91.55% of households in America reported having access to at least one car in 2020. The trend of car ownership has been going upward, as this number has increased from 90.82% in 2015.
Owning a car gives you the freedom to get where you need to go, whenever you need to get there. Yet, it’s also a great responsibility, as you need to keep the car in good condition, so your investment is worth it.
One of the best ways to do so is by learning car detailing hacks that can make your upkeep easier.
Read our guide below to get started.
1. Use a Makeup Brush
If you haven’t cleaned out the vents in your car recently, chances are there is a bunch of dust-caked up in them.
Using a fluffy makeup brush is an easy way to remove this dust.
It doesn’t have to be brand new, but if it’s used, make sure to wash off any makeup that may still be on it. Then, use it as if it is a duster to remove dust and dirt in your car’s vents.
2. Squeegee Pet Hair
Everyone wants to bring their dogs with them for a ride, but the hair they leave behind is less than ideal. An easy hack to make removing this pet hair easy involves using a squeegee, which you may not expect.
To do so, grab a spray bottle and fill it with plain water. Then, spray your seats, allowing only a fine mist to fall onto them. Don’t soak them.
Use the squeegee on the seats, and the pet hair will come right up.
Alternatively, you can put a pet cover on the seats where your pets will be and wash that every few weeks. This is not as aesthetically pleasing, though.
3. Scrub the Upholstery
When you’re paying attention to car detail, the upholstery is one of the first spots that should be addressed.
If it is dirty, stained, or has weird odors, it’s time to do a deep clean before it becomes like that permanently.
Create a mixture of baking soda and vinegar, and use a scrub brush to scrub it into your upholstery. This will remove all of the various layers of dirt and grime and should also take away any foul odors.
Make sure to rinse it when you’re done.
4. Use Olive Oil on the Dashboard
While you look at your dashboard every time you drive, you may not inspect it often. So, when you’re considering your interior car detail, your dashboard should be a priority.
If it seems dusty or dirty, wipe it down first with a cleaner and soft cloth.
Once it’s clean and dry, wipe olive oil onto it. This will keep your dashboard looking nice and shiny, and it will prevent it from cracking in the future.
5. Try Cupcake Liners
Cleaning out your car’s cupholders can seem like a tedious chore, especially because they can become filled with crumbs and sticky substances.
To clean them out quickly, grab a microfiber towel and cleaner. Roll the towel until it can just barely fit in the cupholder, and then spray the cupholder with the cleaner.
Place the towel in the cupholder and spin it a few times. All of the dirt and grime should be sticking to the towel.
To make cleaning your cupholders next time even easier, try using silicone cupcake liners. By placing these in your cupholders, they will trap any dirt, crumbs, and sticky substances, so all you have to do is remove the cupcake holders, rinse them, and place them back.
6. Use Ceramic Coating
If you want to make the outside of your car look brand new, you should consider investing in ceramic coating. This will protect your car’s paint and keep it looking shiny for longer.
The coating creates a thin glass layer on the surface of your car, which helps to protect the paint from water spots, UV rays, brake dust, oxidation, and bird droppings.
The ceramic coating is also hydrophobic, meaning it repels water, preventing dirt from sticking to the surface. Find more information here on how getting a ceramic coating is the right move for your car.
7. Scrub Headlights With Toothpaste
You may think you have everything covered for your car wash detail, but have you considered your headlights?
Grab your toothpaste and a rag and scrub your headlights. It may seem odd, but you’ll find that the toothpaste will help to make your headlights crystal clear.
8. Make Your Wipers Smudge-Free
Clean your wipers every so often to remove any dirt that may get caked onto them. This will make them more effective and will keep your windshield cleaner.
However, even when they are clean, they can create streaks on your windshield, making it much harder to see, especially at night. Prevent this by wiping down your clean wipers with rubbing alcohol.
Your windshield will be kept clean and smudge-free, a win-win.
Try These Car Detailing Hacks
Keeping your car in tip-top shape means focusing on every part of it. These car detailing hacks will make you feel like you have a brand new car, even if it takes a little work getting there.
Make sure to detail your car every few months, or look into a mobile detailing service to have the professionals do it for you.
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