Car Cleaning Hacks

Hi Folks,

I thought today I would talk about "cleaning the car". If you are like me you have to clean your car yourself!! So, while on my phone playing around I found these hacks that I will share with you. I have to clean my car this weekend and will put a few of these tips to use!

1.  Apply Vaseline to Interior of car for a brilliant shine.   Old-fashioned petroleum jelly can be applied to the interior and dashboard of a vehicle to create a glossy finish. It is much cheaper than Armor All and just as effective.
2.   Use Charcoal to absorb foul orders.  Among other uses, charcoal is adept at absorbing odors. To rid vehicles of stubborn smells that cannot be covered, place a few pieces of charcoal under the seat.
3.  Make cheap car wash solution with everyday ingredients.  Mix a one-quarter spoonful of baking soda and a one-quarter spoonful of liquid detergent into a bucket of water for an effective, inexpensive car wash solution.
4.  Clean air vents.  Get rid of unsightly dust accumulation on the slats of the car’s air vents by using an old toothbrush, a paintbrush, or a can of compressed air.
5.  Keep leather upholstery fresh with vinegar and linseed oil.  Wiping down leather seats regularly with a solution of equal parts linseed oil and vinegar will keep the upholstery clean, moisturized, and free from cracks.
6.  Use a squeegee to remove pet hair.  Pet hair can be tough to remove from cloth upholstery. Lightly spray seats with water and rub with a rubber squeegee to remove hair quickly.
7.  Remove grease and oil stains with cornstarch.  Grease and oil can be removed from leather and cloth upholstery by applying cornstarch to the affected area. Let it sit for ten minutes, and the starch will soak up the stain.
8.  Remove baked-on stains with mayonnaise. Hard-to-remove stains can be lifted easily with the application of a dollop of mayonnaise. Let it sit for five to ten minutes and then wipe off with a clean rag.
9.  Use vinegar to boost cleaning solution.  The addition of a few tablespoons of vinegar to any cleaning solution will boost its power immensely. It is safe for use on windows and vinyl upholstery.
10. De -Ice stuck doors and locks with hand sanitizer.  The high alcohol content of hand sanitizer will quickly melt ice from stuck doors and locks in the winter. The gel solution is easier to use in direct applications than liquid alcohol.
11.  Use wet dryer sheets to remove bug stains.  Old, dried-up bugs can be difficult to remove from the car’s body with soap and water alone. Wet a dryer sheet and scrub the affected area to remove these bug stains.
12. Use rubbing alcohol to clean wipers blades.  Residue on windshield wiper blades can cause streaks or even ineffective wiping. Dip a ball of cotton in rubbing alcohol and rub away all residue to eliminate streaks.
13. Wash car with baby shampoo to remove stains. Caked-on stains caused by mud, grease, or bird filth can be quickly removed by pouring baby shampoo onto a clean wet rag and rubbing the stain in a circular motion.
14. Use lanolin-based hair conditioner for a glossy finish. Save time and money on wax finishes by applying lanolin-based hair conditioner to a freshly washed car. It is faster than waxing and buffing and equally effective.
15. Fill windshield reservoir with Vodka solution.  Prepare a homemade solution of three cups of cheap vodka, four cups of water, and two tablespoons of liquid detergent and pour in windshield wiper reservoir for a streak-free finish.
16. Use toothpaste to clean cloudy headlights.  Headlight cleaning kits are effective but can be expensive Use regular toothpaste, let it sit, and buff it off to clear up cloudiness quickly and cheaply.
17. Protect vinyl surfaces with lemon juice and olive oil. Vinyl upholstery and hard surfaces are susceptible to unsightly cracking if they are not protected. Use a solution of lemon juice and olive oil to keep them shiny and safe from cracks.
18. Use bleach to get shining black tires.  Tire-cleaning products are costly. Use a solution of everyday detergent and bleach mixed into warm water to bring back the shine.
19. Use olive oil to keep upholstery supple and like new. After washing dirt and grime off of leather seats with warm, soapy water, rub a small amount of olive oil into the upholstery to keep it from drying out and cracking.
20. Use kerosene for a cheap glossy finish.  Another alternative to time-consuming and costly wax finishes is the use of kerosene. Use a solution of kerosene and water and wipe the car dry for a brilliant shine.

Well, I hope these have been of some help to you the next time you clean your car.

Rambling thoughts:
I hope the pollen count goes down around here. It has been 11.2 lately!!