7 Weird Ways to Remove Dents That Will Save Your Car’s Paint

The average cost to remove dents from cars falls anywhere between $50 to $120.

Needless to say, this can be a bit of a financial burden if you haven’t budgeted for it. In light of that, we’ve listed seven weird ways to get rid of dents yourself so you can save a pretty penny or two!

So, without further ado, let’s dive on in.

1. Grab a Plunger

If you have a small to medium-sized dent, you can use a sink plunger (also known as a cup plunger).

Do NOT make the mistake of using a toilet plunger (also known as a flange plunger). This is the wrong shape and makes the task way more difficult than it needs to be.

Typically, this method works best on doors and side panels.

All you have to do is stick the plunger over the dent (having splashed both the plunger and the indentation with water) and then gradually push and pull. The suction should straighten the pit out.

Top Tip: don’t be overly aggressive with the plunging motion as this can cause accidental damage.

2. Rubber Mallet

This method might be necessary if the plunger doesn’t cut the biscuit. It’s usually best for fixing medium-sized dents. Just tap it very gently, the last thing you want to do is to whack it too forcefully and cause the indentation to stick out in the opposite direction.

However, if you don’t own a rubber mallet, never fear. Grab a piece of wood with an end that roughly matches the size of the dent and wrap it up in plenty of cloth.

It’s of paramount importance you cover the sharp edges before you get to work. Otherwise, you’ll scratch the paintwork- not cool!

Now, carefully, tap the timber with a small hammer until the dent pops back into place.

3. Boiling Water

If you have a dent in your bumper, and it’s made out of plastic, you’ll usually find that the material is too hard to plunge. In situations like this, boil the kettle, and throw it over the dent.

Once you’ve done that, try to pop the dent back in to straighten it out. The high temperature of the boiling water causes the bumper to become a little more flexible, hence making the material easier to manipulate and fix.

However, the heat doesn’t last long which means you have to work as quickly as possible. Chances are, this will take a few attempts, so don’t get frustrated with yourself!

Top Tip: Have pieces of tinfoil pre-cut (bigger than the dent), so you can put them over it as soon as you’ve finished pouring the boiling water. This is the simplest way to ensure the indentation stays warm for longer, giving you a little more time to pop the dent back in place.

If the pit doesn’t pop back entirely, you’ll need to continue pouring boiling water until it’s worked its way out.

5. Utilize a Hair Dryer

You can also remove car dents from plastic using both a hairdryer and compressed air. Start by applying the hair dryer to its hottest setting and then blow the warm air directly onto the dent, and warm it up as hot as it’ll go.

Similarly to the boiling water, this method helps to make the plastic more malleable.

Once the plastic gets warm enough, grab a can of compressed air and spray that onto the dent. The cold temperature of the compressed air causes the plastic to contract; causing the dent to straighten out.

6. Dry Ice

If you only have a small dent, you can use dry ice. If you choose to use this method, you’ll need protective gloves otherwise you run the risk of burning your hands.

To do this:

• Hold a piece of dry ice directly onto the dent
• Move it around
• Listen out for the sound of the pit popping back into place

You may need to do this a few times for it to work. However, if the dent is too deep, it won’t work. If it’s a medium sized dent, you should use the hairdryer and compressed air method first. This will diminish the size of the dent; then once you’ve done that you can apply the dry ice.

7. Vacuum Cleaner

The suction from the vacuum cleaner is an excellent solution to removing a dent. However, you need to use an adequate amount of power to ensure you don’t create more damage, accidentally.

To avoid this, grab a bucket, vacuum cleaner, and tape. Create a tiny hole under the bucket, and stick it over the dent in your car. Now, grab the hose of the vacuum cleaner over the hole you created.

For more information on dent removal be sure to check out the link!

Did You Enjoy This Article on Weird ways to Remove Dents?

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