20 Ingenious Car Cleaning Hacks

Dust, debris, and other car particles clog air vents in cars, making them hot or cold. Clean them now and then.

A rag or paper towel struggles to wipe the narrow vents, but an inexpensive foam paintbrush works.Use a foam paintbrush.The brush slips into the tight spaces easily, picking up dust and gunk. Rinse the brush in water between uses.

WD-40 claims 'Frees Sticky Mechanisms,' besides 'Stops Squeaks' and 'Loosens Rusted Parts.' This likely does not refer to bumper stickers, but WD-40 will free your bumper of stickiness.WD-40 frees your bumper.A campaign sticker or one saying 'My child is a star student at [school]' may age. This causes stickiness.

Spray WD-40 on the sticker. Let it soak for a minute or two. Scrape the sticker off. Clean the bumper area with dish detergent.

Children's fingers, kitchen floors, and car cup holders get super-sticky. Place sturdy silicone cupcake liners inside to stop soda, juice, coffee, and other drinks from dripping into cup openings.Use sturdy silicone cupcake liners.Use them inside to catch spills.

Toss and throw away liners when they get sticky. You do not need cleaning products.

When your windshield wiper fluid runs dry, skip the expensive store chemicals. Try this recipe for all-weather homemade wiper fluid.Make homemade wiper fluid.This hack shows how to make washer fluid cheaply and easily.

Mix one gallon of distilled water—not tap water, as minerals clog wipers—with one tablespoon of dish detergent. Add half a cup of ammonia.

"Baking" soda is more than just a pastry ingredient; sodium bicarbonate does much more. It acts as an excellent odor absorber.Baking soda is an excellent odor absorber.

Sprinkle baking soda over car carpets or seats. Let the powder sit for several hours; longer works better. Then, vacuum up the mess. Fancy air fresheners just cover smells; they do not absorb them.

Use newspaper to clean windows.Use newspaper to clean windows.Using newspaper to clean windows recycles materials. It works better than a paper towel to make a streak-free pane.

After spraying cleaner on car windows, rub newspaper in a circle to remove spots. Then, wipe all the cleaner away vertically and horizontally.

Windshield wipers should give clear vision. If you see a blurry, smeared arc when you switch them on, you need new blades. First, try cleaning them with soap and water, then swipe the blades with rubbing alcohol.Swipe the blades with rubbing alcohol.

The alcohol prevents streaks from forming.

A crack in a windshield spreads like a run in pantyhose, leading to a long white gash. Use clear nail polish as a temporary stop-the-spread fix until you get it properly repaired.Use clear nail polish., which acts as a sealant.

Apply the polish over the whole crack, at both ends, and on any new cracks forming, also along the inside of the windshield glass.

A squeegee creates a streak-free shine on windows. This cleaning tool also removes pet hair from car interiors. Vacuum cleaners miss some fur and fuzz; asqueegee's rubber bladepicks up what the vacuum misses.

Use it on upholstery and carpet. Pull the squeegee in one long motion, then remove hair between swipes.

Fabric-softening dryer sheets, often scented like fresh flowers and cute bears, can also clean bugsfrom the outside of your car. The oil in the sheets loosens and removes stuck-on insect parts.Wet the sheet first, then rub away the bug remains.

According to Chemical Guys

Chemical Guys says this works.First wash your car. Then pull off a piece of the clay and knead it into a flat disc.

spray clay luber on the car surface. Rub the bar left to right or up and down; do not use circles. Wipe dry with a microfiber cloth. You get a new car shine.To clean a cupholder, wipe away any cleaner with a paper towel or rag. A better method is touse an old sock

First vacuum up crumbs or food chunks. Spray the sock with cleaner, then twist the cup around in the holder.A cure for rust on your car's chrome surfaces might be acan of Coca-Cola

. Coke works because of chemical reactions. Coke's carbonation, plus citric acid and phosphoric acid, removes stains and breaks down rust and tarnish.

To avoid scratches, use a sponge or aluminum foil to put on the Coke (or Diet Coke if you want less sticky residue). Wash the surface with soap and water after.Use a can of Coca-Cola.The American soda works through chemical reactions. Coke's carbonation, citric acid, and phosphoric acid remove stains and break down rust and tarnish.

Use a sponge or aluminum foil to apply the Coke. Use Diet Coke if you want less stickiness. Wash the surface with soap and water after.

Place masking tape around the headlights to protect your car's paint. Then use a damp cloth and any toothpaste to rub away the haze, moving in small circles. Rinse dry.To keep your car's dashboard polished and conditioned, use petroleum jellyCheck headlights first. If cloudiness stays, use toothpaste. Toothpaste acts as an abrasive to buff away the cloudiness.

Wipe away any stickiness.

Use this to keep your car's dashboard polished and conditioned.Use petroleum jelly.Use Vaseline for this. Wash the dash first. Wipe it dry. Then rub in the Vaseline with a clean cloth.

Wipe off any stickiness left behind.

Baby wipes are gentle for delicate skin. They are also tough enough to clean windshields.Baby wipes clean a windshield.Baby wipes clean a windshield without scratching it.

Baby wipes fit in the glove compartment. They leave room for gloves, change, and fast-food napkins, unlike window cleaner and paper towels.

A Mr. Clean Magic Eraser cleans almost anything.It cleans just about anything.It cleans multiple car surfaces. It removes scuff marks on the dashboard, seats, where shoes hit the frame when you enter, or where kids put their feet up.

Use a cleaning pad on the car's exterior. Swipe away bug remains or oily, grimy dirt that normal cleaners cannot penetrate.

Buy air fresheners that attach to car vents. They send your chosen scent around when you turn the air on. A cheaper, homey option is a diffuser made from aclothespin and essential oils.This shows how to use a DIY essential oil diffuser to keep your car smelling fresh, found in the list '20 Ingenious Car Cleaning Hacks'.

Dab an essential oil drop onto the end of a wooden clothespin (the part that closes). Attach it to the car vent. You can decorate the clothespin to look festive.

If your car's bumper or grill looks like an insect collection, remove the bug residue. Bugs sometimes stay stuck after you wash the car.

Use cooking spray to remove bugs from your bumper.use cooking spray.Spray it on a cloth and rub hard. Some people say the cooking spray thenleaves a film.That film is hard to remove. Test a small area of your car first.

Raindrops, dewdrops, and sprinklers leave water spots on your car's shiny exterior. Lanolin, a waxy product in hair conditioner, acts as a barrier toprevent water spots.Prevent water spots from forming.

For a conditioning treatment, mix two cups of water with half a cup of hair conditioner (ensure lanolin is present). Wipe the whole car surface with a microfiber cloth. Your car will look as shiny, smooth, and polished as fresh hair, and it will likely stay that way when water drops hit.