How to Remove Parking Lot Paint Dings

by Kelli Karanovich

Thomas Northcut/Photodisc/Getty Images

A paint ding happens to your parked car when someone in a parked car next to your car opens a car door too quickly or too far and the car door touches your car. Sometimes your paint is scratched. Other times, there's a small dent. Almost always, a streak of paint from the other person's card winds up on your door. These problems are structurally insignificant but aesthetically displeasing and frustrating. Fortunately, there are ways to significantly improve the appearance of parking lot dings.

Steps for Surface Marks

Step 1

Wash your car. Sometimes the act of washing alone will remove some of the offending paint and will help buff out any scratches made to your paint job. Regardless, washing your car removes dirt and dust so that your efforts will be more effective when you focus on addressing the ding directly.

Step 2

Pour a small amount of acetone on a soft rag and lightly rub the ding. Observe to see if anything happens. If acetone removes the ding, then stop here and proceed to step 4. If acetone does not work, then proceed with the use of rubbing compound, available at automotive supply stores.

Step 3

Spread rubbing compound on the ding. Rub with a clean cloth in a circular motion. When the ding disappears, begin rubbing from side to side to get rid of the circular buffing marks.