Owning a car is a lot of responsibility. There's the licensing, the registration, the insurance, and that's all before you can even get on the road!
Regular maintenance is important for the health of your vehicle, but another thing that you should be doing is keeping it clean.
I'm guilty of ignoring how dirty my car is, but using these easy tricks even I could manage to do a little more to get it clean! The best part is that most of these don't even need any products that you don't already have in
1. The One Emergency Car Cleaner We All Need
If you've ever run into the situation where your car windows have gotten horribly dirty but you can't get to a car wash, a really good solution is actually baby wipes.
Honestly, they are good for just about anything so you should always have some on hand. They can help with spills in the car, they are good for the kids, but they also get some grime off your windows. Also, it's so easy to keep them tucked in your glove box. They really are your first defense against the mess!
2. Fizz Removes Glass Grime
While this one needs a little extra care, the bubbles in soda can actually help get the grime off of your windshield.
You do however need to be extra careful not to spill it onto the hood of the car, so make sure you put down a towel along the bottom to prevent any damage to the paint.
The bubbles will work their magic and remove spots and streaks from the window in no time, and then all you've got to do is wipe it away. It's also really good for getting bird poops off of your windshield.
3. Condition, Don't Wax
A lot of people swear by wax for their cars, but its a lot of work. If you need something in between treatments, you can use hair conditioner.
That's right, your hair conditioner will work and shine up the car's paint as long as it has lanolin in it.
It will even help repel water to stop those annoying water spots from forming.
4. Toothpaste Will Brush Away Your Fog
If you want to clean your headlights, toothpaste is actually one of the tried and true methods that many people use.
It stops the headlights from getting foggy and helps them stay super clean for even longer. You can also use toothpaste to polish leather and vinyl.
5. Squeegee And Spray Bottle Are A Match Made In Heaven
You don't need to worry about those dog hairs that you have all over your back seat any more, because all you need is a spray bottle full of water and a squeegee and you can clean it right up.
Spray the seat with cold water because you use the squeegee to pull all the hair forward. Because it's wet, it should stay clumped together making it way easier to pick up.
6. Cream Of Tartar Solves Oil Problems
Driving on roads that have been oiled (like so many gravel roads are) can cause a film to build up on your windshield. Even when you use your wipers it seems like it won't come off.
To get rid of the oil, sprinkle some cream of tartar on the windshield and then wipe it down with soapy water. Dry it well, and then it should stop your window from always looking like an oily haze is covering everything.
7. Stop Streaking Wiper Blades
To get those annoying streaks to stop appearing every time you use the wipers, you can try this solution of 1/4 cup of household ammonia to 1 quart of cold water to clean them off.
Use a soft cloth soaked in the solution to wipe down the blades, and then dry them fully before putting them back down on the glass.
8. Baking Soda Is A Trusty Tool
You already know that baking soda is your best defense against a lot of smells in your house, but you can use it in your car too.
Sprinkle it on the carpets or even on fabric seats and let it sit for two hours before vacuuming up. It'll destroy odors and leave everything smelling fresh.
Tricks To Keep It Clean
Obviously your best offense is a good defense, so here are a few little tips to help you keep the car clean all the time so it doesn't get so bad.
Use a cereal container from the dollar store as a trash can
Because it has a lid that closes, you'll have somewhere to put any snack wrappers while you drive.
Use hanging shoe organizers to sort out everything
It's the perfect place to store extra baby wipes, sunscreen, bug spray, or anything else you may need on the go without it rolling around the trunk like crazy.
Use silicone cupcake wrappers in cup holders
Cup holders are always the messiest. We always end up throwing loose change and other small things in them, and somehow they always end up sticky. To prevent this, you can use silicone cupcake wrappers and then just wash them when they get dirty.
Source - Reader's Digest / Geeky Camel / HGTV / Krazy Coupon Lady / Lifehack
