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We have some fantastic, super handy car cleaning hacks to share with you today!

These tips will keep your vehicle clean and organized all the time! Plus, they are quick and easy to do.

After Amelia was born, I realized how dirty your car can get. Kids can really trash it out quick! I like to keep up with cleaning my car so it looks nice all the time, and doesn’t get too out of hand.

These are tips I have collected over the years, so I am excited to finally share them with our readers.

And thank you to my lovely assistant Amelia for helping me with this post today! Follow us on instagam for more science-based videos, tips, and behind the scenes 🙂 Make sure you click the upper right corner to subscribe to notifications so you don’t miss out on our content.

13+ Super Handy Car Cleaning Hacks

I have also tried out many “trendy” cheap car cleaning tools you might have seen on Instagram or TikTok, I shared my favorite ones in this list.

Here are my 13+ favorite car cleaning hacks to make your car stay clean and tidy:

1. Make it smell good!

Instead of using chemical fragrance, I use Grow Fragrances car freshener! They have several scents, I am loving the hibiscus tea for spring. They are 100% plant-based and non-toxic scents that smell so good  hanging one of these or placing it under your seat on the car will keep your car smelling clean.

2. DIY Car Upholstery Cleaner

This tip is so handy to know, and one of the best car cleaning hacks! This is a great homemade recipe to clean fabric in your car. I have leather seats, but I have used this recipe for the upholstery on the floorboards. We shared this recipe last week for furniture, but I also wanted to share how great it is for vehicle upholstery too.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup dish soap (I always use Dawn, but try a concentrated dish soap)
• 1 cup hydrogen peroxide (3%)

Directions:

1. Mix up ingredients into a spray bottle.
2. Spray the solution on the fabric area and scrub with an upholstery brush in an upward motion.
3. You can follow up with a microfiber cloth or vacuum it now.
4. That’s it!

This solution works great for stains or just everyday cleaning!

3. Use Microfiber Clothes to Dust

Microfiber cloths are so easy and quick to use for dusting. I keep a clean one in my car so I can dust the dashboard and vent areas often. I purchased these from Amazon, and they are great for vehicles (even the outside surfaces).

4. Use a Small Paint Brush To Dust Inside Small Areas

I also love to use those little paint brushes to clean deep inside the vent areas. You can wet it a little bit too to get more dirt and dust off. These are so handy to use!

5. Keep Cleaning Wipes In The Car

Cleaning wipes are one of the best things to keep in your car for easy cleaning. I keep a jar of them at all times to wipe off seats, doors, dash boards, handles, cup holders, and pretty much any surface that gets dirty in my SUV. I never have to think about cleaning because these wipes are always in my car!

6. Clean Small Crevices With Toothpicks and Wipes

Another handy car cleaning hack is to use little toothpicks for those crevices that get dirty. My door area always gets dirty, so I will use a toothpick and a wipe to clean inside the cracks. It works so good! A picture of this is in the main photo.

7. Try Old Toothbrushes for Cleaning

Using an old toothbrush is really convenient for underneath the doors, hinges, or other hard to reach places. Plus, it scrubs really good!

8. Use WD-40 To Polish or Clean Metal Inside

If you have an older vehicle that might be getting rusty inside or just want to polish metal surfaces, WD-40 is the best for this! The metal area under the seats always gets dirty and slightly rusty, so just spray with WD-40. It makes everything shine, but will also protect your metal surface too.

9. Keep a Spray Bottle of DIY Essential Oil Spray Inside

I keep a little glass jar of homemade room spray in my car. After I vacuum it out, I lightly spray the fabric with it, and it smells wonderful! It really makes your car smell more fresh and well-kept. I like to use this floral spray too.

10. Try Leather Wipes

If you have leather car seats like I do, I highly recommend these wipes. I have tried many different products, but have struggled to find a good leather product that is easy to use. These wipes clean and condition the leather surface. I wipe it off with a microfiber cloth after I am done with the wipe.  I do NOT use DIY leather cleaner by the way. Many people ask me this, but I have tried dozens of solutions over the years, and none of them work well. They also leave a residue, and can damage your surface over time. This is one DIY solution I will not use just FYI.

11. Use DIY All-purpose Spray For Cleaning Inside and Out

Our very popular DIY all-purpose spray from the eBook on page 13 is so good for cleaning inside and outside of your car. In fact, it is one of the best cleaners I have used for cleaning the tire rims! I spray the solution on, then use a sponge to scrub the rim. I dry with a microfiber or rinse with a rubber hose. It shines!!

A reader sent these pictures in to me awhile back and told me she absolutely loves cleaning her car with this DIY cleaner. I took a screenshot of our conversation because it was such a good idea! (p.s I crossed out her last name and handle for privacy).

12. Keep a Trash Bag Inside

This is an easy thing to do, but it is the best thing to keep your car clean. I keep a small trash bag inside my car attached to the corner of the seat. Any type of trash goes in their immediately, and I empty it out when I get gas or when it is full. It keeps my car free from trash which makes it stay clean!

13. Use Laundry Baskets In Your Trunk or Hatch

I keep a laundry basket in my hatch of my SUV, and it is a great way to keep things organized. I have a first aide kit, jumper cables, bug spray, and sunscreen in there. I also use it to add in shopping or grocery bags when I go somewhere. It helps keep everything contained!

14. Keep Essentials in Small Bags

Another organization tip and one of the easiest car cleaning hacks to do is keeping all of your essentials in small bags, like makeup bags. In my console, I have a few little bags with all of the necessary things. One bag has first aide items, another has extra money and change, and the then we have one with ponytail holders, chap stick, bobby pins, etc. I use to keep all of the stuff loose in the console, but the separate bags have been fantastic!

I hope you enjoyed all of these great organizational and cleaning hacks for your car!

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