Our cars are becoming more & more reliable by the day as you can read here on The Most Reliable Cars : 2016. But when all’s said & done they are after all machines which can break down or suddenly develop a minor glitch out of the blue. It helps to be aware of a few car care hacks, little tips & tricks which can make car maintenance a lot more easier. So here’s our list of the 10 Best Car Care Tips : Car Maintenance with Everyday Objects.
1. Cloudy Headlights? Brush Them
Yes, apparently brushing your teeth is not the only thing toothpastes are good for. Apart from keeping your teeth sparkling white, they also keep those cloudy headlights shining bright. Apply toothpaste to cloudy headlights, and then use a brush (certainly not your own) or a cloth to clean them. Rinse with water & let the lights guide you home.
2. Scratches, Need To Get Rid of The Scratches
Despite what we might think, abusing the person who scratched the car isn’t really a fruitful way of dealing with scratches, but there is always a useful option in using nail paint. Find the closest shade to your car color & you can make those scratches disappear without much effort. And what’s more, it is infinitely more fruitful than hurling innovative abuses at strangers. Who knows, you may even make your girlfriend or wife happier with the leftover nail paint?
3. Plunger – The Cure of Small Dents
The inventor of the Plunger may not have thought that this tool for sanitary cleanliness may be used for anything more than pulling shit. But, here we are now, taking plungers to car doors for the sake of car maintenance. As you may have guessed it, all it requires is putting the suction part of the plunger around the dent and pulling, and pulling, and pulling… till either the dent comes off or you do.
4. Toothpaste – Get Rid of Tartar, Scratches & Scuffs
The application of toothpastes isn’t only limited to getting rid of tartar, but as stated above, it finds its application in car maintenance as well. It can help you take care of scuffs too. Toothpaste can help in greatly reducing scuffing if not removing it completely altogether. Just rub the paste on the affected region & wipe clean with a cloth.
5. Something’s only Women Can Do – Pantyhose for Alternator Belt
In case your alternator belt breaks down and you are left stranded in the middle of the road, you should be grateful for having a woman on board wearing pantyhose or leggings, even more so if the lady in question lets you use them to replace the worn out alternator belt. Remove the belt keeping in mind the manner in which it was coiled around the pulleys. Tie the leggings around the pulleys in the exact same way, making sure that they stick tightly to the pulleys. Beware though, this car care tip is a short term solution, only meant to last till the nearest garage.
6. Shave Your Windshield – Using Razor Blades for Cleaning
What to do in case a pigeon fancies itself to take a dump on your windshield, effectively taking a dump on your spirits too, or if there is some other muck on your windshield? Worry not my friend, what you need is to use a nice clean razor (preferably a single edged one) to clean of the gunk from your windscreen. Don’t worry, it won’t scratch, just clean.
7. Shaving Foam – Say Goodbye to Foggy Windshields
Fogged up windshields are a big safety risk to drive with. Spraying a little shaving foam and thoroughly cleaning it with a soft cloth is all the car care you need to bid goodbye to fogged up windshields and mirrors, come rain or cold.
8. Fix Car Leaks With A Chew
In case your car’s fuel tank springs a leak, you can use this simple car care tip to save the precious liquid from running out at least temporarily. Take a chewing gum & chew on it for a little while to make it sticky. After wiping off the leak & making sure it’s as dry as possible, apply it to the leaking spot to plug the leak. No need to give dirty looks to shopkeepers who give you chewing gum instead of change. They might just be looking out for you.
9. A Little More Shade
How many times does it happen that the car shade is unable to block out the glaring rays of the sun, and a piercing shaft of light always manages to pierce into your eyes, making it impossible to look ahead. This little car care tip is a foolproof measure to protect yourself from the pitiless glare of the sun is to use dark tinted plastic sheets to cover up the offending patch of windshield.
10. Making Windows Sparkle
This car care tip will inform you how your everyday source of the world’s happenings can also double up as a window cleaner. Newspapers can be used to make your car windows sparkling clean. Newspaper ink teams up with paper to act as a light abrasive, perfect for making those windows sparkling clean. All you need is 2 cups of water, 1/4 cup vinegar & 1/2 teaspoon of liquid soap. Spray on the windows, wipe with the newspaper & you will have spotless clean windows in a matter of minutes.
So now that you are equipped with the power of knowledge (regarding car maintenance at least), we hope we can interest you in reading about the Weird Things People Do in Their Cars. Maybe some of the things you have been doing made it to this list?
Disclaimer : The tips/hacks presented here are only suggestions. It’s up to the owner to practice any of the above-mentioned hacks. The owner should himself/herself be held directly accountable for any damages if caused, by mishandling of any of the instruments.
