We all know that feeling. Our new shiny laptop is scratched and its beautiful aesthetic appearance has been tarnished and now looks old and dingy, even if newly bought. It’s pretty hard to avoid this, especially with the number of hours most of us put on our devices these days.
As bad as it seems, it might be of comfort to you hearing that having to deal with scratches on your laptop lid is, unfortunately, a common problem that many need to face. The good news is that it is possible to remove such scratches, from both metal and plastic laptops!
To help you in the process of making sure that your laptop looks just as good as when you bought it, I’ve created this guide on how to remove scratches from metal and plastic laptops. No matter how bad those scratches may look, try to follow the tips provided and you’ll be surprised at the results!
There are different ways you can remove scratches from your device; depending on the material of your laptop and how deep those scratches are. Are you ready to learn more?
Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
What Are The Different Types Of Scratches That You Might Need to Take Care Of?
First of all, it is important to clarify that not all scratches are equally damaging. We can classify them in two different levels of “seriousness” and the method of taking care of the scratches will depend on how damaging the scratches are.
We are going to go deeper into the scratch-removing methods further on, but in this section, you’ll learn to distinguish between the different types of scratches and how to effectively take care of them.
- Minor Scratches: Minor scratches are superficial scratches that can be handled easily and quite quickly. They are the types of scratches that do not run into the laptop body but that remain on the surface instead. As surprising as it might sound, one of the best ways to take care of these kinds of scratches is to use toothpaste and a microfiber cloth. The use of a microfiber cloth is important as it prevents any scratch to form when removing those you want to get rid of. You can also remove minor scratches using a scratch remover, but the first method is cheaper and just as efficient.
- Major Scratches: Major scratches are harder to eliminate, but there are several ways you can reduce their visibility. Among all of the products available for such a purpose, the best one you can find is Rolite Metal Polish.
Now that you know about the different scratch types, let’s take a look at how to eliminate them from your laptop’s surfaces.
Removing Scratches from an Aluminum Laptop
If you want to remove scratches from an aluminum laptop, you’ll most likely need special solutions. Several products serve this purpose such as:
- Scratch removers
- Metal polish
- Baking soda
- Toothpaste.
Let’s take a look at how all of these methods work, why they are efficient and the pros and cons.
Using A Scratch Remover To Remove Scratches from Your Laptop
This is probably the most obvious method and a pretty efficient one too. Once you’ve purchased such a product (there are many available, especially on the Internet), you can simply apply it with a soft cloth and pass it gently over the scratches. Apply some pressure and move the cloth in circular motions.
Keep in mind that these products do not work extremely well on deep scratches, for which they require repeated applications and multiple coatings. Also, scratch removers are good on uncolored scratches but do not make a good job in removing black marks on your laptop.
Overall, scratch removers will help improve the appearance of your laptop but might not take away completely all of the scratches, especially if they are deep.
Use A Special Product For Deeper Scratches
If your laptop has some harsh scratches that do not go away with the scratch remover, don’t despair! You can use a metal polish paste to do the job and you’ll be surprised by the results.
Metal Polish products work best for materials such as:
- Bronze
- Copper
- Chrome
- Stainless steel
- Aluminum
It is perfect for removing scratches from your aluminum laptop and it is a relatively easy to use but efficient solution.
Generally, this product comes in a paste form which you can rub on the scratches while filling and covering them with the substance. Let the paste sit for a few minutes and then remove any excess with a clean microfiber cloth.
You can also use this paste to create a sort of “coat” to protect your laptop from future scratches. Don’t forget that you can apply a second layer of the product for better results.
This product can be slightly more expensive than the classic scratch remover but it will work perfectly even on the deeper scratches affecting the look of your aluminum laptop.
Use Toothpaste For An Effective and Cheap Home-Remedy To The Scratches on your Laptop
As weird as it might sound, you can use a common fluoride-free toothpaste to remove scratches from your laptop. Isn’t that convenient? Not only is it readily available in most houses, but it’s also easy to use and quite effective, especially for smaller scratches on the surface.
All you have to do is take a small amount of toothpaste and place it on a cotton pad or a microfiber cloth. Rub the toothpaste on the scratch gently and in circular motions until you notice the scratch fading away.
To remove the excess toothpaste and clean your laptop, just wipe it with a clean and damp cloth.
Baking Soda As An Alternative Home Remedy For Lighter Scratches
Baking soda can be used just like the classic scratch remover you can purchase online or at dedicated shops. It can be extremely effective, but you need to be careful when using it if you want good results without running the risk of damaging your laptop.
For the best results, you should mix baking soda with a little water, keeping in mind that excess water might cause the device to get damaged. The right quantities involve using two parts of baking soda and one part of water. By mixing the two ingredients in a small bowl, you’ll create a paste.
Apply the paste on the scratches with a linen cloth, rubbing in a circular motion, gently. Just like with a scratch remover or metal polish paste.
To remove any excess, use a damp cloth. As with all homemade solutions, you should be extremely careful when using them.
Avoid The Appearance of Scratches With Better Care
To have fewer scratches, it is also good practice to prevent them from forming at all. For example, you can work harder in taking good care of your laptop by using a laptop bag to keep your device safe when not in use. You should always be careful when carrying your laptop around!
It is a good rule of thumb to avoid putting anything else inside your laptop bag: keys, your mobile phone or even your laptop charger might cause scratches to form. Instead, it is advisable that you purchase a laptop bag with different pockets so that you’ll be able to place everything you need to carry with you in separate compartments, without the risk of causing scratches to your laptop.
To protect your keyboard; consider using a silicon keyboard wrap. All of these precautions will reduce the risk of causing damage to your laptop.
For further protection and better prevention, try to use your laptop in dirt-free places. It is always better to keep your laptop free of scratches rather than having to deal with them later.
You can also use a screen protector to keep scratches away from your screen and protect your laptop from breaking when accidentally dropped. And if you are looking for extra safety for your laptop, you might even consider buying a hard-case body protector. You can easily find all of these objects online or in dedicated stores.
Removing Scratches from a Plastic Laptop
Even plastic lid laptops get scratched, no matter how hard we try to prevent it, sometimes it just seems to be inevitable. And while there are many articles out there outlining how to remove scratches from aluminum laptops and Macs, the information about plastic laptops is not so clear. If you have a plastic lid- laptop, there are other methods more appropriate than the ones listed above. Let’s dig a bit deeper to find how to remove scratches from a plastic laptop.
Just like with aluminum laptops, even in plastic laptops, scratches can be more or less “serious”. According to the depth of the scratches, some methods will be more effective than others in removing the scratches or at least reducing their visibility considerably.
Removing shallow scratches from a plastic laptop:
For shallow scratches, you can use mildly abrasive substances such as:
- Toothpaste
- Plastic polish
- Baking soda
- Furniture polish.
Removing deep scratches from a plastic laptop:
Deeper scratches are a lot harder to get rid of, but that can be done using:
- sheets of sandpaper
- magic erasers
Use Plastic Polish
Probably the most common method is to use a plastic polish, which is widely available in most stores. To remove the scratches with plastic polish:
- Mix dish soap with water (better if warm) and make a solution.
- Clean your laptop’s surfaces with the solution (the solution will help to remove dirt and debris from the scratches you want to remove).
- Dry your laptop with a microfiber cloth.
- Put a small amount of polish on the cloth and rub it around the scratches in circular motions. If necessary, you can apply more polish.
- Wait for it to get absorbed before wiping your laptop lid with a clean cloth.
Remove Harder Scratches on Your Plastic Laptop With Sandpaper Sheets
If the scratches on your laptop are deep and do not go away with plastic polish or any other substance, consider getting some sheets of sandpaper in different fineness levels. Make sure you wet the sandpaper before using it on your laptop to prevent it from causing any further damage. Also, you should fold your sandpaper sheet down to the size of the scratch to avoid it scratching the “clean” areas of your laptop.
- Apply some gentle pressure and rub over the scratch in circular motions.
- Then, clean the area with a dry cloth.
- If you can still see some scratches, you should repeat the same process using a finer level of sandpaper sheet.
- For better results, you can consider finishing off by applying a coat of polish on the whole surface of your laptop. This will help give it a better look and make it seem as good as new.
Conclusion
As you can see, having some scratches on your laptop is not the end of the world. It is quite common to have them and most of them can be efficiently handled. Of course, smaller scratches are easier to get rid of, but it is possible to eliminate or at least considerably reduce the visibility of deep scratches too.
By using the tips provided in this article, you’ll be guaranteed effective results. Be careful in following the instruction and avoid causing further harm to your laptop.
Generally, if you can prevent scratches to form in the first place, you’ll avoid further problems. It is always better to prevent than to deal with hard-to-remove scratches later on. That is why you should always take good care of your laptop, especially when carrying it around.
Some scratches seem to be unavoidable, which is why I’ve created this guide for you. Hopefully, you now know how to handle them and you are aware that no matter the kind of material your laptop is made of, there are solutions for getting rid of the bad-looking scratches on your laptop!
For other repair and maintenance related articles for laptops and keyboards check out my maintenance category. If you want to check out my recommended products, check out my guides and reviews category.
