to rub the paint away.
- Repeat the process until the paint is completely gone.
How to Remove Paint from a Plastic Car Bumper?
The vast majority of car bumpers are made of plastic. If you accidentally spill paint on the bumper or were involved in a minor fender-bender, you can remove the paint using DIY methods. Read more about how to paint plastic car bumper
Materials needed
Some of the materials you’ll need to accomplish this task include:
- Soap and water
- A rubbing compound
- A couple of microfiber towels
- WD 40 (if necessary)
- Magic eraser
Method for removing paint
- Use soap and water to wash the car or at least the affected area. This will remove any loose particles such as dirt and debris that can scratch and damage the bumper.
- Completely dry the area with a microfiber towel.
- Use a microfiber towel to apply the rubbing compound to the affected area.
- If step three doesn’t work, consider spraying on WD-40 and wiping away the paint transfer with a microfiber towel. You may have to repeat this step.
- If steps three and four helped, but only loosened the paint, you might be able to finish the job by applying a magic eraser to the area and moving it in small circular motions over the paint.
- Finally, apply a polisher over the area to remove any residual residue and make the plastic trim look new again.
FAQ
- How do you remove paint from plastic without damaging it? Avoid using any harsh products such as paint thinner and paint remover to avoid melting or damaging the plastic car trim. Using microfiber towels will prevent scratching the surface.
- What is the best way to remove paint from plastic? Apply a rubbing compound and use a microfiber towel to work the solution into the affected area.
- Does WD-40 remove paint from plastic? Yes, WD-40 has effectively been used to remove paint from plastic. You may need to apply a few coats to loosen the paint and then remove it completely with a magic eraser.
- Will paint thinner destroy plastic? Both car plastic and rubber can be damaged by paint thinner, so you should avoid using it.
- Does vinegar remove paint? Vinegar doesn’t do a good job of removing paint from plastic car parts. We recommend using something stronger, such as rubbing alcohol.
- Will paint remover melt plastic? Paint remover is considered a more heavy-duty option and can melt/damage car plastic.
- Will Goof Off damage plastic? Although several websites say it’s fine to use Goof Off on car plastic, others mention it can dissolve some plastics. You might want to consider avoiding this product.
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