If you spend a lot of time driving, you’ve likely noticed how dirty your car can get. From crumbs to pet hair to dust and grime, all kinds of unpleasant stuff can start accumulating. And if you haven’t been tidying up regularly, the idea of deep cleaning your car might sound like an all-day affair. Thankfully, it’s easier than you think. There are a variety of clever hacks to get your car looking like new, using items you likely already have at home. There’s no need to pay for a pricey commercial car wash or use chemical-laden cleaning products when you can try these tricks and hit the road in style!
Get Gleaming Tires With DIY Mineral Oil
Keep tires looking new with a simple DIY wax seal. Auto-cleaning expert, DianaRodriguez-Zaba suggests combining 1 cup of mineral or baby oil, ½ cup of water, and two or three drops of liquid dish soap in a spray bottle. Shake well and spritz generously onto tires, then wipe with a clean cloth. This simple DIY solution will clean the tires, as well as seal them, repelling dust and dirt.
Baby Shampoo Magic
The gentle way to wash your car? Just pour ¼ cup of baby shampoo into a bucket of warm water, then use a large sponge to wipe the car’s exterior and rinse with your hose. Auto expert Christopher Altschul, president of N/S Corporation asserts that the shampoo won’t strip the protective layers from the car. Instead, it will bind to dirt and grime, leaving the vehicle looking like new.
Use Charcoal and DIY Deodorizers
Put charcoal into a sock and place it in your cup holder. Charcoal absorbs smells and moisture, nixing mustiness. And to infuse your car with a fresh scent, consider whipping up an all-natural deodorizer, says Rodriguez-Zaba. Select an essential oil and mix it with 1 cup of In a spray distilled water in a spray bottle. Spray it in the interiors of the car and let this DIY spray work its magic!
Carpet Care
Sand and pollen can mess up the carpets of your car. These particles don’t really get cleaned by a simple vacuum cleaner since these particles have a tendency to latch onto carpet fibers. One clever solution is to use baby powder. Just sprinkle it over carpets before vacuuming — not only will it help remove any oily stains, but it also breaks up the bond between the sand and the fibers, making it easy for your vacuum to pick debris right up.