How to Clean your Car using Everyday Ingredients

Like most chores, the more often they are done the easier they become. And with harsh UV rays, road grime and stubborn bird droppings your car is prone to fading, cracking and generally looking unloved.    

Baking soda and vinegar solve most of life’s cleaning problems.  They have been the go-to cleaning superstars for generations (before inferior products came along with fancy packaging).  White vinegar can typically be purchased from a supermarket at only a few dollars for 2 litres. We recommend buying baking soda from bulk bin stores who sell it for a fraction of the price of supermarkets.  

Good for the exterior

Hosing off loose dirt with water is the start.  According to experts, shampoo is great for your car’s exterior because they are strong enough to clean but gentle enough not to damage the paintwork.   Add a few teaspoons to a bucket of water, using a sponge and a good arm workout.   

Good for the interior

Shake baking soda onto mats and in hard-to-reach places.  Let the soda sit for 10 minutes before vacuuming floors, seats etc. Baking soda will eliminate any lingering odours.  

Good for tyres

Remove excess dirt by blasting the tyres with a strong hose. Mix a few teaspoons of detergent with water and use a soft bristle brush.  Tyres can take a stronger cleaning agent (eg: detergent) than the exterior can (eg: shampoo).  Give them a good scrub with the brush, then rinse with water.

Good for upholstery  

Toothpaste is great for removing stains from upholstering – both vinyl and leather.  Be sure to do a spot-test first to check the toothpaste isn’t affecting the upholstering colour. 

Good for ashtray and seatbelts

Sprinkle baking soda into the ashtray and let it work for 10 minutes. Wipe or vacuum away.   Make a thick paste of baking soda and water to clean your seatbelts. Wipe clean with water. 

Good for bird droppings  

For bird droppings, the sooner you attend to the problem the better. Bird poo contains uric acid which can damage the paint and wax coating.  First, hose off what you can, then make a mixture of baking soda, shampoo and hot water and leave it to work for 10 minutes. Repeat if necessary.   Rinse well with water.   

We recommend always keeping a packet of baby wipes in your car – your go-to for cleaning interior and exterior mess as it happens, saving you work in the long run.  

Good for windows and hard surfaces

Shake 1-part white vinegar with 2-parts water in a spray bottle. Spray onto the windows and dry with newspaper. Another recipe from Nana which is the best window cleaner of all!  It’s also the ideal spray for your dashboard with no need to rinse.