Cleaning Tips to Leave Your Car Looking Brand New
To get your car looking shiny and new, you don't always need to make a trip out to get it cleaned professionally. Instead, save money by using everyday products found in your cupboards and pantry. From baking soda to cooking spray, here are 20 household items that will leave your car sparkling clean.
1. Baking Soda
For anyone who likes to bake and search for DIY cleaning hacks, they'll know that baking soda is one of the most versatile household items out there. Not only can you mix it into cake and cookie batter, you can also sprinkle it onto car mats and seats to deodorize or combine it with vinegar to remove stubborn stains.
2. Dish Soap
When it comes to cleaning greasy, tacky stains, dish soap is your savior. Specifically, you'd want to reach for Dawn, which is known to cut through oily residues that you might find either on your car's exterior or interior. Dilute it with water to create a foamy solution.
3. Microfiber Cloths
Not just great for cleaning glasses, microfiber cloths are also great for wiping down the body of your car, windows, mirrors, and windshields. Since the material of these cloths ensures that there won't be leftover streaks, they're perfect for the job.
4. Toothbrush
Crumbs stuck in gaps? Stains on seats? Dirt in creases or hard-to-reach places? Use a toothbrush! If you've ever buffed and polished leather shoes with these tough bristles, you'll know they'll work wonderfully for car seats, dashboards, and interiors.
5. Coffee Filters
If you don't have microfiber cloths lying around, you can use coffee filters as alternatives. Spray on your favorite cleaning solution or glass cleaner, then stack three or four filters together and gently wipe down. Coffee filters are great for this since they're made to withstand large amounts of liquid.
6. White Vinegar
White vinegar is also an extremely versatile household cleaning item. But since it's acidic, make sure to dilute it down with baking soda, water, or dish soap so it won't potentially damage your car. Other than removing dirt from your car paint, vinegar is also great at removing bumper stickers, unwanted odors, and even chewing gum.
7. Baby Soap or Shampoo
To leave your car exterior sparkling, use baby soap or shampoo. While you can choose to use regular shampoo or soap as well, products made for toddlers will contain ingredients that are less abrasive and will be less likely to damage your paint or interiors.
8. Rubbing Alcohol
If you have stubborn leftover adhesive residue or tacky tree sap sticking onto your car's exterior, try using rubbing alcohol to remove it. The stronger the concentration you choose, the more powerful it'll be. Simply spray some onto a microfiber cloth and get to wiping.
9. Dryer Sheets
Scented dryer sheets are great for deodorizing: just leave an open box inside your car, and it'll smell clean and fresh the next time you hop in. That's not all they're useful for, though; they're also perfect for wiping away bugs and tar from your bumpers. Don't worry—they won't leave scratches!
10. Toothpaste
Are your headlights and tail lights looking foggy? Toothpaste will solve that problem. Rub on a dollop (you can also choose to mix in baking soda) and buff with a microfiber cloth until no longer cloudy. Toothpaste is also great for removing paint scratches: just dab on and gently wipe in circular motions.
11. Vaseline
After spending some time wiping down your vinyl dash to get it gleaming, you'd probably want that shine to stay. Try using some Vaseline! Since petroleum jelly can be tacky and greasy, avoid using too much—just a small dollop will do. Wipe the excess off with a cloth afterwards, then admire your reflection on the polished surface.
12. Empty Paper Towel or Toilet Paper Roll
This might sound odd, but bear with us: empty paper towel rolls can make your vacuuming job much easier. Simply tape the cardboard cylinder to the end of your hoover, then fold or bend it to the shape you want. This works amazing for getting into gaps or hard-to-reach places.
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13. Baby Wipes
If you just got your car cleaned but a smudge of dirt still made its way onto your windshield, you probably don't want to get it hosed down again. For quick clean-ups, use baby wipes. Rest assured: like baby soap and shampoo, they're less harsh than your regular Lysol or alcohol wipes.
14. Corn Starch
Not only a common ingredient for foods and sauces, corn starch is also great for cleaning car windows and exteriors, Additionally, you may have heard it being used to smooth out wax and polish, but be careful not to go overboard as it can leave paint brittle.
15. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is great for polishing leather interiors and seats. Just take a dollop and dab it onto a cloth, then rub it until shiny. It's great for deodorizing as well, especially if you like the scent of coconuts. Plus, it can help prevent your leather from cracking or splitting.
16. Peanut Butter
For stubborn, sticky tree sap that won't seem to come off your car, there's an unlikely hero for the job: peanut butter. Make sure you choose creamy—not crunchy—and spread it onto the surface. Let warm for a few minutes before wiping off. The oils from the peanut butter will break down the tackiness of the sap.
17. Lint Roller
Lint rollers work great for removing pet hair and fuzz from your favorite clothes, so why not your car? If you have a fluffy animal who sheds a lot (or even a kid who likes to play with glitter), lint rollers can help clean up the mess in no time.
18. Steel Wool
If you're a car expert, here's a challenge for you: try using steel wool to clean grime and gunk your windows. You might think that such a coarse material will just end up scratching your glass, but use 0000 steel wool and a gentle hand. You can use the same grade or higher to polish metal surfaces as well.
19. Sticky Putty or Slime
You've probably seen this hack floating around before: using sticky putty or slime to clean your car interior. And this method works like a charm since crumbs and dirt get stuck onto the putty, making it easy to clean cup holders. Best of all? You can just wash it off and reuse.
20. Cooking Spray
To clean and polish your car tires (we didn't forget about those), use cooking spray. Just spritz a generous amount and wipe off with a cloth. But a word of caution: while cooking oil may help nourish your tires, you'd still want to avoid doing this too often as it could potentially damage your wheels.
