10 car cleaning hacks to try

Keeping your vehicle clean can get expensive.

While professional detailing is always an option, you can achieve some of the same results with items you probably already have at home. Taking care of your vehicle will help it not only look good but last longer and make for a better resale value should you choose to sell it.

Treat your wheels with these tips:

1. Get the bugs off: It’s still summer and we all know what that means! Bugs. No worries. Just save your used dryer sheets and the job of getting them off your car just got a lot easier. Rub the used dryer sheet on your car and watch while they come off before you wash it.
2. Bye-bye pet hair:Have fur babies? Everyone knows it can be tough to get the hair off your fabric seats. All you need is a spray bottle full of water and a squeegee. Just mist where the pet hair is – don’t soak it – and run the squeegee across the upholstery and watch as it pulls the pet hair with it.
3. Let there be light: Want crystal clear lights? Put some toothpaste on your headlights and scrub. Take off the covers and rinse the bulbs as well. Wash everything with warm water and apply wax to the covers. The wax will ensure that no water or ice sticks to them for weeks.
4. Use a brush for vents: Your air vents can get pretty dusty and, without realizing it when you turn the air on, you’re blowing it all in your face. So, before turning on the air again, use a big fluffy makeup or paintbrush to get the dust out of there. The brush can easily reach tough places.
5. Your dashboard will love you:A little olive oil will go long way to shine up your dash. Put some on a cloth and rub it on your dashboard. Over time, it will help prevent your dash from cracking.
   • Tip: Olive oil can also be used on leather.
6. A screwdriver can help too –Every car has lots of nooks and crannies. Cover the head of a flat screwdriver with a cloth and gently scrape the dirt out.
   • Tip: Toothbrushes and cotton swabs are also great for cleaning those hard-to-reach areas.
7. DIY Air freshener –Use laundry scent balls such as Downy Unstoppablesand place them in tiny mesh bags around the car, preferably near the doors.
   • Tip: If you are trying to absorb a bad smell, place a handful of charcoal in breathable cloth bags and it will do the work for you.
8. Shine it up with lanolin:After washing your car, use a conditioner with lanolin in it. It will shine up your ride. Pour a good amount on a towel and apply it in circular motions.
9. Treat your wipers: After cleaning your windshield wipers, rub them down with rubbing alcohol. This will prevent them from leaving smears on your windshield the next time you use them.
   • Tip:If your wipers are squeaking apply some WD40 to the hinge of the wipers and then rub it across the blades. It doesn’t take much to remove the noise.
   • Bonus Tip: The solvent WD40 is also great for shining up your vehicle and helping to remove the adhesive from stickers.
10. Pass the mayo –There are lots of expensive products out there to help remove tar from your vehicle. But did you know one is in your fridge? Apply some mayo on the affected spot and let it rest for 5-10 minutes. Wipe away the grease and watch the tar peel away.

If you liked these cleaning tips, let us know on social media and we’ll hunt down some more. Happy cleaning!