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Dec 3, 2019
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After having your car for a while, dirt and all kinds of debris can start seeping into all parts of it. It can be hard to keep your car clean, especially if you eat or snack in it. Detailing services can be expensive and our busy lives sometimes keep you from properly cleaning your car. This is why we’ve come up with a list of 20 tips to keep your car as clean as when it came out of the dealership, With these tips, your car can be sparkly clean in no time.

Keep reading to find out how to keep your car looking spotless.

Tip #1: Make your headlights shine

Having cloudy headlights can make it harder for other drivers to see your car on the road and makes your car look old and beat up. To shine your headlight covers fast, use non-gel toothpaste. The toothpaste is an abrasive that is gentle and can help remove the build-up on the headlight cover. Use a microfiber cloth to rub the toothpaste on. The best toothpaste to use will have baking soda in it or those that have whitening action. If your headlights have a special tint on them, you might need to find a professional to do this.

Tip #2: De-crumb the nooks and crannies

Crumbs can get everywhere, even if you’re careful when eating. Getting crumbs out of tight spots can be tricky. A way to counteract this is to take an old toothbrush or a flat screwdriver head covered with cloth and use it to remove the crumbs. After doing this, make sure to vacuum all the crumbs that come out. 

This next tip will surprise you, but it’s a great one.

Tip #3: Condition your car with hair conditioner

You heard that right. You can condition your car with the same products you use on your hair. To give your car a shiny, just-waxed look, look for the products you have in your bathroom. First, wash your car with a car shampoo or get a car wash. Them, add shine with hair conditioner. The best products are those with lanolin. To create a good mixture, take half a cup of hair conditioner and 2 cups of water and spread onto your vehicle. Then rinse and your car will look brand-new!

Tip#4: Use dryer sheets to get bugs off your car

If you have bug splatters on your car that are hard to get off, using dryer sheets can be a great way to get them off. Take a spray bottle with water and wet the area where the bugs are. Then, take a dryer sheet and scrub the area until the bug is removed. After this, apply wax is necessary. Keep some dryer sheets in your car for quick removals while on the road. Bugs can be damaging to your car’s paint, so always think of removing them.

Tip#5: Clean your cup holders with a sock

If your car doesn’t have removable cup holders, it can be tricky to clean them, especially in tight spots. To do this easily, use an old sock to get those stains and splots out. Soak it with an all-purpose cleaner, then put it in the cup holder and twist until all stains and splots have loosened. If some of them are stubborn, scrape them off with a wooden skewer. Remember to vacuum anything that comes out of those holders.

If your cup holders can be removed, just throw them in the dishwasher instead of rinsing scrubbing them. Set your washer to the rinse setting and let it do the dirty work. Don’t use the dry cycle so they don’t melt and instead wipe them dry.

Floor mats can get very messy, which is why this next tip is so great.

Tip#6: Get your floor mats clean

Floor mats see a lot of wear and tear, leaving them looking dirty and worn. You can easily wash these at home. Fabric-covered mats can be washed in the washing machine. To do this, first apply a stain remover to help loosen any big stains, then wash them on a gentle cycle with detergent. If you have rubber mats, give them a wipe with an all-purpose cleaner and a microfiber cloth and they’ll be clean in no time.

Tip #7: Get gunk out of your leather or vinyl seats

Having leather or vinyl seats means everything you eat will get stuck to them. Luckily, they are easy to clean up with a Magic Eraser. Wet the magic eraser and gently scrub the stain or gunk. Make sure to test it somewhere that’s not easily visible to make sure it doesn’t harm the interior. Another method to use is with olive oil and white vinegar, Mix ¼ cup of olive oil and ¼ of a cup of white vinegar in a small container. Rub this mixture gently into your leather seat with a clean rag. Make sure to wipe clean after. This mixture will help condition and disinfect your leather and keep it in great shape.

Tip #8: Clean those windows with recycled materials

Windows can get very streaky and dirty and a great way to clean them is to use items in your recycling bin. Newspaper helps get windows spotless. Take a window cleaner and spray it on your windows, then with a balled-up newspaper page, wipe the windows clean. It’s clean and simple.

You never think of cleaning your tires and rims, but this next tip will have you thinking all about them.

Tip #9: Use a natural cleaner for your tires and rims to shine

Mud accumulates a lot in your tired. Everyday dirt, grass, and bugs can also mark your rims and tires, making your car look unclean. To clean them naturally, you can create your own cleaner. Mix ½ cup of baking soda, 2 cups of warm water and 1 tablespoon of dish soap in a bowl. Spray your hubcaps and tires with water, dip a sponge or towel into the mixture and gently scrub into them. Rinse starting from the top-down and then dry. Your rims will sparkle and your tires will be spotless.

Tip#10: Remove lint with a coffee filter

Dashboards can accumulate a lot of dust, especially if you don’t wipe it down regularly or your car sits in the sun for long periods of time. To remedy this, a coffee filter is a great duster. Coffee filters are made with lint-free features, so dust will adhere to it. Use it to clean all parts of your car.

Tip#11: Remove hair from your seats

Car seats can become covered with pet hair or even human hair, which can be hard to remove. The best way to remove these strands is to use water and a window squeegee. Spray your seats and mats with a spray bottle with water. Then, gently scrape the hair with the squeegee to detach it from the upholstery. Finally, vacuum the seats and the hair will be gone!

Driving in the winter can put a lot of wear on your car. This next tip addresses this problem easily.

Tip#12: Clean the salt from your car

Road salt can ruin the paint of your car and can cause rust. It is important to always clean your car surface and rid it of salt. To do this, mix equal parts of white vinegar and water in spray water. Then, spray on the salt. The vinegar will do magic thanks to its neutralizing properties, making it easy to remove the salt with a rag or cloth.

Tip#13: Use Gummy Gel Cleaner for dust

Dust and dirt that accumulate in vents, dashes and may other places can be cleaned quickly with gummy cleaner. Some even have disinfectant and don’t leave a sticky residue, making it the perfect tool to leave your car dust-free. Try to keep your hands dry while using them to maintain its stickiness and therefore its effectiveness.

Even kitchen ingredients can be used for cleaning your car with this next tip

Tip #14: Polish your interior with olive oil

Instead of using store-bought car polish, you can use olive oil to polish your car’s interior. Take a dab of olive on a clean cloth and go over the dashboard. Test it beforehand on a small spot to see if the dashboard reacts well to it then continue to polish all surfaces like the steering wheel, the vents, etc.

Tip#15: Use baby wipes to keep your interiors clean

Baby wipes are a great way to keep your car clean because they are gentle on most interiors. You can use them to scrub down the steering wheel, dashboard, and other surfaces. They can be kept in the glove compartment to always have them handy and are a great way to wipe grime and stains. They’re gentle enough for babies, so they should work perfectly on your car.

Tip #16: Improve the smell in your car

There is an easy way to get your car smelling great and we’re not talking about getting air fresheners. We’re talking about baking soda. Yes, sprinkling baking soda on your car seats can help improve the smell of your car because of its odor-busting properties. The baking soda will neutralize the odor of pets, food, and spills and leave your car smelling fresh. Sprinkle the baking soda, let it sit for a couple hours and then vacuum clean. It’s that simple.

These 16 tips are sure to get you on your way to achieving a “dealership clean” on your car. From olive oil and coffee filters to dryer sheets and hair conditioners, even household items can help you get a great clean on your car and have it looking like new for years to come. The only thing left to do is to clean. Get cleaning!

Sources

https://fabulousbetty.com/17-car-cleaning-tricks-local-dealers-dont-want-you-to-know/