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Simple frugal tips on maintaining your car

This post may contain affiliate links

 Today’s blog post comes from David who is a ‘car fanatic’. Do check his credentials below. Honestly, I wished I had checked this out before today! I could have saved thousands!  I am guilty as charged, If you read my post about my driving experience you’d know I am a scaredy cat with driving so I am not confident with looking under the hood either.

            There is so much more to just washing your car and keeping it clean inside and out. Properly cleaning and maintaining your car will make it last longer and improve its mileage. You end up saving on repairs or even replacing your car.

            You may think that simply taking it to the car wash is enough. However, you also need to make sure that the engines are functioning well, the fluids are clean and enough, and a lot more. These are all crucial factors in improving the lifespan of your car.

10 Easy Cleaning Tips

            A clean car is reflective of your personality. Simply driving it is not enough, you must keep it clean to prevent molds, mildew, dust, and pests from infesting your car. It is recommended that you give your car a full car wash on a weekly basis.




Tip # 1

Use separate microfiber cloths for drying your car and wiping off dust.  Likewise, use separate sponges for shampooing your car’s body and for the wheels.

 

Tip # 2

Check the labels of cleaning products and make sure that it won’t damage your car. For example, avoid using a chrome wheel cleaner which is too acidic for aluminum wheels. On the other hand, avoid using detergent to clean your car as it will cause abrasions. Use an appropriate car shampoo.

Tip # 3

Rinse your car thoroughly before shampooing. This helps remove surface dirt and dust, so they won’t spread when you shampoo your car. After drying your car, use a clay bar to remove bonded surface contaminants. One part of distilled white vinegar diluted in water works very well in removing water spots on your car. If your car has scratches, use a compound to erase the scratches.

 

Tip # 4

Wax your car after cleaning it. Car wax is like sunscreen; it helps protect your car’s paint from fading. It also prevents water spots from forming when it rains. There are two kinds of car wax which are both good for your car – carnauba wax and polymer. Polymer wax is more expensive and can be wiped off immediately after application.

 

Washing your car is only one of the simplest tips for maintaining your car.

 

Tip # 5

Make sure you have a one-step cleaner wax for cleaning emergencies. If your car’s exterior is dusty or got drenched by rain, cleaner wax is great for cleaning and keeping it shiny.




Tip # 6

Clean the interiors by vacuuming even the air vents and hard to reach places. Wipe the dashboard with a leather cleaner or even olive oil to keep it shiny. If you have leather seats, you may use a magic eraser to remove sticky mess or a toothbrush with diluted dish soap to scrub off stains. Air out the floor mats and shake off the dust, preferably once or twice a week.

 

Tip # 7

Prevent cloudy headlights by using toothpaste and water to wipe your headlights.

 

Tip # 8

Keep your car smelling fresh and clean by using a car air purifier or ionizer. You can also go the natural way by keeping a jar of baking soda with a few drops of essential oil.

 

Tip # 9

Remove trash before leaving the car. It would be best if you have a small trash bin or plastic bag to keep trash. You don’t want pests and insects to dwell in your car.

 

Tip # 10

Use a glass cleaner that is made especially for cars. Avoid Windex and other household glass cleaners because they damage the car tint.

Maintenance Tips to Make your Car More Efficient

            Now that you have learned about how to clean your car properly, you also need to know how to maintain it. Maintaining a car is not just a man’s job or a mechanic’s job. Your car needs to be properly maintained in order for you to use it without having major problems. You don’t always need to be a damsel in distress when it comes to maintaining cars. It is best to know how to check for signs and prevent damage.

 

Check the engine oil

Frequency: Weekly

            If you don’t know how to do this, ask a friend or a mechanic to demonstrate how to read an oil dipstick accurately. Check if the oil is too dark, too sticky, and has a stench. Oil changes should be done every 3000 to 3500 miles along with the filter replacement.

Check the tire pressure

Frequency: Daily or before driving

            Use an accurate tire pressure gauge and measure tire pressure before using your car. Under-inflation and over-inflation both cause your tires to wear out or burst easily. Also, check if your tires are uneven or have bulges. Tire alignment also needs to be checked during your regular service maintenance.

 

 

Check the fluids (Great tip for maintaining your car, people)

Frequency: Weekly

            Check your car’s brake fluid, coolant, power steering fluid, transmission fluid, and windshield washer. If you don’t know where they are, ask a friend or a mechanic to demonstrate to you how to check them.

Conclusion

            After reading all those tips, you may think that “Hey, I didn’t know there was a lot more to just bringing it to the car wash!” Yes, it seems like a lot to take in, but don’t worry you’ll get used to it.  Besides, you’ll feel like an expert when you don’t need to bring your car to the mechanic whenever you feel or smell something different.

Yes, it seems like a lot to take in, but don’t worry, you’ll get used to it.  Besides, you’ll feel like an expert when you don’t need to bring your car to the mechanic whenever you feel or smell something different.

            Your car will take you places. Your car is like your baby. I’m sure you’ll give yourself a pat on the back when your car is not only spic-and-span inside out but runs really well.

            Got some tips and feedback for us? Please don’t hesitate to share!

 

Guest Author Bio

David Walker, the founder of CarUnderstanding, is a passionate car enthusiast and traveler. He shares great automotive experiences and tips in his blog. If you like to know more about cars and tips, don’t hesitate to visit his blog.

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Simple Tips for Home Maintenance when you have Several kids »

Comments

  1. Susan Wilkinson says

    June 3, 2017 at 7:00 pm

    Thanks for the car tips 🙂

    Thanks also for sharing my post on your Living Life While Squeezing Lemons board. Could I be added to the board please? My Pinterest e-mail is susanlambeth@hotmail.co.uk / user name thefitlook.

    Reply
    • Joleisa says

      June 3, 2017 at 10:05 pm

      Sure! Are you following us?

      Reply
  2. neha says

    June 17, 2017 at 7:53 pm

    They are also very basic and do not require the help of a professional mechanic, so I think every car owner should really adopt to this

    Reply
    • Joleisa says

      June 21, 2017 at 1:32 pm

      Yes, that’s exactly the point. I am certainly making use of these oh so easy ideas for the upkeep of my car.

      Reply
  3. Selene says

    June 27, 2017 at 6:51 pm

    Awesome post! Definitely some great tips and advice on cleaning your car especially about not using windex or household glass cleaners since they can damage the tint. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  4. Jason says

    June 30, 2017 at 4:55 pm

    Great tips! I’ve always washed my car on my own but this is the first time I’ve heard of using toothpaste to clean the headlights!

    Reply
    • Joleisa says

      July 1, 2017 at 8:49 am

      Hi Jason,
      You learn something new everyday, don’t you. Glad you found some useful tips here.

      Reply
  5. Adam says

    July 11, 2017 at 1:36 pm

    Great advice, really helpful tips! not far from that, I’ve got some great tips in how to prepare your car for the summer weather and I would like to share it with you guys. Let me you know if you want me to send a draft of the article.

    Reply
  6. Douglas Lake says

    August 10, 2017 at 8:56 am

    While failing to wash your car won’t result in immediate damage, over time the elements will corrode your vehicle, along with its potential re-sell value. Thank you for sharing tips with us.

    Reply
  7. Yaswanth Jayakumar says

    August 10, 2017 at 2:43 pm

    Tip #4 is something that I have tried telling people, but they simply would not listen. About Oil change, I am not sure of the number of miles, 3500 seems kind of less, with today’s technology, although checking it every week is a good enough strategy.

    Reply
  8. Morris car wash says

    October 15, 2017 at 2:26 pm

    Thank you for giving us some very helpful tips. Hope to get some more in the future.

    Reply
  9. car wash near me Passaic says

    October 29, 2017 at 11:41 am

    Tips are good. Very helpful indeed.

    Reply
  10. Karlee says

    November 1, 2017 at 6:41 pm

    I have to admit I didn’t know most of these but I’m going to have to try to remember to pay more attention to what and how I’m cleaning my car! I’m definitely pinning for later!

    Reply
  11. Chloe Lee says

    November 2, 2017 at 3:19 am

    I should have maintain my car the way you described! My car is very important to me as I need my car to go everywhere. I think I should start now.

    Reply
  12. Albert Ball says

    December 2, 2017 at 11:09 am

    Thanks- Jo and thanks- Leisa, for sharing such an informative blog. I called it illuminating just because there are many vehicle owners who are still incapable of understanding the true worth of the car maintenance. They usually take the auto repair and maintenance expenses as a wastage of money. I totally disagree with them. Because I feel that the routine maintenance is a speculation. Yes, it may cost you in advance, but in the long run, it will help you give a wide berth to mis-timed malfunctions, save your wallet from draining, and keep you and your passengers safe on the road. Thus, you should not take any repair or maintenance task lightly, rather you should do each and every aftercare task properly by appointing skilled auto mechanic to protect your investment.

    Reply
    • Joleisa says

      December 3, 2017 at 3:18 pm

      Taking prevention rather than cure is such a wise idea. Clever you.Thanks so much for stopping by and also for your thoughtful comment.
      Jo and Leisa xoxox

      Reply
  13. norhan says

    December 3, 2017 at 3:52 pm

    Great tips

    Reply
  14. Florida free windshield replacement says

    February 2, 2018 at 6:15 pm

    In Florida you can get your windshield replaced for free with full coverage. Some states like Montana however will ticket drivers for cracked glass

    Reply
    • Joleisa says

      February 3, 2018 at 6:51 am

      Thanks for that info. I must admit, it’s news to me! Thanks for stopping by.

      Reply
    • Joleisa says

      February 3, 2018 at 6:52 am

      Thanks for that info. I must admit, it’s news to me! Thanks for stopping by. xx

      Reply
  15. Dennis N Rutledge says

    March 29, 2018 at 5:15 am

    Hey,

    Your blog article was so much imposing. Your expertise on describing the details of the topic was even better. All the stuff you have listed was excellent and I found it very helpful in many ways. Every part you touched on your post was so amazing because you cleverly covered most of the aspects in a short note.

    Have you ever wondered or thought about adding and updating your list on the blog post that encourages visitors to get engaged with your site more and more?

    Let me know what you think,

    Dennis.

    Reply
  16. Alex says

    September 12, 2018 at 2:39 pm

    Hi Jo and Leisa
    Thanks for sharing. Do you know in earlier 90’s car headlight are made by glasses that time it’s hard to clean because it rushes and sometimes they had scratches. Thanks to technology nowadays it’s come with different technology and easy to clean with different cleaning products that are available and easy to purchase.

    Reply
  17. julien alexandre says

    November 21, 2018 at 6:32 pm

    Great Post !! Very informative to keep updated your car.

    Reply
  18. Ashwin says

    November 28, 2018 at 6:48 pm

    I would definitely rather repair my car myself, and save some money. You have some great advice here to do that. Thanks for sharing this.

    Reply
  19. Trudy says

    December 31, 2018 at 8:53 am

    That is really an important thing you should get fix. seats may not just for comfort but safety too. get a good auto service to check that out.

    Reply
  20. Penelope Smith says

    January 3, 2019 at 4:10 am

    I bought my first car last month. I really want to take good care of it. So, it is good to know that it would be smart to check the labels on the cleaning products. That does seem like it would help me keep the paint job looking nice. It might also be smart for me to get a professional to repair any issues with the body of my car.

    Reply
  21. Mahmudul says

    June 16, 2019 at 6:30 pm

    awesome and effective post. Thank you for share this amazing post.

    Reply
  22. Mahmudul says

    June 22, 2019 at 11:23 am

    nice post. Thank you

    Reply
  23. Lisa Grea says

    July 13, 2019 at 5:54 am

    I really need these tips because, by next week, I will be having a long overnight road trip. This is my first time, that is why I should be prepared to avoid any road accidents. I also checked my car properly to see if it is one of the condition to travel a long distance and It is.

    Reply
  24. Nathaniel Walker says

    September 22, 2019 at 2:38 pm

    I just got my first car and your post is really helpful.
    Thanks for sharing

    Reply
    • Joleisa says

      September 22, 2019 at 3:35 pm

      Aww that’s great. Good luck, and do be careful.

      Reply
  25. Orlando says

    February 3, 2020 at 12:12 pm

    It’s not something many people want to think about in advance, but doing so will help you be proactive in protecting yourself and others. Preventing painful glass-related injuries is just another amazing benefit of window tinting.

    Reply
  26. Jose Preston says

    March 18, 2020 at 3:44 pm

    Thanks for sharing such a pro tip. Hope we get more post like this.

    Reply
  27. John Brown says

    March 20, 2020 at 2:08 pm

    Professional car wash is not so easy. I never knew about it. However, You have simplified everything for avid readers and car owners that they will find it easy to implement these steps. I will wash my car in a professional way now. I am already using the best portable car vacuum to keep my car interiors neat so I will be using these tips to keep my car exterior in neat condition as well.

    Reply
  28. Allen says

    April 16, 2020 at 9:24 pm

    Maintaining proper tire pressure will keep you safe and even save you a little dough. Improperly inflated tires — and this may mean over-inflated or under-inflated — don’t handle or stop as well as tires with the correct pressure. They also increase your chance of a blow out. Plus, tires with the correct pressure have a longer life and increase your fuel efficiency.

    Reply
    • Joleisa says

      April 17, 2020 at 10:30 am

      Those are really great tips! thanks

      Reply
  29. Rache says

    May 19, 2020 at 4:16 am

    My car’s brake is producing a squealing noise, especially when I press it. That’s why I’ve been thinking of looking for an auto service that specializes in car brake repairs. I’m glad you shared this; I’ll also make sure to check if my car tires are uneven. I’d also keep in mind to have my transmission fluid and coolant checked.

    Reply
    • Joleisa says

      May 19, 2020 at 11:37 am

      Awesome tips! Thanks so much for stopping by.

      Reply
  30. Adam says

    June 18, 2020 at 10:07 pm

    Thanks for explaining about how polymer wax can be wiped off after application and is a little more expensive and can prevent the car’s paint from fading. My cousin wants to make sure that she takes better care of her car because it could be a lot safer for her to drive. Getting some help from a professional could be really nice and make sure that nothing is broken.

    Reply
  31. Alice says

    September 11, 2020 at 12:13 am

    Toothpaste on the headlights is a cool tip! I’ll have to give it a go. I love cleaning my car, it feels gross when I have a build up of dirt and grass on the mats, or if the outside is all speckled with bugs, dust and bird poop.

    Reply
  32. Anthony Jeffers says

    December 11, 2020 at 10:02 am

    Amazing tips and tricks ,
    Thankyou for you tips i learn manything in things in your blog and keep writing blogs.

    Reply
  33. Anthony Jeffers says

    January 20, 2021 at 6:48 am

    This is incredibly useful and informative articles. worth reading. Thanks yo so much for tips

    Reply

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Hey guys and gals!

Hi, we're Jo and Leisa, twin sisters and authors of Joleisa.com. Originally from the sandy beaches of Jamaica we now reside in England where we followed our calling to teach. But sometimes that call changes and our new passion is writing. We're here to give the ups and downs of it all with our lifestyle tips and tricks to help you avoid the sour lemons that can get in our way of frugal budgeting, intentional living and happiness. Join us and learn more about how we found the simplest ways to achieve easy living. Read More…

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