**Car Owners Urged to Try £2 Household Hack That Could Prevent Costly Repair Bills**
For countless motorists, the unpleasant discovery of a new scratch or scuff after a routine visit to the supermarket car park is a familiar tale. The price of repairing even minor superficial blemishes at a professional garage can easily spiral above £300, leaving car owners faced with the difficult choice of paying out or learning to live with the cosmetic damage.
However, recent insights from automotive specialists suggest an easier—and much cheaper—solution may already be within arm’s reach. According to experts at car repair service Bumper, just a few everyday items found in your kitchen could be all you need to lessen the appearance of small scratches, saving drivers potentially hundreds of pounds.
The trick, which has rapidly gained attention, involves using aluminium kitchen foil and ordinary white vinegar. These materials, typically associated with household cleaning or food storage, can apparently work together to reduce light surface marks on car bodywork—all for under £2.
A spokesperson for Bumper outlined the straightforward method: “Begin by thoroughly cleaning the affected area with mild soap and water to remove any dirt or debris. Once rinsed and dried with a clean towel, cut a piece of kitchen foil sufficient to cover the scratch. Soak it in white vinegar, ensuring it’s moist but not excessively wet.”
The next step is to gently rub the vinegar-soaked foil across the scratch in small, circular movements. The spokesperson explained the science behind the hack: “Aluminium ions are released into the acidic environment of the vinegar, and coupled with the mild abrasiveness of the foil, this helps to buff away fine, surface-level scratches.” A key advantage of this method is that, as long as it is performed carefully, there’s little risk of damaging the surrounding paintwork.
Of course, not all vehicle blemishes are created equal. While this DIY technique can work wonders on light scratches—like those from shopping trolleys, keys, or inadvertent brushes with shrubbery—it’s not intended for deeper gouges or where paint has peeled away. The experts make it clear that damage penetrating several paint layers will still require professional attention at a body shop, to maintain the integrity of the car’s finish.
If the results from the initial round of the foil-and-vinegar treatment disappoint, there is no harm in repeating the process until the scratch is sufficiently minimised. However, it is vital to thoroughly rinse the affected area with clean water at the end, removing chemical residue, and to dry with a soft cloth.
The hack’s thrifty credentials are boosted by its use of standard kitchen items: supermarket-grade white vinegar, aluminium foil, a touch of mild soap, and a soft towel. “Most people already have these products at home, meaning it’s an almost zero-cost experiment that could spare you a pricey visit to the garage,” the spokesperson commented.
Motoring experts are keen to stress the limits of the approach, advocating its use primarily on minor blemishes. Attempting to fix more severe damage with household products could potentially cause further harm, with the added risk that unresolved deep scratches might compromise the protective qualities of the paintwork over time.
Nevertheless, for frustrating small marks and scuffs, the method presents an accessible, budget-friendly way to restore a bit of pride to your car’s exterior. As one of the experts put it, “It’s a quick, simple step that could make a visible difference—and every pound saved is a pound earned in these tough economic times.”
For those willing to try the foil and vinegar method, little stands in the way—except perhaps a little patience and care. While DIY repairs should always be approached cautiously, in this instance the materials and the risk are minimal. The wider motoring world may not have found the secret to erasing all dings and scrapes, but this simple hack could offer welcome relief to anyone dreading their next body shop bill.