Cleaning your car doesn’t have to be expensive. We’ve listed seven household items to keep your car looking great without breaking the bank.
Cleaning your car can be a hassle. Adding expensive cleaning materials into the mix can make it something far worse—an expensive hassle. Luckily, you can use cheap household products to make your ride so shiny that your neighbors will be able to see their jealous reflections as you drive by. The following products can be found in your cabinets and cupboards. So, instead of wasting time and money buying pricey supplies to clean your car, you can raid your cupboards and get straight to work.
- Toothpaste: If you’ve noticed that your headlights or taillights are less bright, you may have build up on the covers. If you notice scum obscuring your lights, squeeze some toothpaste onto the covers and use some old-fashioned elbow grease to shine those lights until they sparkle. As long as you know how to brush teeth (and we certainly hope you do), you can use this easy hack to regain sight of the road when you drive at night.
- Dish soap: Instead of spending a fortune on fancy car soaps, grab some dish soap instead. Fill a bucket with water and add in a generous amount of dish soap. Dip in your rag or sponge and get to scrubbing. If you want to be eco-friendly, you could even lather up your car before a heavy rain and let nature do the rinsing.
- Rubbing alcohol: Have a stain on your car’s upholstery? Dab the stain with some rubbing alcohol. Be sure not to rub the stain and use a dye-free fabric to dab the stain away. Test this method on an inconspicuous part of the upholstery to ensure that nothing noticeable is left behind.
- Fabric or dryer sheets: Instead of wiping down your dashboard with chemicals and a rag, try using dryer sheets. The dust will cling to the fabric sheet and will give your car a nice, fresh scent. Dryer sheets can also help keep pests out of your air vents. Stuff one in the vent and any pests that already crept into your car should vacate.
- Cooking spray: Cooking spray isn’t only good for keeping things from sticking in the kitchen. If your wheels tend to end up covered in dirt, spray them with cooking spray after your next car wash. The cooking spray will keep dirt from sticking to your tires.
- Vinegar: Vinegar is useful in the culinary world, but it also has a range of uses in the automotive world. If you combine three parts water with one part vinegar, you’ll have a deodorizing and sanitizing solution that’s cheaper than comparable compounds and contains no questionable chemicals.
- Carpet cleaner or baking soda powder: This one is obvious. If you already have carpet cleaning powder, you can sprinkle it over your floor mats and vacuum it up for a fresh scent. If you don’t have carpet cleaner, use baking soda powder with an essential oil mixed in for an extra-clean scent.
These seven simple tricks for cleaning your car should get your ride looking fresh at half the price.