Keeping Your Car Clean Won’t Be A Chore With These 15 Tips
Introduction
Keeping your car looking as flawless as it once did can be tough, but we all want to keep our ride looking fresh every day. We’ve prepared 15 easy cleaning and organisational tips that you can follow whether you drive an SUV, sedan or a compact.
1. Clean your mats
Floor mats tend to be the filthiest spot in the car as it collects all the mud, crumbs and leaves. Vacuuming and scrubbing the mats is one way to clean, but it is time-consuming and takes a lot of effort. Instead, try giving your mat a good shake then toss them into the dishwasher for a thorough cleaning. Also, if you’re looking for good quality car mats, check out Simply Car Mats where they stock over 30,000 types of car mats!
2. Sort out the family car
Car clutter is unavoidable when you have children in the car. Things like toys, snacks and books accumulate as the days go by and soon become a pile of mess. Remedy this situation by placing a lidded basket big enough to contain all the necessities alongside any last-minute additions and now kid-clutter is all under control
3. Keeping the cup holders clean
The accidental spills and drips you made while drinking your coffee tend to accumulate and now the bottom of the car’s cup holder looks like a sticky mess. If you are a consistent cleaner, then there is no problem. But if you don't identify with that, we suggest you toss in some silicone cupcake liners in the cupholders and just puck it into the dishwasher when it gets dirty.
4. File your own secret stash
In unfortunate circumstances like a car breakdown or getting pulled over for a traffic infraction, scrambling around to find your mechanic’s contact number and your insurance documents is the last thing you want to do. To save yourself from that additional stress, file all the important car information in a small binder then keep it in the glove compartment for easy access.
5. A DIY trash can
When you are out in the car for a prolonged period of time, piling food wrappers and empty cups are inevitable. But before your child drops food trash onto the mat, bring in your homemade trash can to throw the rubbish in there! Simply use a plastic cereal storage container and line it with a plastic bag, and voila! Now your car will be clean and trash free!
6. Keep the loose change
Always struggling to find some spare changes to pay for your parking meter? Why not keep all of these coins inside a mini plastic chewing gum container! Place it right on the front cup holder and these handy containers will be there when you need them.
7. Double your trunk space
This is for all the shopaholics out there, install a pop-up trunk shelf by Instructables to double the trunk space and fit all your loots inside it. The shelf is a perfect place to store your groceries, keep some sporting equipment or even hide your valuables inside.
8. Make your own car organizer
Families with kids might be familiar with endless requests for a phone charger, hair ties or any other small items. Take some travel-size plastic q-tip holders and convert them to be mini organizers to keep all these small items inside. Thankfully, these cases are small enough to be kept in the car console, glove compartment, or anywhere in the car that might be convenient for you.
9. Create your own mini supply station
Having your own supply station is extremely convenient especially on a road trip. All you need is a multi-drawer plastic craft box to keep everything that your families need -- anything from sunscreen, first aid kit and tissues. So now you don’t have to fumble around to find things in the car.
10. Start smelling good with a DIY car freshener
If you’ve been riding your vehicle for a while now, there is a possibility your vehicle smells like the combination of sweaty uniforms, dog smell and the leftover fries from yesterday. This tip is especially fitting for those who dislike the smell of the commercial car freshener that is rather headache-inducing. All you need to do is to find a wooden ornament of your choice and then use a paintbrush to rub in your favourite essential oil into the ornament.
11. Bright headlights
Say no to dim, yellowish and foggy headlights with the power of toothpaste. Squeeze some toothpaste on a rag then rub the headlight until all the dirt is gone, then a quick rinse will reveal ever-shiny headlights!
12. Polish your surfaces
If you want to keep your auto looking as fresh as it once did, it is crucial to polish the interior whenever you can. The following cleaning materials can all be found in your kitchen -- just some coffee filters and olive oil. Drip some olive oil onto the coffee filter then wipe away your car’s interior to clean all the built-up dust and grime. This method is useful when it comes to dusty dashboards or leather seats that lost their lustre or even armrests that look a little worn out.
13. Keep your groceries together
Ever had unfortunate scenarios where you turned a corner too quickly and vegetables and canned fish fell off the grocery bag and rolled around the trunk? This problem can be easily remedied with the use of a bungee cord. What you can do is slip the cord through the handles of the grocery bags then stretch it across the trunk and fasten it on both ends. This keeps all your groceries upright and prevents any more possible tumbles.
14. Remove sticker marks
It’s fun to paste all kinds of bumper stickers on your car, but trying to get rid of it with your fingernails will just leave you with a stubborn mark on the car. Instead, get a hairdryer to do the work for you. Set the dryer at its hottest temperature and focus it on where the bumper is. In a minute or so, the heat will soften the sticker’s glue and the sticker should be easily peeled off the bumper.
15. Revive the dashboard
Small cracks or dullness of the dashboard can be solved with Vaseline. Although the effects brought about by this petroleum jelly is great, remember not to go overboard with it. Start with a clean, damp rag to wash away dust on the dashboard then dry it thoroughly. Once that is done, use a dry rag to wipe a thin layer of Vaseline across the surface. Lastly, use the rag to smooth away any excess.
Conclusion
Whether you share the car with your family or by yourself, these 15 cleaning and organisational tricks should make your car cleaning process much smoother. Now you can go off on any kind of road trip while being fully prepared for any unforeseen troubles!
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Published: 25-Apr-2022
Author: Victoria Berry
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