Alex Carson
Car Cleaning
Cleaning your car doesn’t need to be an expensive process. Also, you don’t need to pay a professional to get your car clean. Here are 12 car cleaning tricks local dealers don’t want you to know about.
Cleaning Your Headlights
There are products on the market today that can get your headlights sparkling clean. The only problem is that these products are expensive. You can get your headlights just as clean as you can with the expensive products by using toothpaste. Simply put the toothpaste on the lens, scrub, and rinse. Just be sure not to use gel toothpaste.
Remove Bumper Stickers
If you have bumper stickers on your car, and they no longer make sense of if you just want to get rid of them, you don’t need to work too hard to get them off. In most cases, they cannot be peeled off because they can remove some of the paint. To get bumpers stickers off your car quickly and without doing any damage, all you need is a can of WD-40. You would simply spray it on the bumper sticker, and let it sit until the sticker absorbs it. Once it is absorbed, the sticker will easily peel off.
Remove Dog Fur From the Seats
Taking your dog for rides can be great if he is the type of dog who loves the car. The only problem with letting your car come for rides with you is the fur that he leaves behind on your seat. Rather than spending hundreds of dollars to have your seats cleaned regularly, all you need is a squeegee and a spray bottle of water. When you spray the water on the seats, it will easily come off using the squeegee.
Clean Your Air Vents
It is not uncommon for dirt and dust to build up in your air vents. When this happens, it can cause dust and odor issues in the vehicle. You can easily clean your vents for under $1. Small foam brushes are very inexpensive, and they can easily fit in your car’s vents. After brushing the inside of the vents, vacuum the excess dust to make sure that the vents are completely clear.
Car Cleaning Tricks: Dust Your Dash
When you use a cloth or towel to dust the dashboard, it can leave behind pieces of lint. Some towels move the dust around, rather than picking it up. Coffee filters will pick up the dust, and it will adhere to the filter. This is the most effective way of removing the dust. You can even leave a few in the glove box to do a quick dusting at any time.
Remove Stubborn Carpet Stains
You don’t need to pay a professional detailer hundreds of dollars to remove stains from the carpeting in your car. You can do it on your own for under $2. Fill a spray bottle with 1/3 hydrogen peroxide and the rest water. Spray the solution on the stain, and let it sit for about 30 minutes. When you scrub the stain, it should come right out.
Cleaning Your Floor Mats
If you have carpeted floor mats, you can clean them easily on your own. If they are stained, start by using the method above to get the stains out. Next, put them in the washing machine on the gentle cycle, and let them sit in the sun to dry. This is much cheaper than bringing your car to a professional.
Avoid Streaks When Cleaning Your Window
Cleaning your car windows can be difficult because many types of cloths leave streaks. To prevent streaks when cleaning your windows, leave the paper towels in the house, and use newspaper instead. It is the best way to clean the windows while preventing streaks.
Shine Your Dashboard
There are plenty of expensive products on the market that can give your dashboard a shine; however, the shine doesn’t last very long. There is one product that will leave a lasting shine on your dashboard, and you probably have it in your kitchen. It is olive oil. Simply put a dab of olive oil on a rag, and buff your dash. The shine will last much longer.
Get Rid Of Foul Odors
There are plenty of things that can leave foul odors in your car; it the smell can linger for a long time. The best way to rid the vehicle of foul odors is to spread some baking power on the seats and let it sit for a few hours. When you vacuum the seats and remove the powder, your car will smell fresh.
Removing Stains From Your Leather or Vinyl Seats
If you have stains in your leather or vinyl seats, you can easily remove them on your own. One method is to use a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and gently scrub the stains. Another option is to mix ¼ cup olive oil with ¼ cup vinegar. When you rub the mixture on the seat gently, it will take the stains right out.
Car Cleaning Tricks: Clean Your Wheels
There are plenty of products available that will remove the stains from your wheels. The only problem with these products is that they are very expensive. You can make your own wheel cleaner at home for a fraction of the price. To create the cleaner, combine ½ cup of baling soda, one tablespoon of Dawn dish soap, and 2 cups of warm water. This mixture will clean your wheels and make them shiny.
