10 Summer Car Care Hacks Using Household Items

1. Baking soda

The uses for baking soda are limitless, and it can work just as hard to clean and freshen your interior. To absorb moisture in the carpets from old chemical spills, dirt and animal odours, just sprinkle some baking soda on the stain. Brush it into the fibres and wait several minutes before using a vacuum to clean it up. The moisture and the smell will be gone.

You can also mix baking soda and liquid dish washing soap into a bucket of water. Using a brush and the soapy mixture, give your wheels a good scrub. The grime and dirt will come loose with little effort.

2. Vinegar

Everyone knows vinegar can clean glass, but it also helps remove stains. Serious stains like ink and grease can be removed by dabbing a small amount of vinegar on the stain. Gently blot it, then remove with a vacuum or damp cloth. The strong smell of vinegar will fade quickly, and the stain will go, too.

3. Laundry detergent

Gently clean leather seats and interiors with laundry detergent. A gentle detergent meant for dark colours (like Woolite and colour protection soaps) will clean the leather without stripping it of the natural oil on its surface. Using a clean cloth, apply a small amount of detergent to the leather surfaces in circles as if you were applying wax. Quickly remove the detergent with a damp cloth or sponge. The dirt in the wrinkles and creases of the seats will be lifted, and colour kept safe.

The stuff that keeps your pearly whites pearly white can also be used to restore the finish on headlight clusters. This hack is convenient for someone who doesn’t regularly stock up on lens cleaner, however it won’t be as effective or long-lasting as the proper car care product.

While you’ve got a tube of it handy, you can use the toothpaste to scrub white tyre lettering. Rinse with water, then scrub again with bleach to make those white letters pop.

5. Soda

A small can of cola can is good for several hacks. Firstly, you can pour the soda on battery terminals that have begun corroding. After it stops bubbling, use a wire brush to scrub away the crud. Keeping your battery strong during the summer when high temperatures weaken it will ensure you still get a solid crank in the winter.

Soda can also be used on glass to fizz away tough and sticky debris. Protect your paint and vents first before pouring soda on the windscreen. Then, use a wet cloth to wipe away the mess. This is especially useful when you’ve been parked under pollen-filled trees or spiteful birds.

6. Hair conditioner

Hair conditioner containing lanolin can be used like a regular car wash soap. The lanolin is like having a built-in wax coat that will leave your paint shiny and smooth. The only way to avoid oxidised, faded or chipped paint is to keep it clean and protected. If water rolls off your car when it rains, it is properly protected.

7. WD-40

The wonder product, WD-40, can unstick just about anything. Summer happens to bring about a lot of things that like getting stuck to your car. Road maintenance stirs up tar and the warm temperatures mean lots of squashed bugs. You can spray WD-40 directly onto the grill, bumper and frame of the car to remove tacky debris, bugs and sticker residue.

Although you can use it on paint to remove gunk and smooth scratches, it’s not recommended. If you must, then make sure to rinse with soap and water afterwards.

8. Nail polish

Starting with the obvious, nail polish can be used to cover up paint scratches. Matching your car’s paint colour shouldn’t be too hard since there is every colour of nail polish imaginable. No, this won’t be a permanent solution, but it will keep the damage from getting worse until you can find a proper solution.

You can also use nail polish to mark parts for positioning to make installing easier. Clear nail polish can be applied to fabric seat tears or frays. Once dry, the polish will prevent small tears from growing.

9. Cat litter

Silica gel crystal cat litter absorbs moisture that causes odour and eliminates fogged up windows in the morning. Just pack some in a sock, paper bag or other breathable container, and set it near your problem moisture area. In the morning, you will see just how well it works.

If you’re storing parts long term, fill a few sacks of the litter and stuff them in areas susceptible to moisture like inside the engine block.

10. Citrus

Behold the cleaning power and lemony-fresh smell of citrus! Mix a little lemon (or other citrus) juice with oil in your home. Oil soap like Murphy’s or olive oil can be used. A ratio of 1:10 citrus to oil is a good starting point, but you can always toy with the ratio. Rub the mixture on a clean dash with a microfibre cloth, and it will leave a healthy-looking shine.

Unfortunately, not all summer car care can be done with just the items in your kitchen. Be sure to give your car some fresh coolant, change the oil and filter and check the tyre pressures before heading out on any cool summer getaways!