12 Car Hacks That Can Help With A Variety Of Vehicle Problems
July 17, 2019
source: Checking In With Chelsea / Evercool Radiator
There’s nothing quite like the feeling of freedom that comes along with getting your license. A car can take you everywhere and anywhere you want to go — but there are a lot of things people don’t tell you about driving, car safety, and maintaining vehicles.
The following hacks are somewhat random, but they’ll all help you to have a more enjoyable relationship with your car and driving.
1. AC Will Defog Your Car
If you get in your car one morning only to discover that the windows are all fogged up, start by turning on the heat for a few minutes. Next, turn on the air conditioning. After a minute or so, switch back to the heat, and then crack your windows slightly. All the fog should be gone.
2. Always Carry Hand Sanitizer In Your Purse
Why? Well, in addition to keeping your hands germ-free, hand sanitizer will melt the ice from frozen door locks when applied to the handles. It’s weird, but it works!
3. DIY Dent Removal
If your car has a dent but a trip to the body shop isn’t in the budget, you can use a plunger to suction the metal back into place. There are even speciality car plungers made especially for the job.
4. Line Your Cup Holders
It’s no secret that cup holders can become filthy in no time. Line your cup holders with silicone cupcake liners to keep stains contained and to a minimum.
5. Keep Your Food Warm
If you order takeout and have the luxury of owning a car with heated seats, use them to keep your food warm until you get it home!
6. Protect Your Windshield
If you’re sick of freezing your fingers off trying to scrape snow and ice from your windshield, place a plastic tablecloth or tarp on your windshield overnight and during any times you’re not using your car.
7. Dryer Sheets For Bug Removal
It can feel next to impossible to remove stuck-on bugs from your windshield and front of your car. The trick? Dryer sheets! Rinse your car, dunk a dryer sheet in a pail of warm water, and use the dryer sheet to wipe the bugs away.
8. Paintbrushes & Q-tips
Air vents seem to be the hardest places in our vehicles to clean. Rags just don’t fit in those tiny slots, and they end up collecting a ton of dust. Use a medium-sized paintbrush (or foam paintbrush) or Q-tips to get the dust out of those hard-to-reach places.
9. Stock Up On Coca Cola
You already know that Coca Cola isn’t the healthiest drink in the world. But because of its acidic properties, it makes for a great rust remover! Bet you’ll reconsider the next time you go to grab a can of Coke.
10. Line Your Garage With Pool Noodles
I know what you’re thinking. Pool noodles? If you’re in the habit of accidentally dinging your car every time you pull into your garage, line the walls with pool noodles to avoid any nasty dents and scratches.
11. Toothpaste And Baking Soda
If you’re looking to deep-clean your headlights, create a paste using toothpaste and baking soda and apply the mixture to the headlights. After some gentle scrubbing and a rinse, they should look shiny and new again.
12. Emergency Kit
Every vehicle should have an emergency kit stored in the trunk or backseat. You never know when you’ll be stranded in your car awaiting help. An emergency kit should include a flashlight, blanket, protein bars, bottled water, a first aid kit, booster cables, and a few other necessities. Click here to learn how to make your own emergency car kit.