Random Ingenious Car Cleaning Hacks (20 items)

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  (#1) Use A Foam Paint Brush To Clean Dusty Air Vents

  Air vents in cars keep you cool, warm, and sprayed with dust, debris, and other car-borne particles - if you fail to clean them now and then.

  The narrow vents are difficult to wipe with a rag or paper towel, but an inexpensive foam paintbrush slips into the crevices easily, picking up dust and gunk as it goes. Rinse the brush in water between insertions.
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  (#2) WD-40

  • Brand/Company

  In addition to “Stops Squeaks” and “Loosens Rusted Parts," one of the claims on a container of WD-40 is “Frees Sticky Mechanisms.” That probably isn’t referring to bumper stickers, but WD-40 will indeed free your bumper of stickiness, because a campaign sticker from the previous presidential election or one proclaiming “My child is a star student at [school]” might get old after a while.

  Spray some WD-40 on the sticker and let it soak for a minute or two, then scrape the sticker off and clean the remaining bumper area with dish detergent.

   
• 

  (#3) A Squeegee Gets Rid Of Unwanted Pet Hair On Seats

  You probably already know a squeegee can work wonders on windows, creating a streak-free shine. But the cleaning device also works on car interiors as a pet hair removal tool. Vacuum cleaners won't suction up all the fur and fuzz; a squeegee's rubber blade can pick up what the vacuum misses.

  Use it on both upholstery and carpet, pulling the squeegee in one long motion, then remove hair between swipes.
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  (#4) Coca-Cola

  • Beverage

  A cure for the unsightly rust on your car's chrome surfaces might be a can of Coca-Cola. The American soda staple works because of chemical reactions. Coke's carbonated nature along with the included citric acid and phosphoric acid remove stains and break down rust and tarnish.

  To avoid scratches, use a sponge or piece of aluminum foil to apply the Coke (or Diet Coke if you want less sticky residue). Wash the surface with soap and water when done. 

   
• 

  (#5) Nail Polish

  • Film

  Just like a run in a pair of pantyhose, a crack in a windshield will keep spreading until you're staring at a long white gash. For a temporary stop-the-spread fix until you can get it properly repaired, use clear nail polish, which serves as a sealant.

  Apply the polish over the entire surface of the crack, at both ends, and over any branching cracks starting to form, then along the inside of the windshield glass as well. 
• 

  (#6) Toothpaste

  • Fictional Character

  Today's plastic headlights are less prone to breakage than glass ones, but they are also more likely to turn cloudy from oxidation. Check first to make sure your headlights don't just need a regular wash to get rid of dirt. If the cloudiness remains, use toothpaste to clean them, which acts as an abrasive to buff away the cloudiness.
  
  Place masking tape around the headlights to protect your car's paint job, then use a damp cloth and any kind of toothpaste to rub away the haze, moving in small circles. Rinse dry. 
• 

  (#7) Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Cleaning Pads

  • Products

  A Mr. Clean Magic Eraser can clean just about anything, including multiple car surfaces. It's excellent at removing scuff marks on your dashboard, seats, where your shoes hit the car frame when you hop in the vehicle, or any place kids put their feet up.

  On the car's exterior, use one of the cleaning pads to swipe away bug remains or oily, grimy dirt that regular cleaners can't penetrate.

   
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  (#8) Vaseline

  • Company

  To keep your car's dashboard polished and conditioned, use petroleum jelly (such as Vaseline). Wash the dash first and wipe it dry, then rub in the Vaseline with a clean cloth.

  Wipe away any residual stickiness.

   
• 

  (#9) A Clay Bar Is A Cost-Effective Way To Get That New Car Shine

  According to Chemical Guys, you can use a clay bar to remove environmental contamination, brake dust, and overspray (from paint or other airborne substances) that makes the surface of your car rough.

  First wash your car so you start with a clean slate. Then pull off a chunk of the clay and knead it into a flat disc, spray clay luber on the car surface, then rub the bar left to right or up and down - but not in circles. Wipe dry with a microfiber cloth. The result should be new car shine.
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  (#10) DIY Washer Fluid Is Inexpensive And Easy To Make

  When your well of windshield wiper fluid runs dry, you don't have to buy the expensive chemical kind at a store. Instead, try this recipe for all-weather homemade wiper fluid.

  Mix 1 gallon of distilled water (not tap water, because the minerals might clog up your wipers) with 1 tablespoon of dish detergent. Add 1/2 cup of ammonia. 
• 

  (#11) Remove Odor With Baking Soda

  "Baking" soda is such a limiting phrase because sodium bicarbonate serves as so much more than a pastry ingredient. Case in point: it's also an excellent odor absorber.

  If your car's carpets or seats need a freshening up, sprinkle baking soda all over them, let the powder sit for several hours (the longer the better), then vacuum up the mess. Fancy-smelling car air fresheners might entice you, but they just mask the smell rather than absorb it.
• 

  (#12) Baby Wipes Are Great Window Cleaners

  Gentle enough for a little one's delicate skin, baby wipes are also tough enough to clean a windshield without scratching it.

  Plus, a bottle of window cleaner and a roll of paper towels won't fit in a glove compartment, but baby wipes will, with plenty of room left for gloves, spare change, and fast-food napkins.
• 

  (#13) Hair Conditioner With Lanolin Keeps Water Spots At Bay

  Raindrops, dewdrops, and wayward sprinklers can all leave pesky water spots on your car's shiny exterior. But lanolin, a waxy product found in hair conditioner, can serve as a barrier to prevent water spots from forming.

  To give your car the conditioning treatment, mix two cups of water with 1/2 cup of hair conditioner (make sure lanolin is an ingredient), then wipe the entire surface of the vehicle down with a microfiber cloth. Your car will be as shiny, smooth, and polished as fresh-from-the-shower hair - and it's more likely to stay that way when unwanted drops fall. 
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  (#14) Silicone Cupcake Liners Make Cleaning Cupholders A Breeze

  Things that get super-sticky: children's fingers, kitchen floors, and car cup holders. Prevent soda, juice, coffee, and other drinking liquids from dripping into your vehicle's cup openings by placing sturdy silicone cupcake liners inside them to catch the spills.

  Toss and throw in fresh ones when they get sticky - no cleaning products required. 

   
• 

  (#15) Use Dryer Sheets To Swipe Away Bugs

  Fabric-softening dryer sheets, often associated with cute snuggly bears and the scent of fresh flowers, can also accomplish a pretty icky task: cleaning bugs from the outside of your car. The oil in the sheets helps loosen and remove the stuck-on insect parts.

  Wet the sheet first, then rub away the bug remains. 
• 

  (#16) Avoid Windshield Wiper Streaks With Rubbing Alcohol

  Windshield wipers are supposed to provide clearer vision, but sometimes end up creating more of a mess. If you see a blurry, smeared arc when you switch them on, you might need new blades. But first try cleaning them with soap and water, then swipe the blades with rubbing alcohol.

  The alcohol will help keep streaks from forming.

   
• 

  (#17) An Old Sock Is A Great Way To Clean Sticky Cupholders

  To clean a cupholder, you could wipe away whatever cleaner you choose with a paper towel or rag, but a more effective way might be to use an old sock placed on the bottom of a glass or cup.

  First vacuum up crumbs or other chunks of food. Spray the sock with cleaner, then twist the cup around in the holder.

   
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  (#18) Keep Your Car Smelling Fresh With A DIY Essential Oil Diffuser

  You can buy air fresheners that attach to your car vents and send the scent of your choice wafting around when you turn the air on. A possibly cheaper and homier alternative is a diffuser made from a clothespin and essential oils.

  To make one, dab a drop of essential oil (the scent possibilities are endless) on the end of a wooden clothespin (the part that closes) and attach it to the car vent. You can even decorate the clothespin to make it more festive.
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  (#19) Cooking Spray Gets Bugs Off Your Bumper

  When your car's bumper or grill starts to resemble an insect collection, it's time to remove the bug residue. Sometimes, however, the bugs stay stuck even after you wash your car.

  To get the insect gunk off, use cooking spray. Just spray it on a cloth and rub vigorously. Some people say the cooking spray then leaves a film that's difficult to remove, however, so maybe test a small area of your car first. 

   
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  (#20) Go Green And Clean Windows With Old Newspapers

  Using newspaper to clean windows is not only a way to recycle, but it actually works better than a paper towel to create a streak-free pane.

  After spraying cleaner on your car windows, rub a piece of newspaper in a circular motion to remove spots, then vertically and horizontally, to wipe all the cleaner away.

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