Professional Cleaners Wish We Didn’t Know These 40 Car Cleaning Tips

Pet hair can be hard to remove from fabric seats. Lightly spray the seats with water and run the rubber squeegee on the seats to remove the hair.

Your car might smell because you haven’t changed your air filters in a while. If you want to make sure your vehicle smells fresh and clean, take a look at your air filters before you do anything.

A homemade mixture of liquid starch, glue and water creates a sticky slime that is perfect for capturing dirt and dust in the vehicle.

Keep a pack of baby wipes in the car and use them regularly to wipe down surfaces. This will help to prevent dust and dirt from accumulating in your car.

Tire cleaning products are expensive. Use bleach mixed with hot water to make your tires shiny again.

Roll down the windows to remove the dirt on the top of the window and roll it back up to clean everything perfectly.

A lot of dust can accumulate in your air vents. To prevent them from blocking, just use a toothbrush and a can of compressed air to remove all the gunk.

This little-known trick can save the resale value of a car. Put a cut onion on a burn on leather or vinyl. Wait a bit, then rinse with warm water. You’ll see a significant difference.

Change them every week to keep a nice smell in the car. These are also practical if you have static in your hair and need a quick fix!

Grease and oil stains can be removed from leather and fabric seats with cornstarch. Leave the product on the stain for ten minutes.

Another alternative to costly and expensive wax finishes is to use kerosene. Use a solution of kerosene and water and wipe the car dry for a shiny vehicle.

Get rid of your old college sticker on your car with razor blades. The sharp edges will easily lift the sticker from your car.

After washing the leather seats with hot soapy water, rub a small amount of olive oil on the seats to prevent them from drying out and cracking.

Don’t spend money on an air freshener. Instead, pour a few drops of essential oil on an absorbent cloth that you leave close to the aeration during your cleaning.

Vaseline can be applied inside your car and on the dashboard to create a shiny finish. It’s much cheaper than “Armor All” and just as effective.

Tiny cracks in your windshield and windows can be very annoying. Stop them from getting any bigger with clear nail polish. Just remember to go to the garage once you notice there cracks.

With a small brush or even an old toothbrush, remove dust from harder-to-reach areas such as the ventilation system and in-between seats.

Use a stiff bristle brush and soapy water to clean your rubber mats. Soak them and let them sit in the sun for at least fifteen minutes before rinsing them to remove difficult stains.

Have your kids been using your car as a canvas? Remove waxy crayon stains by ironing thermal paper over the affected area.

Vinyl coatings and hard surfaces are at risk of cracks if they are not protected. Use a solution of lemon juice and olive oil to keep them shiny and crack-free.

Rub toothpaste on your headlights, wait a few minutes, then rinse with water to make them sparkle.

Spots caused by mud, grease or bird droppings can be quickly eliminated by pouring baby shampoo on a clean, moist cloth and rubbing the stains in a circular motion.

Mix ammonia and cold water for a very efficient cleaning solution. Apply it on the wipers with a clean towel. You will need: 1 cup of water + 1/4 cup of ammonia.

If a water bottle or juice box spills over into your car, take a diaper to absorb the stain.

If there is a leak somewhere, a piece of gum can be temporarily used to stop the leak until it can be repaired by a professional.

Never lose your pens, coins or whatever small devices you have in your car by adding some sticky mats on your dashboard.

Dip a magic eraser into Lysol to clean stubborn sticky stains from surfaces inside or outside the vehicle.

Dead and dried up insects can be difficult to remove from your car with soap and water. Wet a dryer sheet and rub the affected area to remove them in no time.

Use white vinegar in a spray bottle for scratch-free windows. Wipe with a newspaper rather than a towel to avoid fluff.

Your favourite soda can also help you remove rust stains on your car. Add some soda on a cloth and rub the area but don’t use it on your car paint.

When the space is too narrow for a toothbrush or towel, a Q-tip may be useful.

For difficult-to-reach spaces such as small holes, a screwdriver with a soft cloth can be used to remove dust and stubborn dirt.

Adding a few tablespoons of vinegar to any cleaning solution will greatly increase its efficiency. It can be used on windows and vinyl linings.

Use the old ashtray in your car as a phone dock.

Big stains can be easily removed with mayonnaise. Leave the mayonnaise on for five to ten minutes and then wipe with a clean cloth.

Resistant stains (wine, blood, etc.) can be easily removed with club soda. Wait a few minutes and then wipe the area with a towel.

Charcoal absorbs odours. To rid the vehicle of stubborn odours, place a few pieces of coal under the seats for a cleaner smell.

Are winters in your town very cold? Easily de-ice locks and doors with plain old hand sanitizer by applying some on your doors and windows.

Mix a spoonful of baking soda and a spoonful of liquid detergent in water for an efficient and inexpensive car wash liquid.

You don’t have any cup holders but you do have a very hot liquid you need to put down? Use an old shoe as a cup holder. Brilliant!

Sources:

• AutoInfo
• WikiHow