13 Genius Car Cleaning Tips You Need

Keeping your car clean can be daunting, especially when you don’t have the best tools and techniques. With these car cleaning tips, you can transform your dirty car into a sparkling clean ride.

There are no pricy tricks behind the tips either! You probably already have most of the tools or ingredients at home and the things you may not have been accessible at any price point.

This article will share 13 genius car cleaning tips to make your car look and smell new. I hope you find new tricks here to keep your car or cars fresh and clean.

If you have any other fun genius tips for car cleanliness, please share them down below! With that, onto the tricks.

1. Use Toothpaste to Clean Headlights

If your headlights are foggy and yellowed, you can use toothpaste like this to clean them.

Simply apply a small amount of regular toothpaste to a damp sponge and rub it onto your headlights in a circular motion.

Then rinse with tap water and dry with a towel. The abrasive texture of toothpaste helps to remove dirt and grime, leaving your headlights looking clear and bright.

This is one of the best spring cleaning tips to get your car tidy!

2. Use Soda to Remove Corrosion

If you notice any corrosion on your car’s battery terminals, muffler, or other indiscrete places, you can use soda to remove it.

Just pour some of the soda onto the terminals or trouble area and let it sit for a few minutes.

Then use a wired brush to scrub off the corrosion or rinse away with water. The soda’s acid will help dissolve the rust and corrosion, leaving your battery terminals clean and functioning properly.

3. Wash Your Car Accessories in a Dishwasher

Did you know you can wash your car accessories in a dishwasher?

Items such as cup holders, floor mats, and hubcaps can get placed in a dishwasher and run through a cycle to get them sparkling clean.

Just make sure to remove any loose dirt and debris before putting them in the dishwasher. Also, don’t overdo this hack if you know your dishwasher is older or temperamental.

This is one of the best lazy cleaning hacks for your car!

4. Use Shower Caddies

Shower caddies can get repurposed as organizers in your car. Stash the shower caddies in spots that make sense for your needs.

It originated for extra cup holders while getting a drink at a public place.

The different sizes of caddy help keep any sized beverage in check for the drive, but since then, we’ve added new baskets for other needs.

This tip will keep your car clutter-free and make finding the things you need while on the road easy.

It’s saved us so much time looking for chargers or any other odd or end that we’ve needed on a car trip.

This lazy girl cleaning hack will save you and your car!

5. Clean Your Leather with Coconut Oil

If you have nice leather seats in your car, you can use coconut oil to clean and condition them. Simply apply a small amount of coconut oil to a clean cloth and rub it into the leather.

The oil will help to remove any dirt and grime while conditioning the leather, leaving it soft and supple.

WARNING–make sure to spot test first somewhere inconspicuous so as not to ruin your seats.

6. Shine Up Your Car

Mix equal parts of water, white vinegar, and a bit of rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle to give your car a quick shine. Spray the solution onto your car’s exterior and wipe it down with a microfiber towel.

The vinegar helps to remove any dirt and grime while leaving your car’s surface shiny and streak-free. It’s simple, but the results are comparable to a professional’s work.

These other mind-blowing vinegar cleaning hacks are very useful!

7. Clean Your Car With Baking Soda

Baking soda is a versatile cleaning agent that can get used to clean your car’s exterior. Make a solution of soda and water to make a gentle sanitizing solution.

The baking soda acts as a mild abrasive but doesn’t actually do any harm to your car other than pulling off the dirt.

Check out these other useful baking soda cleaning hacks!

8. Use the Muffin Cups

Muffin cups can get used as cup holders in your car. Simply place a muffin cup in your car’s cup holder, and you have an instant cup holder liner.

This trick will make it easy to clean up any spills or messes and keep your cup holders looking like new.

I’ve been known to get festive with mine! This pack of liners has a lot of fun seasonal options. Or, if you’re looking for a greener alternative, opt for a silicone muffin cup.

9. Make Your Own Tissue Dispenser

To make a tissue dispenser for your car, simply fill an empty coffee cup–what I had on hand–and create an opening for the tissues to get pulled through.

This tip will make it easy to access tissues when you need them and keep them organized and easily accessible.

If you’d prefer an eco-friendly option and don’t have anything that immediately jumps up as a potential upcycle tissue container, these cups do a nice job.

10. Use a Dry Microfiber Towel instead of a Regular Towel

To get a streak-free shine on your car. Microfiber towels are more absorbent and gentler on your car’s surface, leaving it streak-free and scratch-free.

They are also reusable and can get washed and used again, making them an eco-friendly option.

11. Make Your Car Smell Amazing

To make your car smell amazing, you can create a DIY air freshener using orange blossom water or rose water. Let the clothes pins soak in either scented water for no more than ten minutes.

Pull them out and let them dry completely. Once dry, add them to the vents in your car for a prolonged fresh scent.

12. Use a DIY Spray

You can make your own air freshener spray using natural ingredients such as a pinch of salt, alcohol, and essential oils of your choosing.

Mix equal parts alcohol and water, add a pinch of salt in a spray bottle, and add a few drops of essential oils for a fresh scent.

Add a teaspoon of vinegar to the mixture for a tougher odor eraser, and shake well before use.

13. Use Charcoal to Eliminate Car Odors

Charcoal is a natural odor absorber that can get used to eliminate unpleasant smells in your car.

Place a few pieces of charcoal from this pack in a porous bag or container. If you don’t, grab the bags from the link and leave them in your car overnight.

The charcoal will absorb any odors, leaving your car smelling fresh and clean. Just make sure to replace the charcoal every few months for optimal effectiveness.