The scratches on my glasses and mobile phone screen were driving me crazy. I wanted to replace them both, but who can afford new sunglasses or mobile phone whenever they want?
On the radio last week I heard about someone using toothpaste to remove the scratches from their glasses. I was a bit sceptical, but I tried it on my sunglasses and it worked! I then started doing a bit more research to work out why toothpaste is good at removing scratches. Happy with what I found, I tried toothpaste on my mobile phone and it removed all the small scratches. I’m sold; toothpaste is the miracle scratch remover that works on everything from glasses to cars!
So, how does it work? I did some further research and here’s what I found out:
How it Works
Paste-based toothpaste acts as a mild abrasive that levels out the scratch, removing it or making it less noticeable. It’s important, however, to proceed with caution: Use the wrong technique, and you could dull the finish or create more scratches, worsening the problem.
Not all toothpastes are the same and only gentle toothpastes should be used on sensitive surfaces such as glasses or a mobile phone screen. For obvious reasons, we recommend using white toothpaste only.
How abrasiveness is measured
Abrasiveness is measured by RDA (Radioactive Dentin Abrasiveness) and anything below 70-80 is considered to be low, or non-abrasive. The easy way to choose a non-abrasive toothpaste is just to avoid advanced products such as whitening, plaque removal or toothpastes designed for sensitive teeth.
Some suitable toothpaste products to try include Arm & Hammer Dental Care Sensitive (48 RDA), Weleda Children’s Tooth Gel (45 RDA), Colgate 2-in-1 Fresh Mint (70 RDA), Colgate Total (70 RDA) and Colgate Regular (68 RDA). Abrasive toothpastes you should avoid include Colgate Sensitive Max Strength( 83 RDA) and Sensodyne (79 RDA).
Whenever you use toothpaste to remove a scratch we suggest trying it in a small area to ensure it doesn’t damage the surface. Also, make sure not to be aggressive when rubbing the surface. Rubbing nice and gently should do the trick.
Here are our top tips for scratch removal with toothpaste:
Scratched Phone Screen
What you need:
- soft cloth
- paper towel
- cotton swab or toothbrush
- Non-abrasive toothpaste
The Process
- Apply a little toothpaste to an applicator (cloth or cotton swab)
- Using a soft cloth and a circular motion, apply and rub toothpaste into the scratched area of the mobile phone screen. Be patient and don’t exert too much pressure.
- Clean the screen with a clean cloth and you should be good to go!
Scratched Watch Face
What you need:
- Micro-fibre cloth
- Paste-based (not gel) toothpaste
The Process
- Inspect the watch under bright light to locate the scratches.
- Cover the bezel of the watch with narrow masking tape to avoid damage
- Squeeze a little bit of toothpaste onto the watch face. Use your finger to rub it into 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:
- Paste-based (not gel) toothpaste
NB: This method actually cleans the scratch rather than removing it. You’ll notice most car scratches aren’t actually that bad – it’s just that the dirt penetrates into the scratch making it more obvious to the eye.
The Process
- Apply the toothpaste to the cloth. You should only need to apply a little.
- Rub lightly evenly along the scratch and then the polish with a circular motion.
You’ll find that
- Tiny and shallow scratches are pretty easy to clean.
- Bigger scratches need more pressure applied and take more time to clean. Take your time.
- Badly rusted scratches will also take more pressure and require more time.
Stainless Steel Appliances
Source: How To: Remove Scratches from Stainless Steel
What you need:
- Micro-fibre cloth
- Toothbrush
- Paste-based (not gel) toothpaste
The Process
- Apply a small amount of the scratch remover compound 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: Fixing Scratched Lenses on your Glasses And How to Remove Scratches from Glasses with Just 1 Ingredient
What you need:
- Non-abrasive toothpaste
- Damp micro-fibre cloth
The Process
Use a clean microfibre cloth to remove any dust particles from the surface of the lenses.
- Dab a bit of toothpaste on the lenses. Just a small amount will do the trick.
- 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.
If you need help with home cleaning services, contact Electrodry today. Our qualified technicians have both the skill and expertise to make your home shine.
