You may have read my previous blog on detailing your car at home and wondered if you really need all those tools and products to keep your car clean. The answer is no, you don’t. Those are just my recommendations for achieving a professional-level detailing job, but if you just want to get your car cleaned without spending too much, then that’s fine and completely doable. In this blog, I will show you a few simple car cleaning hacks on a tight budget that you can do yourself.
Interior Car Cleaning Hacks
Carpet
It’s nice to have a dedicated cleaning product. But again, those aren’t necessary. You can use these homemade solutions instead:
- Baking soda and vinegar. Sprinkle some baking soda on the carpet and let it sit for 15 minutes. Then, spray some vinegar on the baking soda and let it fizz for a few minutes. Finally, vacuum up the baking soda and vinegar mixture with a wet/dry vacuum or a regular vacuum with a hose attachment.
- Dish soap and warm water. If your carpet has oil or grease stains, you can use dish soap to remove them. Mix one teaspoon of dish soap with two cups of warm water in a spray bottle. Spray the solution on the stain and blot with a clean cloth or paper towel. Repeat until the stain is gone. Then, rinse the area with plain water and blot dry.
- Salt. Salt can be effective in bleaching blood stains out. All you have to do is pour some cold water on the stains and put a pinch of salt until the stains are fully covered. Let the salt sit for a few minutes and rinse the area with water.
Air Freshener
One of the easiest ways to make your car smell fresh is to use an air freshener. But instead of buying one from the store, you can make your own with items you may already have at home.
Use essential oils and cotton balls. Essential oils are natural and aromatic oils that can create different moods and atmospheres in your car. Choose an essential oil that you like, such as lavender, peppermint, or lemon, and put a few drops on a cotton ball. Place the cotton ball in a small container or baggie, and put it in your car’s cup holder or vent. You can also mix different essential oils for a custom scent.
Seats
Another part of your car that needs attention is the seats, as they can get dirty, stained, or worn out over time. Depending on the material of your seats, you can use different methods to clean and restore them.
- Leather seats. Leather seats are luxurious and comfortable but require special care to maintain their quality and appearance. You need to use a leather cleaner and a microfiber cloth to wipe down your seats and remove any dirt or spills. Then, you need to use a leather conditioner and a soft brush to apply it to your seats and restore their moisture and shine. Finally, you need to use a dry cloth to buff your seats and remove any excess conditioner. You should do this at least once every three months or more often if your seats are exposed to sunlight or heat.
- Fabric seats. Fabric seats are durable and easy to clean, but they also tend to absorb odors and stains. You need to use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to suck up any crumbs, dust, or debris from your seats. Then, you need to use a fabric cleaner and a spray bottle to spray it on your seats and let it soak for 10 minutes. Use a scrub brush or a sponge to rub the cleaner into the fabric and lift up any stains. Then, use a wet/dry vacuum or a towel to blot up the cleaner and dry your seats. You can also use a fabric protector spray to coat your seats and prevent future stains.
- Vinyl seats. Vinyl seats are cheap and easy to maintain, but they also tend to crack or fade over time. You need to use a vinyl cleaner and a microfiber cloth to wipe down your seats and remove any dirt or grime. Then, you need to use a vinyl protectant and a sponge to apply it to your seats and create a protective layer that prevents cracking, fading, or UV damage. Finally, you need to use a dry cloth to buff your seats and remove any excess protectant. You should do this at least once every month or more often if your seats are exposed to sunlight or heat.
Exterior Car Cleaning Hacks
Wash
As I mentioned in my previous blog, I highly recommend using car cleaning soap instead of regular soap. Since they contain a lot of harsh chemicals that are destructive to your car’s paint. For a cheaper alternative, I suggest using hair conditioners. Hair conditioners can become a gentle cleaning solution that not only cleans your car but also gives it a wax-liked finish. Talk about hitting two birds with one stone am I right?
Stickers
We’ve all been there, slapping a new sticker every now and then just to regret that decision later. To make removing those stickers less of a pain, a hair dryer will help. Hold the hair dryer a few inches away from the sticker and move back and forth. After a while when the sticker is hot and the glue has been heated up, you can easily remove them with a razor blade or even your fingernails. This might be one of the easiest budget car cleaning hacks on this list.
Windows
Instead of the conventional glass cleaning product, you can make your own glass cleaning solutions using ingredients that can be found in most kitchens.
- Vinegar and water. Mix one part white vinegar with one part water in a spray bottle. Spray the solution on your windows and wipe with a microfiber cloth or crumbled newspaper.
- Rubbing alcohol. If your windows are very dirty or have sticky substances on them, you can use rubbing alcohol to dissolve them. Pour some rubbing alcohol on a cloth and rub the affected areas until they are clean. Then, use a dry cloth to buff the windows and remove any streaks. Rubbing alcohol also helps prevent fogging on your windows.
- Cornstarch and water. Another natural cleaner that works well on glass is cornstarch. Mix two tablespoons of cornstarch with half a cup of water in a spray bottle. Shake well before using. Spray the solution on your windows and wipe with a cloth or paper towel.
Don’t Forget
These are some of the simple car cleaning hacks on a budget that I’ve tried and found effective. However, there are many more tips and tricks that you can use to make your car look and smell great. For example, you can use:
- Magic erasers to remove scuff marks or stains from your dashboard, door panels, or steering wheel.
- Olive oil to polish your leather dashboard or console and make it shine.
- Compressed air to blow out dust or debris from hard-to-reach places like air vents, cup holders, or seat crevices.
- Toothpaste to polish your headlights and make them brighter.
- Dryer sheets to wipe down your car body and repel dust or bugs.
The list goes on and on, but the main idea is to use what you have at home or buy cheap products that can do multiple tasks for your car cleaning needs.
Conclusion
Cleaning your car doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming. With these car cleaning hacks, you can keep your car new without having to spend your entire budget. Not only will this improve your driving experience, but it will also increase the value of your car if you ever decide to sell it or trade it in.
