Revamp Your Ride with these Unconventional Car Cleaning Hacks and Tips

Exterior Car Cleaning Tips

Keeping your car clean is crucial to its maintenance and longevity. It’s not just about the looks; dirt and grime on the exterior of your car can cause damage and rust over time. Here are some exterior car cleaning tips to help you keep your car looking new.

1. Use a cleaner specifically designed for vehicles: According to Family Handyman, hand dishwashing liquid is not the best thing to use on your car’s finish. Instead, use a cleaner formulated for vehicles, which is available at any auto parts store. This cleaner will remove dirt, grease, and old wax without removing the important oils from the paint’s finish.
2. Use two buckets of water for washing your car: One bucket should contain the soapy water, while the other should contain clean water. This way, you can rinse your wash mitt in the clean water bucket to remove most of the road grit and prevent scratches. According to A Girl’s Guide to Cars, this technique is especially important if you’re washing your car in direct sunlight.
3. Dry your car with a microfiber towel: Drying your car with a regular towel or chamois can scratch the paint. Instead, use a microfiber towel, which is gentler on the paint and will not leave streaks.
4. Wax your car after washing: Waxing your car will help protect the paint from the elements and keep it looking shiny. According to A Girl’s Guide to Cars, you should wax your car at least twice a year.
5. Use a non-glossy finishing spray: A non-glossy finishing spray will reduce glare and brightness from any color surface. According to A Girl’s Guide to Cars, you should always clean car surfaces before using shine-inducing gloss wipes or sprays.

Interior Car Cleaning Tips

A clean car interior not only looks good but also promotes good health by reducing the number of germs and bacteria in your car. Here are some tips for cleaning the interior of your car:

1. Remove all items from the car: Before you start cleaning, remove all items from the car, including trash, mats, and seat covers. According to Car and Driver, this will make it easier to vacuum and clean the interior.
2. Vacuum the entire interior: Use a powerful vacuum, such as a wet/dry vacuum, to thoroughly vacuum the interior of your car. Don’t forget to vacuum under the seats and in the nooks and crannies.
3. Clean the dashboard and other surfaces with a damp cloth or plain water: According to A Girl’s Guide to Cars, a damp cloth or plain water is all you need to remove dust and dead bugs from the car’s dash and other surfaces. Avoid using harsh chemicals, which can damage the surfaces.
4. Use the right cleaners for carpets and upholstery: Different types of carpets and upholstery require different types of cleaners. According to Car and Driver, you should use a fabric cleaner for cloth seats and carpets and a leather cleaner for leather seats.
5. Pre-treat floor mats before cleaning: Floor mats can be particularly dirty, so it’s important to pre-treat them before cleaning. Use a stain remover to remove any stains and a fabric freshener to get rid of any odors.
6. Remove stains immediately: If you spill something in your car, clean it up immediately to prevent stains from setting in. According to Car and Driver, you can use a mixture of vinegar, baking soda, and water to remove stains from cloth seats and carpets.
7. Get rid of nasty smells: To get rid of any unpleasant smells, use an odor eliminator or place an open box of baking soda in your car. According to A Girl’s Guide to Cars, you can also use a car air freshener to keep your car smelling fresh.
8. Clean kids’ car seats: Kids’ car seats can be particularly dirty, so it’s important to clean them regularly. According to Car and Driver, you can use a mixture of dish soap and water to clean the seat and then rinse it off with a damp cloth.
9. Make the glass glow: Use a glass cleaner and a microfiber cloth to clean the windows and mirrors in your car. According to A Girl’s Guide to Cars, you should avoid cleaning the windows in direct sunlight, as this can cause streaks.

Unconventional Car Cleaning Hacks

Cleaning your car doesn’t have to be a chore. Here are some unconventional car cleaning hacks that can make the process easier and more effective:

1. Use toothpaste to clean headlights: Over time, headlights can become cloudy and yellowed. According to Nutley Kia, you can use non-gel toothpaste and a soft-bristled brush to clean them. Rub the toothpaste onto the headlights in a circular motion, then rinse off with water.
2. Use coffee filters to remove lint: Lint can be tough to remove from the car’s interior. According to Nutley Kia, you can use coffee filters to remove lint from the car’s surfaces. Simply wipe the surface with a dry coffee filter to remove the lint.
3. Use dryer sheets to remove bug splatters: Bug splatters can be tough to remove from the car’s exterior. According to Nutley Kia, you can use dryer sheets to remove bug splatters from the car’s surfaces. Wet the dryer sheet and wipe the surface to remove the bug splatters.
4. Use baby wipes to keep the car clean: Baby wipes are a great way to keep the car clean between deep cleans. According to GEICO Living, you can use baby wipes to clean the dashboard, steering wheel, and other surfaces in the car.
5. Use baking soda to improve the car’s smell: Baking soda is a natural deodorizer and can help improve the smell of your car. According to Nutley Kia, you can sprinkle baking soda on the carpets and upholstery, let it sit for a few hours, and then vacuum it up.
6. Use a reusable container as a trash can: To avoid trash building up in your car, use a reusable container as a trash can. According to GEICO Living, you can use a plastic cereal container or a plastic grocery bag as a trash can.

Exterior Car Cleaning Tips

The exterior of your car is exposed to a lot of dirt and grime, so it’s important to clean it regularly. Here are some tips for cleaning the exterior of your car:

1. Use a car-specific cleaner: According to Family Handyman, using a cleaner formulated for vehicles is important for maintaining the life of your paint job. Avoid using dish soap, which can strip the oils from the paint’s finish.
2. Rinse the car before washing: Before you start washing the car, rinse it down with water to remove any loose dirt and debris. This will help prevent scratches.
3. Use a two-bucket method: To prevent scratches, use a two-bucket method for washing the car. Fill one bucket with soapy water and the other with clean water. Dip your wash mitt into the soapy water, wash a section of the car, and then rinse the mitt in the clean water before dipping it back into the soapy water.
4. Wash the car in sections: To prevent the soap from drying on the car’s surface, wash the car in sections. Start at the top of the car and work your way down.
5. Dry the car with a microfiber towel: After washing the car, use a microfiber towel to dry it off. According to Family Handyman, a microfiber towel will absorb more water than a regular towel, and it’s less likely to scratch the car’s surface.
6. Wax the car: Waxing the car will help protect the paint and give it a shiny finish. According to A Girl’s Guide to Cars, you should wax the car at least twice a year.
7. Attend to tires and wheels: Tires and wheels can be particularly dirty, so it’s important to clean them regularly. Use a tire cleaner and a wheel cleaner to clean the tires and wheels, and then rinse them off with water.
8. Use shine-inducing gloss wipes or sprays: To make car surfaces shine, use shine-inducing gloss wipes or sprays. According to A Girl’s Guide to Cars, you should always clean the surfaces before using the gloss wipes or sprays.

Interior Car Cleaning Tips

The interior of your car can get just as dirty as the exterior, so it’s important to clean it regularly. Here are some tips for cleaning the interior of your car:

1. Remove all items: Before you start cleaning, remove all items from the car. This includes floor mats, trash, and any items in the glove compartment or center console.
2. Vacuum everything: Use a powerful vacuum, such as a wet/dry vacuum, to vacuum everything in the car. This includes the seats, carpets, dashboard, and door panels. According to A Girl’s Guide to Cars, it’s important to get into all the nooks and crannies.
3. Clean the carpets and upholstery: Use a carpet and upholstery cleaner to clean the carpets and upholstery. Pre-treat any stains with a stain remover before cleaning.
4. Use the right cleaners: Use cleaners that are specifically designed for the surfaces in your car. For example, use a leather cleaner on leather seats and a vinyl cleaner on vinyl surfaces.
5. Pre-treat floor mats: If your floor mats are particularly dirty, pre-treat them with a stain remover before cleaning.
6. Remove stains: Use a stain remover to remove any stains on the car’s surfaces. Follow the instructions on the stain remover carefully.
7. Scrape up solids and semi-solids: If you have any solids or semi-solids in the car, such as gum or melted candy, scrape them up with a plastic scraper.
8. Get rid of nasty smells: If your car has an unpleasant odor, use an odor eliminator to get rid of it. You can also sprinkle baking soda on the carpets and upholstery, let it sit for a few hours, and then vacuum it up.
9. Clean kids’ car seats: If you have kids, make sure to clean their car seats regularly. Use a mild detergent and warm water to clean the car seats, and then let them air dry.
10. Make the glass glow: Use a glass cleaner and a microfiber towel to clean the car’s windows. According to Car and Driver, it’s important to use a clean towel to prevent streaks.
11. Keep the car clean: To keep the car clean between deep cleans, use wet wipes and microfiber cloths to wipe down surfaces. You can also use a reusable container as a trash can to avoid trash building up.

Ready to Shine?

Now that you’ve learned some tips and tricks for cleaning your car, it’s time to get started! Remember to use a car-specific cleaner, rinse the car before washing, use a two-bucket method, wash the car in sections, dry the car with a microfiber towel, wax the car, attend to tires and wheels, use shine-inducing gloss wipes or sprays, remove all items from the car before cleaning, vacuum everything, clean the carpets and upholstery, use the right cleaners, pre-treat floor mats, remove stains, scrape up solids and semi-solids, get rid of nasty smells, clean kids’ car seats, make the glass glow, and keep the car clean.

By following these tips, you can achieve a dealership clean look for your car without breaking the bank.

If you enjoyed this article, make sure to check out our other great content at Car Pro Blog. We provide the latest news and reviews on all things automotive, as well as helpful tips and tricks to keep your car running smoothly.

Thanks for reading, and happy cleaning!

Answers To Common Questions

Who should clean their car regularly?

Anyone who wants to maintain their car’s appearance and value should clean it regularly.

What’s the best way to clean a car’s interior?

Remove all items, vacuum everything, clean carpets and upholstery, use the right cleaners.

How often should I clean my car?

It depends on how often you use your car and the conditions in which it’s driven. As a general rule, aim to clean it every two weeks.

What if I don’t have a lot of time to clean my car?

Use wet wipes and microfiber cloths to wipe down surfaces between deep cleans.

How can I remove stubborn stains from my car’s surfaces?

Pre-treat stains with a stain remover and follow the instructions carefully. If the stain persists, consider taking it to a professional detailer.

But isn’t it expensive to clean my car regularly?

Not necessarily. You can clean your car yourself using cost-effective methods, and regular cleaning can actually save you money in the long run by preventing damage to your car’s surfaces.