If you travel a lot, do too much shopping, or have school-going kids, chances are you spend most of your time in your car. And if you do so, it is hard to keep it clean always. So, in this case, you have two options. First, either take it to an auto dealer, which is going to be costly. Second, you can clean it yourself.
Many believe that car cleaning is a daunting task. It does not have to be if you follow these simple DIY car maintenance tips. These tips will make car cleaning a breeze. So, no matter whether you are maintaining a clean car or deep cleaning a dirty one, these car maintenance tips will help you clean your car in no time.
Top 10 Car Maintenance Tips
Simple cleaning solution for stickers- It is one of the simplest car maintenance tips that you should follow. Cleaning your car is not always easy, especially buying second-hand cars because they come with a glimpse of others’ tastes and can include stickers too! Here are some easy cleaning tips that will help you to get rid of those stickers.
Getting rid of stickers does not have to be tedious if you have patience and have enough time to clean the car. Obviously, you do not want to ruin the artwork.
The easiest method is to use sticky stuff remover. You just need to follow the instructions and take your time. The sticker will come off.
Using a hairdryer- It is one of the simplest car maintenance tips that can be followed easily at home. The basic idea behind using a hairdryer is to heat the glue behind the sticker so that it comes off easily.
WD40- It is a lubricant used for different purposes. If you are looking for things that can make your car maintenance process simple, then this one is for you. You can apply this on the sticker and wait for some time. This lubricant is also great for cleaning your fridge.
Homemade car wash using mayonnaise- Yes, you read it right! To get rid of pine sap or road tar off your car easily, take some mayonnaise and apply it all over the affected area.
It is one of the simplest car maintenance tips that you can follow as this ingredient is easily available at home. Leave it for a few minutes and then wipe it off using a soft and clean cloth. That is it! You will get a shining car in no time.
Use toothpaste for cleaning the headlights- Yes, toothpaste can also be used for car maintenance. If the headlights of your car have become foggy and dirty, then apply some toothpaste to them. If toothpaste can fix the scratches on a CD or DVD, then it can even clean the car headlights also. Dirty headlights not only ruin the look of a car but is also not safe as they lessen the visibility at night.
Use a brush for cleaning tight and small spaces- It is one of the important car maintenance tips especially for small areas. Cleaning the tiny spaces inside your car is a daunting task. How much ever you clean this area using a cloth, you will still find dirt and dust.
These areas are difficult to clean, but you can make the cleaning process simple by using a brush. Using a toothbrush, clean the dust on the tight areas of your car’s seats. Softly brush the dirt and ultimately you will get a mess-free, clean car without much effort!
Clean your car’s dirty windshields with cola- Whenever it rains after a long dry season, a dirty windshield becomes a huge mess. Get rid of blotches and streaks by pouring Coca-Cola on the glass.
The bubbles present in the cola will fizz away the dirt. Just make sure you wash off the sticky cola thoroughly or else your vehicle will end up attracting dirt and dust.
Give a shining effect to your dashboard- Most of us spend most of our time and effort cleaning the exterior part of the car but very few concentrate on the inner areas like a dashboard.
A shining effect is a sign of good car maintenance. Keeping the car clean from inside will make you as well as your passengers feel good whenever they get inside your car.
There are different types of car polish available in the market that can be used for giving a shining effect to the dashboard. However, apart from those products, some other options can also be used. These are:
Vaseline- In fact, this is great for keeping your dash in good condition. The idea is to use it a little and keep the rest of it inside the dashboard for future use.
Polish- This is one of the common car care products that most of us use. But, if you are someone who does not want to use any kind of chemicals, then the next two options discussed here will be helpful for you.
A mix of white vinegar and water- This is one of the easiest options you can use for cleaning your car. The only thing you need to buy is vinegar. If you can bear the strong smell of vinegar, then this could be the best option for your car.
Olive oil- You can apply olive oil to the dashboard and then wipe it off by using a dry cloth. The ultimate result- a smooth & shiny dashboard.
But, how to clean the air vents and small spaces?
You do not want to miss any part of the car, mainly the air vents. You do not want dust particles to fly around your car the moment you switch on the air vents. Here are a few options to solve this issue.
· Clean the small spaces using a flat-headed screwdriver wrapped in a clean cloth.
· Compressed air inside a can to take off the dust.
· Cotton buds are perfect for cleaning small areas.
·     Use foam paintbrushes, the small ones that can be squeezed inside the small gaps.
How to clean the cup holders- If you believe that car maintenance is just about the car’s exterior. Then you are mistaken. Cup holders are one of the areas inside a car that is often neglected. Is it because it is hard to clean? No, not at all.
You need a coffee cup wrapped in an old sock. Spray some cleaner on it. Then turn and twist the cup while keeping it inside the holder to clean it. Yes, it is that simple!
Cleaning the fabrics of the seat- There is nothing worse than sitting on a dirty seat. Many people say that as they have dogs and children, their car seats are always dirty. But this is just an excuse as one can keep the car seats clean by following certain car maintenance tips.
If you have a dog whom you take outside or walk with, then chances are high that you will find dog hair on the seats or the carpet. Often, a vacuum cleaner will not be able to squeeze dog hair on the seat or carpet. Here are some of the easiest car maintenance tips to get rid of pet hair.
· Make use of a squeegee. Yes, they are best for pulling up pet hair.
· A scrubbing brush is also useful.
Keep your car smell fresh- As far as small areas are concerned, bad smell persists for long. However, getting rid of the smell, especially from inside a car is not an easy task. Charcoal below the seats is supposed to absorb bad smells.
This is a simple and easy way to get rid of bad smells.
You can even put the small, scented balls that you put inside your washing machine to get rid of a pungent smell. You can put a few drops of essential oil on a wooden peg and keep it attached to the vents so that when the wind blows over them, you will get the same smell of essential oil.
Make sure you or whoever is getting inside your car does not smoke inside your car as this can result in an unpleasant smell.
So, next time when it is your turn to clean your car, don’t run away. Instead, try these car maintenance tips and leave everyone shocked.