I don't have any advice for removing the scratches, but I could not reply to you post yesterday about how to give your friend the machine becuase my cat was on my arm! I would send her on a scavanger hunt with different notes leading her to differnt places & ending up at the machine. Maybe toward the end of the hunt include some little notions with the hints. When my daughter got her 1st cell phone she knew she was getting it & I didn't just want to wrap it & give it to her, so I sent her on a big hunt all over the house & even outside! We still laugh about it!