15 Car Cleaning Tips From Professionals That Will Amaze You

#1 Olive Oil Cleaning

There are actually tons of uses for olive oil, besides cooking of course. It makes an amazing cleaner as well. Knowing which cleaners are safe to use on leather interiors is confusing, but don't worry, olive oil will work amazingly well. Just dab some on a cloth and wipe down your leather for a beautiful, not greasy, shine. Mix a very little with white vinegar to use on vinyl or plastic for the same results.

#2 Hair Conditioner

Car wax is expensive and there are so many different types on the shelves that it's hard to figure out which is best. Well, forget that. The next time you decide your car needs a glossy shine, grab the hair conditioner from the shower and go for it. That’s right, hair conditioner can keep your car looking clean and shiny, just like it does for our hair. Just pour some in a towel and work in a circular motion on the car to achieve a wonderful shine. However, make sure the hair conditioner you use contains lanolin, and don't grab the shampoo or you'll have a mess that won't be easily removed. But lanolin oil is the key to a shiny exterior.

#3 Cleaning The Tops Of The Windows

Another great use for vinegar is on your windows.It cleans without streaks and busts up the grime. One place most people forget to clean is the top portion of their windows, especially if they are rolled up so you can clean the window itself. But the tops get encrusted with hard to remove gunk. Wipe it clean in seconds with white vinegar.

#4 Foam Brush

You use them for painting and cutting in the corners or edges, but these little sponge brushes are also great when it comes time to cleaning your car's interior. Because it squashes up, it easily fits into tight spaces and can reach in and get dirt and gunk out of hard to reach areas like vents and built-in pockets. In particular, AC vents can get pretty filthy over time, but a few simple swipes of a foam brush can rid these vents of all the dust and dirt that may be inside. Another way to do this is with a can of compressed air that you would use to clean out your computer keyboard. Just blow out the dirt and you're all good.

#5 Cleaning Little Cracks

In case you haven't noticed, most cars are built with lots of tiny creases and crevices. If you don't keep these clean they eventually get full of crumbs, dirt, dust, and hard to clean grime. However, a great way to keep these crevices clean is to use a flat end screwdriver. By covering the screwdriver with a thin cloth you will ensure that you aren’t scratching the car, but just getting it cleaned. That compressed air in a can works wonders as well!

#6 Toothbrush

If your dashboard is starting to look a bit grimy then you can use an old toothbrush to get really deep in there and get every little bit of gunk out. When you’re done, save your toothbrush so you can use it again in the future. Use the toothbrush to wash every inch of your seats and backrests too. You’ll be shocked by how much dirt is embedded in your seats.

#7 Toothpaste

Toothpaste, the real paste, not the gel, has many uses besides cleaning your teeth and can be a handy cleaner around the house. When it comes to your vehicle, it can be a great way to make your headlights shine like never before. Simply apply, leave on for a few minutes and then wipe off to reveal amazingly clean lights. It removed dried on bugs and grime with ease and save you money on those expensive cleaners you would normally purchase.

#8 Steel Wool

We all know that steel wool is amazing for cleaning dirty pots and pans, but it can be a car cleaning tool as well. Being careful not to rub too harshly, just erase grime with a small piece of steel wool for a quick and easy buff job.

#9 Club Soda

The worst thing to keep clean is your car's upholstery, especially the seats. Those cloth seats won't come clean even though the expensive cleaner says they will. There always seems to be a ring where you cleaned the original spot away. But even the toughest stains can’t stand up to club soda. First, pat dry the stain and then dampen a cloth with club soda and continue to pat until the stain is listed. If you have some on hand, add a dash of Oxy-Clean to the soda and you'll be shocked at how new looking your fabric seats and upholstery looks.

#10 Squeegee

Yes, they are great for cleaning your windows and leaving them streak free but pick up a second squeegee to use inside your car. If you travel a lot with pets in the car, you know that their hair can get everywhere. A squeegee and water can get rid of that pesky pet hair with ease. A squeegee can also be used if you don’t have the time to vacuum your interior. Just dip it in warm water, shake off the excess, and drag it along your seat cushions for a nifty and quick cleaning.

#11 Keeping Wipers Clean

A good set of windshield wipers will make driving safer, but we hardly ever worry about them. When they get a grime build up we don't even notice, but figure it's time to purchase a new set. You don't need to if you just keep them clean. The secret is rubbing alcohol! Slimy and streaky wipers are terrible, especially in the middle of a storm. Wiping down your wipers regularly with a fair amount of rubbing alcohol and then letting it dry is a great way to get a longer life out of your wipers.

#12 Dryer Sheets

They do more than soften your clothes and keep them static free. Nothing is worse than trying to clean your car from dried up bugs after a long trip. You can, however, make this task easy by using some wet dryer sheets to remove those pesky buggers.

#13 Keeping Tires and Wheels Clean

You don't need to buy special cleaners for the rims, then the tires, then for debugging, because you can clean the wheels and tires with one simple thing you probably already have in the closet. There is arguably no part of your car that gets filthier than the wheels and tires. However, there is an easy fix for this problem that can only take minutes. Using a cleaning powder, like Clorox can really help your wheels and tires look brand new. Sprinkle a bit on a towel, spray some Lysol Deodorizer on it and begin to work it into the wheels until they are shiny as can be. It's amazing!

#14 Vodka Defroster

Windshield wiper fluid is not the only thing that’s resistant to frost. Here’s a homemade recipe that won’t freeze and will make your windshield sparkle like diamonds. A few drops of Castile soap in good old vodka is a hidden secret. Use the mixture on windshields, locks, wipers, sticky doors, and in your washer fluid dispenser. You don’t need the expensive stuff. In fact, buy the cheapest you can buy. Just don’t leave the empty bottle in the car afterward.

This also works well in warm weather as it helps in wiping away dead bugs and grime on windshields and front bumpers.

#15 Q-Tips

Another great tool for getting into small areas and nooks and crannies, Q-tips are great cleaning utensils for a lot of things, including your cars. When it comes to tackling small and detailed cleaning jobs, Q-Tips are king. While most people use them for their ears or for other small uses throughout the house, they also help when cleaning your car. They are very absorbent and can make detailing a breeze in and out of the car. But once again, we want to add that a can of compressed air is a breeze for doing the same thing. In fact, after blowing out the debris from the small nooks, wipe it away with a damp Q-tip.