16 Effective Hacks for Car Cleaning and Maintenance

Nearly everyone has a car. According to a recent survey, approximately 93 percent of households in the United States have a car or at least access to one. This is because cars are now essential if you want to do chores and other important activities. However, cars can be expensive to purchase and maintain. A study found that on average, Americans spend $397 annually just on car repairs. You can reduce this cost by employing these 16 effective hacks for maintaining and cleaning your car.

Car Maintenance

Maintaining a car doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. Thanks to the internet, you can find automotive equipment suppliers, like JMC Equipment, easily. But you can also mitigate a lot of damage and cost to your vehicle with the following hacks.

1. Protect your windshield from getting damaged by extreme temperature. If your windshield gets too hot or cold, it can warp or even crack. Prevent this damage by covering your windshields and windows with a tarp.
2. Removing bumper stickers can be difficult. If you’re not careful, you can even scratch or scrape off your car’s paintjob. Simply soak a folded piece of newspaper in water, adhere on the bumper sticker for 10 minutes. The sticker will peel of quickly.
3. Instead of leaving tools and objects in the trunk scattered around, buy a couple of sectioned shower caddies. They’ll provide an easy way to organize tools and transport them during an emergency.
4. Keep a map of your hometown and note down all automotive repair shops, gas stations and lay-bys. Put this annotated map in your glove compartment. This way, even if your phone battery has run out, you can have a reliable guide in case of an accident.
5. Wiper blades are made of rubber, and they lose their elasticity and crack in cold weather. Keep your car safe by covering your wipers with a pair of long socks during the winter.
6. Stop dinging your car door on garage shelves and walls with pool noodles. Cut apart pool noodles and attach them to walls and shelves to create protective padding.
7. Does your car have a small dent? You might not need to take it to the shop if you have a toilet plunger. Simply suction the dent back into shape with a few vigorous pulls.
8. If your car’s paintjob has a few very minor scratches, you won’t need to pay a lot to fix them. Buy a bottle of nail polish that matches the color of your car and apply to the small scratches for a quick fix.

Car Cleaning

Car washes can be very expensive, especially if you have to take your car every week. One way you can save on car ownership costs is by using effective tips and hacks to ensure your car remains clean for longer.

1. Keep your headlights clear and clean with dental hygiene. When cleaning your car, use a toothbrush to scrub your headlights with toothpaste and rinse. This will keep them pristine and protected from grime.
2. Stop spills and crumbs from accumulating at the bottom of your cup holders with cupcake liners. Buy a couple of silicon cupcake liners and put them in your cupholders. This will make it easy to catch and clean up debris and spills.
3. Your tire’s rims are some of the dirtiest areas of your vehicle. Help them become more dirt resistant by cleaning them with extra strength dishwashing soap. It will give your rims a shinier look and make them more dirt resistant.
4. Tired of kids or passengers leaving litter in your backseat? Buy a cereal container and attach it to the back of the driver’s seat as a makeshift trashcan.
5. Having a hard time cleaning tiny bits of dirt from the bottom of nooks and crannies? Buy some silly putty or some toy slime and roll them into these areas. The dirt will stick to these products while still being easily removable.
6. Make sure your car smells wonderful without buying expensive car air fresheners. Get a few wooden clothespins and soak their tips with a few drops of your favorite essential oils. Attach the scented clothespin to the grille of your air conditioning.
7. Remove unsightly stains from your upholstery without professional help. Use a toothbrush to scrub baking soda on the stain and drip some vinegar on it. Scrub with the brush again to remove the stain.
8. Keep a can of compressed air in your car. You can use it to blow dust out of your air conditioner vents and from between seat cushions.

Owning a car doesn’t have to be expensive so long as you use your creativity and intelligence. These hacks are just a few ways you can make sure your car stays pristine and fully functional without breaking the bank.