Touch-up paint saves your car from chips, scratches, and minor damage. But what happens after you apply it? In this guide, we’ll show you everything you need to know about maintaining your touch-up work and fixing common problems. Keep reading to learn practical tips that will help you achieve professional-looking results that last!

Tips for Long-Lasting Touch-Ups

Make sure you apply a clear coat. A clear coat is the best way to ensure that your touch-up paint stands the test of time. When used correctly, your paint repair should last at least five years. A high-quality clear coat can add extra protection from scratches, sun damage, and chemicals. Don’t skip this step!
Avoid touching the area: While touch-up paint is usually engineered to dry quickly, avoid putting extreme pressure on your new paint for at least 24 hours.
Wait to wash your car: Experts recommend waiting at least 7 days before gently hand-washing your car with gentle soap and water for small scratches and repairs. For larger repairs, it is better to wait up to 2 weeks. Additionally, you should stay away from automatic or professional car washes for at least a month since these high pressures and harsh chemicals can have a big impact on your fresh paint.

Common Problems with Car Touch Up Paint

Underfilling your scratch: If you aren’t careful, your touch-up might include low spots that were correctly filled with paint. Pay attention to this during the sanding process. Once you identify this issue, you can easily add a bit more paint with a toothpick before proceeding with the clear coat.
Flat or dull colour: Does your touch-up paint lack shine? Generally speaking, this means there was a problem with your clear coat. Either you didn’t apply enough, or you removed it while polishing. To fix this problem, lightly scuff the surface and add more clearcoat. Let it cure completely before polishing again.
Doesn’t blend into existing paint: Are you noticing harsh lines, drips, or runs? Don’t try to fix these issues while the paint is wet. Instead, wait until all your coats are dry, then sand the area to level it out and create a uniform texture.
Poor colour match: Even with your car’s colour code, your touch-up paint can still be slightly the wrong colour. That’s okay! Before panicking, wait until you apply clear coat and the paint has cured completely. If the colour match still looks wrong, contact your local paint supply store for a better colour match and use this to complete your touch-up.

Troubleshooting Your Touch Up

Does your finished touch-up paint look bad? Don’t worry–fixing messed-up touch-up paint is easier than you would think, especially if the paint hasn’t cured completely. With wet paint, simply use a clean microfibre cloth and some hot, soapy water to remove the colour. To remove cured touch-up paint from your car, follow these steps:

To remove the paint, lightly dab the area with thinner or acetone. This way, you can easily wipe off the failed touch-up and try again with a different method.
If acetone doesn’t work, progressively wet sand the area until the touch-up paint is flush with the factory paint. Fill in any low spots with more touch-up paint, sand some more, and then add a clear coat and polish for a perfect touch-up!

Trust CAPS for All Your Automotive Needs

At Central Alberta Paint & Supplies, we’ve helped car enthusiasts and professionals since 1964. Our extensive inventory of 80,000+ products ensures we have exactly what you need for your paint projects. Visit us in Red Deer or Edmonton, or check out our online catalogue to find the perfect touch-up solution for your vehicle. Need advice? Our experienced staff is always ready to help you achieve great results, whether you’re a weekend DIYer or a professional painter. We can’t wait to help!