Affordable Car Fixes Every Driver Should know

Did you know that on average, we spend 55 minutes per day driving? Whether it’s commuting to work, running errands, or just taking a leisurely drive, we rely on our cars to get us where we need to go. With so much time spent behind the wheel, it’s no wonder our cars can start to show signs of wear and tear. But with a little bit of know-how, you can keep your car in top shape and extend its lifespan. In this article, we’ll cover some essential car fixes that every driver should know. By learning these basic repairs, you can save time and money, and keep your car running smoothly and looking its best.

 Say goodbye to imperfections

 The smell of a new car – Do It Yourself

Items needed: Clothespins, pompoms, essential oils
Estimated price: 8$

As we well know, our daily activities make our cars no longer smell fresh over time. We eat fast food from the drive-thru, transport our dogs, let our kids eat in the back seat, and sweat on a hot summer day. To solve this smelly problem while avoiding toxic air fresheners, we can create a personalized, simple, and friendly air freshener with the health of us and our family in mind.

For this trick, all you need is a wooden clothespin, three pompoms, and your favorite essential oil. First, stick the pompoms on top of the paperclip and then add a few drops of oil to them. Attach the pompoms to the vent, saying goodbye to unpleasant odors. Are you bored with your chosen essential oil? You can easily prepare a few different scents and change them whenever you want!

 Frost-free mirrors

If you live in a region that experiences cold winters, you know how frustrating it can be to wake up on a frosty morning and find that your car’s side mirrors are covered in ice. But did you know that there’s a simple and inexpensive way to prevent ice buildup on your mirrors? All you need are a few plastic sandwich bags. Before the onset of freezing temperatures, place a sandwich bag over each of your side mirrors and secure them in place with a rubber band. The bags will act as a barrier between the mirrors and the cold air, preventing frost and ice from forming. In the morning, simply remove the bags and you’ll have clear, frost-free mirrors ready for your commute. This quick and easy fix is a great way to save time and avoid the hassle of scraping ice off your mirrors in the morning.

 Quickly defrost door handles

Winter weather can be tough on cars, and frozen door handles are a common problem that many drivers face. When you’re in a rush to get to work or run errands, struggling with a frozen door handle can be incredibly frustrating. However, there are some simple tricks you can use to prevent this issue. One easy solution is to use a silicone spray lubricant on your car’s door handles. This will help to prevent water from freezing on the handles and make it easier for you to get in and out of your car. Alternatively, you can wrap your door handles in a cloth or old sock at night to prevent them from freezing. By taking these simple precautions, you can avoid the annoyance of frozen door handles and make your winter mornings a little bit easier.

 Zero dents

If you’re like most car owners, you take pride in keeping your vehicle looking its best. Unfortunately, dents can happen all too easily, whether from a small collision, a hail storm, or even a careless friend. But before you spend a lot of money to repair the damage, consider a simple fix using a plunger and hot water. First, heat up some water until it’s very hot, but not boiling. Next, place the plunger over the dent and push and pull the plunger several times until you hear a popping sound. The hot water helps to soften the metal, while the suction from the plunger pulls the dent out. This method can be used on most types of dents, but keep in mind that it may not work on deep or complex dents. With a little effort and some simple tools, you can save money and restore your car’s bodywork to its former glory.

Never lose coins again

We’ve all been there – you’re driving along, and suddenly you hear a coin or your phone drop under the car seat. It can be a real hassle to try and retrieve these items, especially if they fall into the small gap between the seats and the center console. But don’t worry, there’s a simple solution to this problem that you can use with just a few household items. First, find a long, thin object that you can use to reach under the seat, such as a ruler or a coat hanger. Next, attach a small piece of double-sided tape to the end of the object. Then, gently slide the object under the seat and move it around until you feel the item you’re trying to retrieve. Finally, use the tape to stick the item and pull it out. By using this simple trick, you can save yourself a lot of frustration and make it easier to retrieve lost items from under your car seats.

 Coca-Cola!

It’s easy to forget about the battery under the hood until something goes wrong. One of the most common issues that drivers face is dirty or corroded battery terminals. Over time, grease, dust, dirt, and debris can build up on the terminals, making it difficult for the engine to start or run properly. But don’t worry, you don’t need any fancy tools or expensive cleaners to solve this problem. Believe it or not, a can of Coca-Cola can do the trick. Simply pour a small amount of the soda onto the terminals, let it sit for a few minutes, and then use a wire brush or a toothbrush to scrub away the dirt and grime. The acidity of the Coca-Cola will help break down the buildup and make it easy to clean. Just be sure to rinse the area thoroughly with water after cleaning to prevent any damage to your car’s electrical system. With this simple trick, you can ensure your car’s battery is in good condition and ready to power your next trip.

While it may come as a surprise to some, Coca-Cola can actually be used for a variety of household and car-related cleaning tasks. Here are a few more ways you can use soda beyond just cleaning your car’s battery terminals:

1. Clean your car’s windshield: The acidity in Coca-Cola can help break down and remove stubborn grime and grease from your car’s windshield. Simply pour a small amount of the soda onto the glass, let it sit for a few minutes, and then wipe it away with a damp cloth.
2. Remove rust: The phosphoric acid in Coca-Cola can also help remove rust from metal surfaces, such as your car’s bumper or grill. Pour some soda onto the rusty area and let it sit for a few hours before scrubbing it away with a brush or cloth.
3. Clean upholstery: Coca-Cola can even be used to clean upholstery in your car. Mix a small amount of the soda with water and use a cloth to scrub away stains and spills on your car’s seats.

While Coca-Cola may not be the most convenient cleaning solution, it can be a useful tool for tackling some of the toughest cleaning tasks around your home and car.

 Clear every nook and cranny

Cleaning the small crevices in your car can be a challenge. However, there are a few tricks you can use to make this task a bit easier. One of the best solutions is to use Cleaning gel, which is a great tool for getting into every nook and cranny of your car’s interior. This sticky, pliable substance can pick up dirt and dust from even the smallest and tightest of spaces, leaving your car looking spotless.
Here’s how to use cleaning gel to clear every nook and cranny in your car:

Purchase a cleaning gel product from your local store or online retailer.

Remove any loose dirt or debris from the area you want to clean. You can do this by using a brush or cloth.

Take a small piece of cleaning gel and press it onto the area you want to clean. Gently press down to ensure the gel adheres to the surface.

Mold the cleaning gel into the shape of the area you want to clean. For example, if you’re cleaning the air conditioning slots, mold the gel into the shape of the slots.

Once the gel has taken the shape of the area you’re cleaning, lift it up slowly. You’ll notice that the gel has picked up dirt, dust, and other debris from the surface.

If the cleaning gel has lost its stickiness, you can wash it with soap and water and let it air dry. Once it’s dry, it will be ready to use again.

Using cleaning gel is a great way to clear every nook and cranny in your car, leaving it looking and feeling clean and fresh.

 Your own air freshener

Items needed: Fragrance wax, glass jar
Estimated price: 6$

Everyone has a small glass jar at home that originally contained a grocery or something that we have since washed and put in some drawer. This trick allows this jar to shine and return as a car air freshener.

The first step is to drill a few holes in the lid of the glass jar. Then take some fragrant wax out of the candle and place it on the bottom of the jar. From now on, when the car gets hot enough, it won’t smell bad anymore, because the wax will melt, releasing a pleasant smell throughout the car.

 Spotlights + toothpaste

Items needed: Whitening toothpaste
Estimated price: PLN 12 *

The car’s headlights are exposed to external factors every day: weather changes, stones, bugs, rain, hail and others. These elements gradually turn the headlamps yellow, which causes the light to deteriorate over time. This rather serious problem can be solved in less than 30 minutes with a cloth, water, soap, and whitening toothpaste.

First, wash the headlights with soapy water. After cleaning, apply a thin layer of whitening toothpaste on them. Let it dry for about five minutes and use a damp cloth to lightly brush the area with a circular motion, spreading the toothpaste. After about four minutes of polishing, you can already see the difference.

 Vaseline: the car owner’s best friend

Needed items: Vaseline
Estimated price: 3.21$

We usually use petroleum jelly on extremely dry skin or chapped lips in cold weather, but it also works on the dashboard. This method is praised by experts as compared to even the most specialized products.

The trick is to first clean the dashboard with a little water and the cleaning solution you have at hand, and once it is dry, apply a small amount of petroleum jelly to a clean cloth and then clean the dashboard again.

 Telephone with a hands-free kit

Items needed: Eraser, pen
Estimated price: 4$

It is clear that no responsible driver should ever use a phone while driving. Texting, surfing the Internet and making phone calls are strictly prohibited. But what about navigation? Today, almost all drivers use GPS to find their way, but it can be difficult to navigate with their phones on their laps. All you need is an eraser and a pen to create a phone holder that is attached to the ventilation system and you’re done, the problem is solved.

If you put an elastic band around the air vent and use a pen to roll it up so that it protrudes from the bottom, you can easily secure the phone by passing it through the top and bottom loops. The phone holder is ready!

 Paper towels are always at hand

Items needed: A roll of paper towels, elastic string
Estimated price: 7.41$

Paper towels are the best cleaning agent. They are multifunctional because they are very absorbent and can replace other items when cleaning. They are the perfect item to have in a car to solve any mishap, but they can also easily roll over the trunk.

By placing a short elastic string inside the tailgate, you can easily place a roll of paper towels and prevent them from being damaged. Now you are always ready to clean up a large or small mess.

 Universal conditioner

Needed items: supplement
Estimated price: 3.21$

This trick will work on sunny Sunday afternoons when you go out with a sponge and a bucket of water in your hand to wash your car. You don’t have to go to a supermarket or hardware store to clean it properly, you only need a conditioner in the shower.

Adding conditioner to a bucket of water before washing, and applying it to the car body will give your car a shine and increase its resistance to damage from dust or watermarks. The only thing is to make sure that the conditioner you are using contains lanolin or silicone as these are the ingredients that work like magic.

 Deep cleaning

Items needed: Isopropyl alcohol
Estimated price: 2.40$

On warmer days, the last worry on our list is the windshield wiper. It doesn’t rain so you don’t have to use them and your car concerns are focused on something else. However, when the rainy season starts, the wipers need to work well because you have good visibility and you are safe while driving.

To keep the wipers clean and working as expected, rub them with isopropyl alcohol. This will degrease the surface and the rubbers will clean even the smallest raindrops. Now you will have good visibility even in the rainiest rainstorm.

 Coffee filters are not only for filtering coffee

Items needed: Coffee filters
Estimated price: 1.60$

Coffee filters are essential in the mornings, but they’re also great for fighting dust. This is because these filters are made of lint-free fabrics that are great at collecting dust in your car without leaving any residue behind.

It is these features that make them ideal for cleaning the car dashboard. Just put a little olive oil on the filter and start wiping. You will get a clean and shiny surface in a short time and without much effort. Voila!

 Unknown button

Items needed: “Recirculation” button
Estimated price: 0$

There is a button on the dashboard of our cars that affects the air we breathe, but most drivers don’t know about it. This is the car’s air recirculation button and determines where the car takes air from. Standard air is outside air, but if, for example, we stop in a traffic jam and want to avoid heavily polluted air from outside, we can press the button and the car will be hermetically sealed by recirculation of clean air that is already inside.

In addition to being beneficial to our health, using this button will also help us save fuel as the air conditioning and compressor will have to put in less effort to continue cooling the car. This is an easy trick that will save you some money.

 Keep the cup holders clean

Items needed: Cupcake liners
Estimated price: 0.80$

Cup holders are one of the most useful things we can find inside a car. However, these are spaces that quickly get dirty due to liquids, food or small rubbish. Instead of buying a small vacuum cleaner or some special gadget, we can put cupcake inserts inside the cup holders to easily collect debris.

The inserts prevent dirt from accumulating on the brackets and, in addition to being very cheap, they can be easily replaced. This way the car stays clean longer and you don’t have to worry about dirty handles.

 Condition of the wheels

 

Items needed: A penny
Estimated price: penny

For this trick, you can use a penny that is stuck under the pillows on your couch or that you found in your pants pocket. If you’re wondering if it’s time to buy new tires, the penny test will help you decide.

Take a penny and place it upside down with the tip of the emblem facing the floor. Then dip a penny into the tread to check its depth. If the tread passes through the emblem, the tires are still good. If not, the emblem has made the decision for you – time for new tires.

 Survive the winter

Items needed: Hand disinfection gel
Estimated price: 3$

In winter, wipers, and mirrors are not the only parts of our car that can freeze. A bigger problem arises when the locks in the handle freeze. At a time when we use hand sanitizers a lot, we can solve this problem quickly. All we need is a gel with a high alcohol content, an item we all have in our bags, pockets, or backpacks.

Pour as much disinfectant into the lock as possible, you can do this by spraying the liquid directly onto the lock or by placing it on the key. The alcohol will heat the ice and it will melt quickly.

 Getting rid of fog on the windshield

Necessary items: Cat litter, old socks
Estimated price: 7.41$

Another problem in winter is the condensation that forms inside the car due to the temperature difference inside and outside. This causes the windows to fog up, reducing visibility and making driving difficult.

Cat litter is designed to absorb moisture thanks to one of its main ingredients, silicate. Therefore, you can put some litter in a pair of old socks, tie them up and put them in inconspicuous places in the car to absorb the moisture.

 Protect the windshield wipers

Necessary items: Old socks
Estimated price: 0 $

We all have a pile of socks at home that are left without a pair. We may be able to use some of them to reduce condensation, but we also have other uses for them.

All you have to do is cover the wiper with a sock to prevent them from sticking to the windshield when the temperature drops. It is very important to keep the doormats upright when putting on your socks so that they do not break or bend.

 Keep your leather interiors clean

Items needed: Olive Oil
Estimated price: 7.41$

Keeping leather car seats in good condition can persuade you to buy extremely expensive products as it is a fragile material that breaks down easily over time. Many people recommend using olive oil to achieve the same results as when using expensive products.

After washing the leather seats with hot soapy water, rub them with a little olive oil to prevent them from drying out and cracking. If there are already cracks in the seats, you can apply more oil and let it moisturize the skin for 45 minutes. It may not completely solve the problem, but it will make even the worst cracks seem less deep.

 Universal potatoes

Necessary items: Potatoes
Estimated price: 0.6$

Here’s a simple trick to using a product we all have in the kitchen: potatoes. Defrosting your car windows is a problem that we have already solved several times; however, a solution that does not require a trip to the store to purchase additional items.

If your car is a few years old and the windshield defogger is not working as it should, just slice the raw potato and place it scrupulously against the windshield with its skinless side. The starch of the tubers prevents the risk of dying