Every now and then, it’s not uncommon to have car dents. Maybe you hit a poll while parking or perhaps someone else hit you. Either way, it’s extremely frustrating to drive around with a mark which lets everyone know that, at some point, something hit your car with a bit of force. There are a few ways you can remove dents from your car—some with professional help and some by yourself. While do-it-yourself car repairs can save you money, they can also go wrong. In some cases, the resulting “repair” can end up looking worse than the dent; however, there are a few methods that are quite easy, such as using a plunger or boiling water. If you’d prefer to keep your hands clean, then hiring a professional is an excellent choice too.
Here are some key tips to remove car dents:
- Use a plunger
If the car dent is relatively small, then using a plunger may be a cheap and easy solution for removal. All you need to do is pour some water over the area and onto the plunger, then place the plunger over the dent. Keep pushing in and out until you hear a pop and the car dent should be gone. The effectiveness of this method depends a lot on what type of car you have and the materials that it’s made out of. It works especially well on older cars made from metals like steel. 
- Get professional help
Removing a dent at home doesn’t always work, and can sometimes cause more issues than it fixes. If the dent is quite big and deep, you may want to consider hiring a paintless dent repair San Diego company. “Paintless dent repair” is a technique whereby special tools are used to repair a dent without needing to replace or repaint the area. The technology has been around for about 40 years and is one of the easiest and best ways to fix a dent. (2)
- Pour boiling water on it
Boiling water has a lot of uses, and if your car dent is in an area that contains plastic, then it may be able to fix that too. All you need to do is pour boiling water over the dented area and then pop it back into place from the other side. If this has occurred on your bumper, you might find it easier to remove the bumper itself from the car first.
Once the dent is gone, it’s also suggested that you pour some cold water over the area to help it set. This should cool it down and stop it from denting again immediately. Always remember to be careful when handling boiling water. (3)
- Use compressed air and a hairdryer
Compressed air is where air is forced into a container to create high pressure, like in spray cans. This often means that the air will come out very cold. This method for dent removal involves using both heating and cooling to work the car dent out.
If you try this at home, it’s very important that you know how to do it properly and safely. If you’re unsure whether you’ll be able to handle this method, or whether you want to, it’s probably best to consult a professional. (4)
- Try using a vacuum cleaner
This is another method that is typically most effective on smaller car dents. The suction power from a vacuum has the potential to pull a car dent out and restore a smooth surface. However, the success depends entirely on how powerful your vacuum is. You’ll also need a bucket and some strong tape.
To make this method work, cut a hole in the bottom of the bucket and tape the head of the vacuum to it. Then, place the bucket over the dented area and turn the vacuum on. Ensure the bucket is pressed flat against the car—otherwise air will get in and there won’t be as much suction. After some time, with any luck, you should hear a pop and the dent will be gone. (5)
Summing up
There are a few ways that dents can be removed from cars without having to replace or repaint anything. If you don’t want to try at-home repairs, then you may be best to hire a professional. Some at-home car dent removal methods are easier than others. Many even use items you may already own, such as a plunger. It’s important to remember that smaller dents are easier to remove, and larger ones are likely to require professional help.
