Buying a car is one thing, maintaining it in a healthy running condition is the real deal, automobile experts say.
It is a never-ending battle to make your car look better; from fresh paint, oiling, and other repairs such as spark plugs and oxygen sensor replacement, fuel cap tightening and brake works.
A few car hacks save not only the day but of course, your money too.
Cleaning Your Wheels With Soda
Soft drinks, commonly known as soda, quickly remove dirt and dust from your tires and brakes and clean your rims.
You can spray regular soda on your tires or dip a rag into the soft drink and rub it onto your tires, then let it dry and repeat the process.
Dish detergents come in handy, later on, to remove the stickiness caused by the soda.
A motorist can also use mayonnaise to remove any tar or sap from the car. Mayonnaise is a creamy sauce or dressing commonly used on sandwiches, hamburgers, salads, fries or chipo-mwitu and smokie pasua.
It removes the tar and sap without damaging the wax or paint job. Wipe gently.
Check Your Tire’s State With a Ksh1 Coin
It does not hit you that you need to replace your tires until when you swerve or brake suddenly or when you have a flat tire.
Using a Ksh1 coin is a lifesaver. All you need to do is insert the upside-down coin into the treads of your tire.
If the wildlife animals slip halfway, then there is nothing to worry about. The reverse is a worry and you ought to shop for new tires immediately.
Lifesaving Tip on Burst Tires
It is natural to brake when a tire bursts. It is not only natural but a simple reflex.
Rather than hitting the brakes immediately, let your feet remain firmly on the gas pedal as you navigate away from traffic. Hitting brakes may make your car to veer off the road and lose control.
This tip is, however, open to debate and every driver has their own way of crisis management.
Using Vaseline on the Interior
Dirt, body oil and heat at times cause the leather to crack.
Fixing leather is one of a motorist’s nightmares. Applying vaseline on vinyl or leather is one of the hacks to regularly use. You can add vaseline to a cloth or cotton wool and apply it over the leather to prevent cracking.
Fixing Dents on the Body
Mechanics charge quite a handsome fee to fix dents.
You can use boiled water to save some money. Pour the water on the dent before using a plunger to pull it.
This hack works for little dents that do not affect the car’s general appearance. It can also buy you time before you visit a garage.
Using Nail Polish on Small Scratches
The keyword here is scratches and not dents as aforementioned. For a small scratch, you may end up feeling the need to repaint a whole car.
To conceal the scratch, you can use nail polish to paint the damaged part.
Cleaning Windows Using a Newspaper
Newspapers leave your non-tinted windows sparkling clean. Spray a window cleaning agent before wiping with a newspaper.
Rub in a circular motion to loosen the dirt, then wipe horizontally and then vertically to remove streaks and the entire cleaning agent.
Toothpaste On Dirty Headlights
Dirty car headlights can be hazardous while driving through rain or fog.
When lights become hazy, it is usually advisable to remove damaged coats and replace them with new ones.
You can purchase headlight or lens restoration kits from auto shops, but toothpaste and a brush that are easily accessible can save the day.
Toothpaste contains moderate abrasives. Wipe gently.
Air Freshener Hacks
You can purchase car air fresheners from auto shops, but dryer sheets can be a cheaper option. They compose liquid softeners, lubricants and fragrances coated on a layer of fabric.
Scented or unscented sheets reduce static, depositing scents by absorbing smell.
Waxed cubes can also work in place of dryer sheets. Scented wax cubes can be placed in a lead-capped mason jar to allow them to melt and spread their scent.
Cooling the Car
Roll down the window on the passenger side then shut the driver’s side door immediately to create a fanning motion.
This will allow fresh air to come in and the warm, stagnant air pushed out.
Other hacks: Always keep an emergency kit, travel with loose change, always check for oil change and use cereal bins as trash bins.
Feel free to add more in the comment section. Help a motorist save some cash.
