We spend a lot of time in our cars more than we realize. So, it’s safe to say that it’s nearly impossible to thoroughly clean it unless you take it for a spin to a nearby carwash. Doing the cleaning yourself is your next best bet.

Car cleaning isn’t always difficult. If you have carwash hacks and tricks up your sleeve, you can even do maintenance or deep-clean your dirty car. Here are three genius tips to get you started.

1. Clean your headlights using toothbrush and toothpaste

Take an old toothbrush, some toothpaste, and two rags to clean your lights and car surfaces. Here’s what you do:

Headlights

  • Slightly wet your headlight and rag with water (You can use a spray.).
  • Apply some toothpaste on the headlight.
  • Gently wipe the toothpaste onto the headlight’s surface until it bubbles and gets rid of grimes and dirt.
  • Rinse the headlight with water then, dry it with the other rag.

Car Surfaces

  • Use the toothbrush and toothpaste to clean your rearview mirror and crevasses inside your car.
  • It’s best to use a spray bottle to wet the surfaces, so you don’t soak your seats and carpet.

2. Use cupcake liners or old socks to maintain the cleanliness of your cupholders

Using Old Socks

  • Find a jar that fits your cupholder.
  • Take a fluffy old sock and spray it with glass cleaner.
  • If you have a jar, insert it into the sock. Then, use the covered part to wipe the insides of your cupholders in a twisting motion. If you don’t have a jar, crumple up the sock into a ball that fits your cupholders then, proceed with wiping them. Make sure to get into the corners. You can also wrap two fingers with the sock and lightly use them to scratch the grimy edges of the cupholders.

Don’t like wiping and cleaning much? You can protect your cupholders from crumbs and stains using this carwash hack:

Using Cupcake Liners

  • After cleaning your cupholders, line them with silicone cupcake liners.
  • When it’s time to clean them up, take the silicone liners out. Get rid of the crumbs. Rinse them with water and dishwashing soap and dry them.
  • Then, just put them back inside the cupholders.

3. Keep your car smelling clean with a DIY essential oil diffuser

Part of keeping your clean vehicle is keeping its smell pleasing to you and your regular passengers. You don’t need to buy chemically formulated car fresheners. Try this DIY car diffuser recipe instead:

Materials

  • Baking soda
  • Chosen essential oil/s
  • Small mason jar
  • Cardboard
  • Scissors
  • Pin

Instructions

  1. Fill 2/3 of the mason jar with baking soda.
  2. Add 20 drops of your chosen essential oil/s.
  3. Cover the jar with its lid. Shake the jar to distribute the oil/s inside evenly.
  4. Remove the lid.
  5. Take the disc part of the lid and use it to trace a circle onto the cardboard.
  6. Cut out the circle using scissors.
  7. Place the circle cardboard on top of the mason jar. Then, secure it in place with the ring part of the lid.
  8. Poke holes into the cardboard using a pin.
  9. Place the jar in the cup holder inside your car, and you’re done!