Last Updated on February 22, 2020 by April
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Getting your car detailed professionally is incredibly time consuming and expensive. If you’re looking for ways to keep your car in pristine condition with minimal effort, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to find out my favorite DIY car detailing hacks!
Condensed Air
You can buy these in packs to save money. My little secret to saving even more money though is to buy an electric duster. While it may cost a bit at first, it pays itself off in only a few months! You can use it to clean anywhere you get dust in your house or car. If you’re like me, you’ll also use it to clean your computer to make sure it has a long life.
Craft Brush
Master the art of cleanliness with some cheap to buy craft tools!
Coffee Filters
If you have extra coffee filters on hand, save yourself some time and money by using them to clean the dust from your car.
Essential Oil
One of the biggest draws for me to using essential oils is that they have a very pure and clean smell to them. Products from brands such as Bath & Body Works used to smell amazing to me but as I get older they smell super artificial! I like to buy a variety kit so that I can change out the scents every so often. My favorites are lavender, lemon, rose, and geranium!
Vaseline
Not only is this stuff great for putting on your chapped skin to prevent dryness and wrinkles, it works great for protecting your car as well. Get a huge tub on the cheap on Amazon and keep it handy for when you need it the most!
Microfiber Cloth
I absolutely adore microfiber cloths. I use them for EVERYTHING. If you have any surface in your car or house (think stainless steel, mirrors, windows, tvs, etc) that need a streak free shine, you need these in your life.
Pineapple Skins
Consider using pineapple skins to make your car smell a whole lot better. Check out The Krazy Coupon Lady for more info!
Picking out Crust
The Krazy Coupon Lady REALLY knows how to clean. Use a screw driver to pick out those stubborn little crusts stuck in between the cracks of your car to get a deep clean.
Toothbrush Scrubber
Want to get into those little cracks and creases in your car? A toothbrush can definitely help with that.
Squeegee & Spray Bottle
Not going to lie, cleaning up animal hair is a PAIN. If you are a pet owner who has had it with pet hair getting stuck in fabric, you’re going to love this tip. Grab yourself a squeegee and a spray bottle of water and maybe some essential oils. Next, spray the seats and then loosen the hair by running the squeegee across the fabric.
Distilled Vinegar, Club Soda, and Blue Dawn Dish Soap
The last thing you want to do is use those big brand chemicals aimed at car owners looking to keep their car spotless. Skip the toxic and expensive products and make your own concoction instead!
Windshield Wipers
If your windshield wipers are looking a bit on the dirty side these days and leaving streaks on your windshield after usage, try using some rubbing alcohol to clean them up.
Having a clean car has always been a really good feeling for me. Not only are you proud to have friends and family hop into your ride, you feel calmer while driving (which is safer too)! What are your favorite hacks for keeping your car clean? Let us all know in the comments!
I use RainX on everything! I apply two coats or so to all my car windows, included no my headlights and brakelights! It helps with visibility and driving in the rain of course, but also helps in the winter. As soon as the snow hits it, it slides down your windows and helps with cleaning snow off your car. It is an item that I also use in my shower on my glass shower door, and my tile in the shower. It gives you a waterproof barrier against mildew. Best product ever!
Hi Penni,
Thank you! This is such great advice! I live in the desert so I wish I actually had some snow to fight though, haha. : ) In Vegas, we only get little bits of snow maybe every couple of years or so. I have always been curious about RainX though.
Take care!
Hi there,
Thanks for the awesome tips to help keep my car clean.
Just a question. I’m from South Africa, and we don’t have Blue Dawn dish soap. What else could I possibly use to clean the upholstery in my car?
Hello Adele!
I hope all is well. : ) So while Dawn dish soap works really well, other soaps can be used. I found this DIY from Pop Sugar for cleaning your seats. Hope it helps!
https://www.popsugar.com/smart-living/How-Clean-Car-Seats-34765293
Take care.<3
Yes Lemon Joy dish soap it’s an old way but works. My heart is a heavy machine mechanic and this has been all he has used for his hand cleaner for years!!!! And cheaper!!!
I like the comment about using it the shower…I will definitely have to try that!!
Great ideas! Thx?
More tips for you all: Invisible Glass is the best glass cleaner for all your interior glass cleaning and mirrors for your homes and to use if you don’t like Rainx or to use before you apply Rainx. Much better product than Windex or other brand names. Since I discovered it I won’t go back!!! It is a true streak free product. Also, need to remove any sticky residue…forget GooBGone….try your cheapest brand of furniture polish you can find. Yes, I mean that Dollar Tree brand. It works GREAT!! You may need to go behind it with something like Invisible Glass to remove some of the oil residue but it doesn’t leave near as much as GooBGone and will usually just nourish the product you are cleaning unless it is glass or a similar, nonporous surface you are cleaning. It is also great for cleaning your stove top too!! Even if it gas or a smooth top electric. It would be good for your car interior too but will leave it slick.
Another tip and/or hack that works awesome and gives you absolutely no need to purchase anything you don’t already have in your home is toothpaste. I use regular white paste toothpaste and an old dry rag to rub onto any cloudy appearing plastic surface such as your headlight covers. The toothpaste will literally remove all of the cloudy appearance that’s was there and the original crystal clear shine will be back once you go back over the plastic surface with a clean rag and buff away all of the toothpaste. Easy-peasy!
This is such an incredible tip, Allie!
Thank you so much. : )
Coffee filters are very interesting of these cleaning hacks for a car. It’s really a brilliant idea and looks like I want to try it in my car’s interior. Also, baking soda is also helpful in getting rid of bad smell in the car. You just have to vacuum after using it. Thank you for sharing this article!
I use NuFinish inside and outside my car windows. It is a non-wax polish with the power of RainX, but without the dangerous chemicals.
Have you ever had a smoker sit in your car and leave a smell or there is just a funk smell in your car. Just cut apple put one side in the cup holder and the other in the other cup holder close car up over night it will kill the odor!