Cars are notorious for building up dirt over time. Of course, the simple solution is to clean your vehicle regularly, but it's a time consuming task - and requires a lot of elbow grease.
This can put many off scrubbing their car until it's absolutely necessary. Another option is to pay to have your car professionally cleaned, but experts claim this can cost you even more in the long run.
Depending on the state your car is in, experts at Car Lease Special Offers estimate it could cost you £310 putting right issues caused by incorrect cleaning and maintenance.
The sum can be made up of a full £90 valet, £135 paint repairs, and £85 upholstery repairs. However, these expert tips have revealed ways you can save £274.44 by maintaining your car at home.
The car leasing specialists have de-bunked the latest viral car cleaning myths from the likes of TikTok. They have found the top six ways to get your car looking top-notch that are much more wallet-friendly.
1. Use the ‘miracle’ Home Bargains 99p air freshener to remove smoke smells
Shoppers are praising a 99p car air freshener from Home Bargains for removing smoke smells from cars. Research conducted by Car Lease Special Offers has discovered that Jamie, 28 from Newcastle, explains how the Wickford & Co. tub air freshener successfully banished cigarette smells from his new car.
He explained: “I was really pleased with the second-hand car I bought until I realised it had a lingering smell of cigarette smoke inside. As a non-smoker, the smell was most noticeable when you first get into the car, but I could still smell it even when the windows had been open a while.”
“I bought Yankee Candle hanging and vent air fresheners, but the smell of smoke returned after a week or so. I thought the smell might be lingering in the fabrics, so I cleaned the upholstery of the full car, including carpets and seats.
"I even invested in a pricey ‘air freshener smoke bomb’ which, while it did temporarily freshen the car, didn’t last.”
“Running out of options, I spotted the Wickford & Co. air freshener tubs while shopping in Home Bargains. As they were only 99p, I decided to give the Sugar Dusted Cherry scent a go.
"I’ve now had the scented tub in my car (tucked in the centre console as it can’t be in direct sunlight) for almost a month and I can no longer smell smoke. I’d recommend it to anyone.”
2. Create a homemade putty for £7.50 to get crumbs out of crevices
Slime isn’t just for children, it can also help remove those hard-to-reach crumbs out of your car. According to TikTok user @blossom, you can create a homemade putty from shaving foam, glue, baking soda, water and contact solution.
Push the putty into those hard-to-reach areas, such as in cupholders and around switches, and watch it gather dust, crumbs and hair with ease.
You’ll likely have some of the ingredients to create the putty around the house but if you did need to buy everything new, it will cost you around £7.50 based on Car Lease Special Offer’s calculations.
3. Use an extra bucket when washing your car to make sure you don’t damage the paintwork
If you thought a bucket of soapy water and a sponge is all you need to clean a car, you’re mistaken. According to TikToker @n800mrg, you actually need two buckets to prevent damaging your car’s paintwork.
Fill one bucket with water and your car cleaning detergent, and fill the other with clean water only. Dip your sponge or cloth into the soapy water, wipe your car then rinse it in the bucket of clean water.
That way, the dirt is released into the clean water bucket, so you won’t be rubbing it over your car again. An extra bucket will cost you £1.20, and because grit and debris can damage the surface of your car, you could save in the long run.
On average, a paint repair can cost £135, so it’s worth taking precautions now.
Another top tip is to wash your car in straight lines, NOT circular motions. If you do the latter, you could end up with swirls on your car when it’s dry and in direct sunlight.
4. Use a pet hair removal tool if you travel with animals in your car
If you’ve been travelling with your pet, you’ll know that dog hairs can get everywhere. Where sticky tape and the vacuum cleaner fail, TikTok user @pg.carvaleting recommends using a mini pet hair detailer.
Rub the edges of the tool across your car’s upholstery and carpets to remove pet hair. Car Lease Special Offers have found a similar tool on Amazon for just £4.99; a small price to pay to save some serious time.
5. Expert recommends using white wine vinegar to freshen up your car
Some TikTokers are using the summer heat to freshen up their car. They’re leaving wax melts in an open-top container in their car to melt in the summer sun.
While it does release a fresh-smelling scent, Car Lease Special Offers don’t recommend it. Will Bullen of Car Lease Special Offers commented: “While using wax melts in the car seems like a quick win to make the most of a hot summer day, it can be incredibly dangerous and potentially cause more cleaning issues.
“Many of the TikTok videos we’ve seen have had the wax melt in a shallow, open-top container. As we’re dealing with hot wax here, there’s a very real possibility that the wax will spill either over your car or onto you as you drive, potentially burning you.”
“If the wax does spill onto your upholstery, it could leave behind an oily residue, even after it’s cleaned away. In short, don’t take the risk and invest in a quality car air freshener instead, it’ll do the job just as well!”
As an alternative, TikTok user @brightly.eco recommends leaving a cup of white vinegar in your car for a few hours. Afterwards, remove the cup from the car and air out your vehicle.
The vinegar should have absorbed any unpleasant odours, leaving your car smelling fresh.
6. Use a massage gun to loosen built-up dirt on carpets
If you’ve already got a massage gun, you can use it to loosen a build-up of dirt on your car’s carpets. TikTok user @mike_efras tried it out after already vacuuming a car and the amount of dirt released and ready to be vacuumed up is seriously impressive!
You can pick up a massage gun for around £20. As this is a little pricier than the other options mentioned, you may only want to give this one a go if you’ve got a serious build-up of dirt on your carpets.
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