Here’s How to Keep Your Old-Timer Clean Using These Ten Household Items
Many classic car owners are slowly preparing to wake their precious old-timers up from their winter sleep. If you took a little time to keep your classic car clean during these few months then you’ll have nothing to worry about when you decide to take it for the first spin this year. But not all classic car owners are that meticulous and the new season means they will have to get their precious car in shape before taking it out on the streets.
Cleaning your classic car can be expensive as the materials and products used to detail your old-timer don’t come cheap. Fortunately, our classic car service Orange County experts learned a few tips and tricks over the years on how you can get your classic car back in shape and keep it that way by using items you can find in almost any household.
Q-Tips
These soft, cotton swabs are great for cleaning the crevices in your old timer, as they hold solvents, detergents and other agents extremely well. They are also great to take care of the narrow places you cannot reach with a regular cloth. Even professionals use them to make detailing a whole lot easier.
Toothpaste and Toothbrush
Another great hack for cleaning your classic car is using a toothbrush. It can help scrub the more persistent dirt out of tight places when the Q-Tips prove not to be enough. You can use a simple, budget toothbrush or a used one. They are also great for detailing the dashboard and leather without having to fear you’ll scratch them and can be used over and over.
Speaking of toothbrushes, another great ally in cleaning your car is a toothpaste. It can brighten up worn out or scratched headlights. Using it is very simple: just rub a little toothpaste onto the headlights, wait a few minutes and rinse. It will help bring the shine back out for a while.
Rubbing Alcohol
When you need to clean your windshield wipers nothing does the trick better than rubbing alcohol. Not only will it help keep them clean, it can prolong their lifespan. If your wipers catch grime or keep smearing water, wipe them with a cloth soaked in alcohol. Sooner or later you will have to replace your vipers, but this method will help make sure it’s later rather than sooner.
Olive Oil
Olive oil is a great substitute if you run out of leather conditioner. A small amount of olive oil applied to a cloth can help detail your leather seats. Make sure to have a towel nearby so you can dry the leather after application and get rid of the excess oil to make sure your seats aren’t too greasy.
Essential Oils
These substances often used in aromatherapy are much more effective than traditional car fresheners. The later simply don’t last very long and smell too unnaturally. What you can do with essential oils is apply your favorite essential oil scent like lavender or frankincense to the top of a wooden clothespin. Then place the wooden pin to the AC vent. Now every time you turn the air-conditioning on your car will smell great, just the way you like.
Nail Polish
Nail polish is a great fix for a cracked windshield. Simply apply the polish to the crack and once it’s hardened you won-t be able to tell there was a crack there to begin with. However, don’t rely too much on this as a permanent solution. If your windshield cracks you should contact a reputable classic car service in Orange County to either have it repaired or replaced. However, this hack works only for a windshield that needs to be replaced. If you think it can be repaired, don’t apply the nail polish.
Club Soda
Everyone know the old life hack to use club soda to clean the most persistent stains off of your clothes. But did you know it can also be used to keep your classic car neat? It helps battle stains inside your car, especially fresh ones. For older stains you might need to use more soda or take a few rounds of cleaning.
Vinegar
Vinegar is one of the most useful household items with numerous applications. One of them works really well for classic car cleaning. Simply add a little vinegar to a detergent solution and see how your windows shine afterwards.
Cola
Whether you enjoy drinking them or not, Coca-Cola or other similar dark sodas can do wonders for cleaning rust stains, even the most persistent ones. In combination with steel wool, cola will do wonders for any stain. Apply the soda to the steel wool and rub the stain in a circular motion.
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