Getting Pizza Sauce Off Your Upholstered Car SeatIt just happened! Bringing home two pizzas and a container of extra sauce, that ended up opening and dumping onto my new, light gray upholstered car seat! AUGH!! I had even used an over the counter upholstery protection spray previously on the seats, but it didn't seem to help at all!
Tips for Waxing CarsMy friend and I came up with this list after waxing his car and learning through trial and error (and success).
Car Wash Mitt from Knit HatIf you need a car wash mitt then use an old winter knit hat. This would probably apply to snow and freezing areas, where residents have winter wear. I have also used an old sock, but this would work better. The hat rinses out very easily and doesn't scratch surfaces.
Find the Right CarwashOur previous car had lots of scratches from going to the carwash. Mainly because the brushes were very abrasive and curb rub on the tires from the self automated ramp.
Use Excess Shampoo to Wash Your CarIf you think you don't have a budget yet to buy a car shampoo, there's another way to make your car shine without spending too much. You can use shampoo. It would make your car shine and it won't minimize paint to lessen the color.
Tana Leather Cleaning LotionI used the Tana leather shampoo for the rear seat of my BMW. No signs of residual rust yet several other products had failed before. Tana is made in Australia but should be available elsewhere.
Morning Dew Car WashLiving in Southern California during the worst drought the U.S. has ever seen is no walk in the park. You have to get creative about how to save water - something I almost never had to worry about growing up in the rain-drenched North East.
Cleaning Water Spots Off Windows With Household ProductsMy car windows were covered in hard water spots after mistakenly parking near a sprinkler at work on a hot summer day. I have washed my car three times and paid close attention to the windows, but had no luck getting the spots off. Today I decided to see what I could do with household products.
Pantyhose Over Car Wash SpongeIf you tuck your car wash sponge into a pair of old pantyhose, it will clean the car better and get more gunk off of the paint. It is safe and easy.
Cleaning Hazy HeadlightsRecently I noticed the headlights on both my car and especially my son's car were quite hazy, thus reducing visibility at night. I purchased a cleaning kit at the automotive store, (not cheap,) which involved several steps...
Auto Freshener TipWhen you car auto freshener goes dead, revive it by putting a few drops of concentrated candy flavoring oil onto the freshener pad. Since it is the holiday season, I just put a couple of drops of peppermint oil on one today, and cinnamon oil on one in another vehicle.
Newspaper for Gasoline SpillI spilled gasoline in the trunk of my car. I solved the odor problem by laying newspaper over the carpet where it was spilled. The paper absorbed the odor and there was no stain to even see where it was spilled. The problem was solved!
Use Mr. Clean EraserMr. Clean Eraser cleans dashboards and doors with ease!
Clean Upholstery with Disposable Wipes While WaitingMost vehicles have a pocket on the back of the front seats and I keep a package of disposable wipes meant for car upholstery there. Whenever I am in my car and waiting for some reason, I grab one and take a wipe at my dash and door.
Use Bath Scrubby To Wash CarWhen cleaning your car and the bug spots are hard to get off, just use a nylon bath scrubby ball that comes with many bath sets. They are soft and will not scratch the paint, but will work wonderfully on those greasy bug spots and black tar.
Store Cleaning Supplies In Your Car For Idle MomentsStore a small bag of car cleaning supplies in your trunk, such as empty bags for litter, car interior wipes, and even a roll of paper towel and window cleaner. I find tidying the car a good use of time when I am waiting on a passenger during an appointment.
Plastic Tray to Hold Gear in Mini VanOne reason that my family bought a mini-van, was to haul our camping gear. Unfortunately, that also means sometimes wet and muddy gear.
Stow Plastic Bags In Your CarHate all those plastic grocery bags laying around? I stuff mine into paper towel tubes and store them in the vehicles for emergency spills or garbage bags.
Wipe Down Your Car With VinegarHere is a quick and easy way to wash the car. The other day I decided to wash my car windows, which were looking pretty smeary. I used a bowl of vinegar and water about 3 cups water and one of vinegar.
Removing Bird Droppings from Your CarGreat tip for whenever those birds flying over deposit bird droppings on your car, you want to remove them as soon as possible to save damage to the paint.
Removing Road Tar from the CarGot road tar on your new car? Instead of using abrasive bug and tar removers that can strip off wax, use peanut butter. Just rub a little on the spot with a clean rag and the tar will start coming off.
Cleaning Tar Spatters from Your VehicleTo remove tar spatters from your vehicle, spray with Avon Skin So Soft on the tar, let it set a minute or so and wipe off.
Cleaning Car Floor MatsI cleaned my car mats that had coffee stains, cola stains and dirt on them by filling my large deep sink and putting Mr. Clean in and letting them soak. After a while, I took them out and washed them off with a hose outside on the driveway. They came out beautifully clean.
Keeping a Dust Cloth HandyKeep a Swiffer cloth or other dusting cloth in a ziplock bag in your car. Whenever you're stuck at a long light or waiting for someone in a parking lot, you can dust the dash or other dusty surfaces quickly.
Cleaning Your CarWith spring on the horizon, it's a good time to think about getting our cars clean. Regular cleaning of your car will help protect the finish and increase it's resale value. Here's some cleaning tips.
Homemade Car Air FreshenerCut a piece of fun foam into desired shape. You can draw it, or use cookie cutters to trace around. Cut the shape out. Paper edging scissors are fun to use! Take a drop or two of essential oil or fragrance oil (from the craft store or a health food store) and rub it on with your finger.
Keeping Your Car CleanKeeping your car in tip top condition adds to its value in the long run. Here are some simple tips for keeping your car in tip top shape.
Road Tar On Auto?They were re-surfacing the roads in our housing development. I went to the near by local, Mom and Pop market, to get several needed supplies.
Red Delicious to Rid Your Car of Smoke SmellIf you want to remove the smell of cigarette smoke from your auto interior, use a Red Delicious apple. Cut it in half lengthwise, and place each half under the front seats. Throw them away when they're all dried out. For really heavy smoke smell, it may take a couple of applications.
By Scott J.
Removing Road Tar from Your CarTake road tar off you car by smearing it with butter. Leave on overnight and wipe it off in the morning with a rag. Good as new. My friend had bought a brand new car and took it on her first road trip and went thru some road construction.
Cigarette Odors in CarThis is an old used car dealers trick. Take a 2 lb can of any type ground coffee and cut up two onions in big chunks, mix this with water in a large metal boiling pot, like the kind you cook pasta or corn on the cob. Put it in the back seat and roll up the windows and let it bake in the sun for 1 day.
Hypoallergenic Garni Bag Air FreshenerI am allergic to a lot, and with my pregnancy, smells drive me crazy, even ones that make life a bit more pleasant, like air fresheners in cars. I don't normally smell them but they are needed due to occasional trips with the dog.
Use That Bucket of Soapy WaterAfter you've hand-washed your vehicle, don't pour out the bucket of soapy water solution just yet-there's still a lot of cleaning power in those suds; pour it on dirty spots on your patio, carport/gargage floor, picnic table, you-name-it! Scrub the dirty spots with a stiff broom, then rinse with clean water. Voila! You've gotten double duty from your bucket of detergent!
By Becky
Keep Baby Wipes Handy in Your CarI keep a container of baby wipes in the car for quick cleanups -- the dust that accumulates on the dash board, spilled juice, muddy puppy paws. Saves on time and stress (from constantly looking at a dirty car interior). - Marcia Passos Duffy
