With the official arrival of spring comes the desire to freshen up everything around us. Check out these eight household products to help spring clean your car.
1. Baking Soda
With so many uses for baking soda, it’s sometimes hard to believe this wonder item costs so little. Start by sprinkling it on top of your car’s floor mats and then let it sit while you create a paste of baking soda and water. This less abrasive paste cleaner is perfect for cleaning the nylon on seatbelts and doesn’t compromise the integrity of the seatbelt fabric. Once your seatbelts are clean, go back and vacuum the excessive powder from the floor mats.
2. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is an excellent conditioner for your car’s leather seats and upholstery. Start by cleaning the leather with a clean, dye-free damp cloth and let dry. Then use a dry, clean cloth to rub a small amount of coconut oil into the leather.
3. Cooking Spray
Keep brake-dust and dirt off your wheels and tires when cleaning your vehicle by spraying some cooking oil on the area. This will not only make cleaning your tires in the future easier but can also remove bugs from the front of your vehicle by merely spraying and wiping them away.
4. Cornstarch
Cornstarch is another natural deodorizer perfect for freshening up your car’s upholstery. Sprinkle a light layer on an area and let sit while you mix up a solution of 4 cups of water and 1/2 cup of cornstarch. Spray this solution on your windshield and windows and then wipe away using a dye-free, clean cloth for sparkling glass. Have a tough oil or grease stain? Cover the spot with cornstarch and let sit for 12 hours allowing it to absorb the grease before vacuuming and wiping clean.
5. Dawn Dish Soap
Create an inexpensive car soap by mixing Dawn dish soap with a bucket of water. Have some tougher stains and crime? Add some vinegar to the mix for extra impact. Do not use on leather seats or upholstery.
6. Essential Oils
Tired of the artificial smell of store-bought air fresheners? Make your own with your favorite essential oils following this simple tutorial.
7. Fabric Softener Dryer Sheets
There are lots of excellent uses for your favorite smelling dryer sheets including wiping the dust off the dashboard of your car, tucking them in between the seats or in the glove box to keep your car smelling fresh and clean, and keeping rodents away by placing a sheet in your vehicle’s air filter.
8. Olive Oil
Add shine to your dashboard after you clean the dust away by rubbing a small dab of olive oil onto it with a clean rag for a shiny new appearance.
Before you apply any product to your vehicle, Davis-Moore Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram recommends that you make sure to spot check it on a small hidden area to confirm it won’t discolor or harm the material you are cleaning.
Image via Flickr by Robert Couse-Baker
Connect with us
