Simple Tricks to Clean Your Car

Cleaning the car is one of those chores very few people enjoy doing, but there are simple and easy tricks you can use to get the job done. Think of these as life hacks for maintaining your car and keeping it spotless, which is what you want for as long as you own the vehicle.

Clean your floor mats

When was the last time you gave the floor mats a thorough cleaning? If you cannot remember, now is the right time to clean it. One method we recommend is to take out all the floor mats from your vehicle and spray them with stain remover. Once you have done that throw them into the washing machine. Be sure to clean them by themselves – do not toss in your clothes as well just for the sake of efficiency!

Another option is to scrub them with upholstery cleaner which is definitely a lot of work but well worth the effort since they will be spotless once you are done!

Use a vacuum cleaner

A mini-vacuum you can plug into your car would be the most ideal and can be used with other tools to clean the vehicle’s interior. With a toothbrush you can scrub out dirt from the smallest crevices while using the vacuum to suck up the dirt. Do this to clean out the seat cushions. And while you are doing that, if you have pets and have to deal with dander, clean up after them as well.

You can clean out the vents with a soft-bristled brush – like a paintbrush or old make-up brush – and then vacuum up the gunk.

Remember the cup holders!

The cup holders are one of the most overlooked parts of the car interior to clean up yet one of the most used. How many sodas, fruit drinks, and coffees have you inserted into the cup holders? The answer is probably “too many,” which also means you likely have not cleaned them out often. It is time to do something about it!

Dip a Q-tip into cleaning solution to thoroughly clean the nooks and crannies of each cup holder and vacuum it if necessary. Wipe them down with a dry cloth once you are finished.

Replace the air filter

>Does your car smell funky when you turn on the air conditioner? If so then it is probably the air filter telling you it needs to be changed, or at the very least cleaned out. Take a look at the owner’s manual for the car to find out if you can replace it yourself or need to take it to a mechanic to do it. If cleaning is not feasible you can buy a new air filter with the help of Amazon.com, which has a nifty search feature to find one that is right for your vehicle.

Maintain the windshield wipers

Most would agree you should replace your windshield wipers every six to twelve months depending on the type of material they are made from. But an accurate way to tell if they need to be replaced is if they create streaks as they wipe the window. However, you can prolong the shelf life of your wipers by cleaning them with rubbing alcohol and wiping it down with a microfiber cloth. Just make sure when they do need to be switched out, change them as soon as possible because working windshield wipers will help during inclement weather when it is important to be able to see everything in front of you as you drive.

Organize your belongings

Instead of just stuffing everything into the glove compartment and then struggling to close it you should invest in Ziplock bags you can organize with. Put important documents like registration and insurance cards into a bag for easy access later when you need it. Other items useful for emergencies like a small flashlight, batteries, and bandages can be stored in bags and organized so it does not clutter the already cramped glove box. Keep extra bags in the compartment just in case.

Try these simple tricks to keep your car’s interior clean. Doing so will make future cleaning so much easier and prolong the life of your vehicle and a safe driving.