How annoying is it to have to pay to have your car detailed by a professional? How about searching for quarters and man-handling that huge, infuriating vacuum hose? Don't worry; we've got your back when it comes to keeping your ride tidied up. These eight, unique car-cleaning hacks will help any person clean their vehicle quickly and thoroughly.
1. For Those Spots You Can't Get Off With a Rag
There's a clay bar for that! You know, for those pesky particles on your car that you can't get off gently and are afraid to use force on? Try a clay bar. They're the new thing in car-cleaning and apparently get grime off your ride like no other. All you have to do is wet the clay and rub the exterior of your vehicle, and the gunk comes off. Never heard of a clay bar? Don't worry, we didn't either. The item is actually a bar of clay that is made specifically for cleaning the exterior of a car. It comes in various colors online and also can be found in a kit at Wal-Mart for around $16. Watch a video of the whole process here.
2. What's That Funky Smell in Your Ride?
Dealing with a ripe smell in your car? Don't worry, we've all been there (thanks, random piece of burger in between the seats). The best way to get rid of a car-stench is with fabric softener sheets! Just like they make your clothes smell fresh, the sheets do the same for your car. All you have to do is pop open a box of Snuggle or Gain and slip that entire bad boy under your car seat. Who needs those pricey Christmas tree air fresheners when you can make your own that smell even stronger?! You can also use dryer sheets to get the bugs off of your windows. Soak them in warm water and wipe.
3. For Interior Gunk That Won't Rub Off
Magic Erasers are a blessing when it comes to cleaning marks off your walls, shoes and kitchen counters, but do they do their magical thing when it comes to the car? You bet! Gently rub the dried-on gunk in your car with the Magic Eraser, and watch it disappear. Don't rub too hard, though, because you don't want to damage the fabric! We recommend you keep one of these in your console or glove box, as they pretty much clean up anything. You can buy them at Wal-Mart, Target or your local grocery store for $2.99.
4. For That Disgusting Bird Poop on Your Windshield
WD-40 is a miracle product. Not only does it get rid of those door creaks, but it also removes gum from your car's upholstery or carpet. Got tree sap or bird poop on your car? Spray that icky stuff with some WD-40 too. Next, hit it with some soap and the hose. See you later, crap! You can purchase a can of WD-40 at pretty much any hardware or general store. A 14-ounce can will cost you about $8 at Wal-Mart.
5. Those Dull Leather Seats
Riding in style and have leather seats? Then you will want to invest in some olive oil. Yep, we're talking about the kind from your kitchen. If the leather parts of your vehicle are looking dull, there's no need to buy expensive leather conditioner. You can actually use the olive oil to get the job done and polish. Did we mention this is a chemical-free way of cleaning too?
You may want to wash the area with soap first. Next, you want to get into the texture of your leather using the oil. Always wipe dry afterwards. Find out how exactly to do this process here.
6. Streaky Windows, Be Gone!
The windows are probably the hardest things to clean on your car. Not only are they filthy as heck, but it's also hard to keep them streak-free while wiping too. Until now, that is. If you wipe down your windshield wipers with rubbing alcohol, it prevents a smeared windshield. Who would've thunk?
7. For Gunk Build-up in Your Cup Holder
Keep that crud out of your cup holders, fountain drink lovers. You can use silicone cupcake liners as cup holder inserts. Now when you put things into your cupholder, you can easily remove the liner and dump the grossness out. Genius, right? You can buy these bad boys at any store like Target or Wal-Mart. A 12-pack of the silicone cups costs around $8.
8. For Foggy Headlights
It is a good idea to keep toothpaste in your middle console (hey, you never know when you're going to need to freshen up). Not only will it help with your bad breath-moments, but toothpaste also clears up foggy headlights. All you need is your favorite toothpaste, rags, and water. Voilà! Oh hey, clear headlights! Watch a tutorial here.
Don't forget to think about us when you're rocking that clean car. Hopefully, these tips saved you some time when it came to cleaning up that ride of yours.
