Car ownership can be a thrill, but it’s also a full-time responsibility. Issues can pile up if gone unchecked, making constant maintenance a must. And while you should be making regular service appointments with our service department at Savage 61, the health and lifespan of your vehicle can be extended further if you regularly perform smaller tasks on your own.Â
Thankfully, there are ways to routinely support your car from the comfort of your own home. Not only won’t you break the bank – everything you need can most likely be found in your kitchen and bathroom closets. Remember television’s MacGyver, who was always able to inventively use household items to get out of jams? Following these five tips won't have you diffusing bombs with paper clips, but your car will thank you all the same.
The Best Way to De-Ice Your Windshield in the Morning? Vinegar.
Anyone who’s spent time in the Reading area knows how tedious starting your commute can be in the frosty early hours of a November day. Sometimes you’ll be greeted to an especially thick layer of frost or ice on your windshield, and the process of thawing it takes several minutes, leaving you uncomfortable and throwing off the start of your day.
You’d think pouring hot water on your windshield would provide a swift solution, but doing so harms your windshield’s health in the long run. Instead, try using a mixture of one cup lukewarm water and one cup white vinegar. The white vinegar cuts through dirt, oil, and other gunk, eliminating windshield haze. Be sure to clean both the exterior and inside of the windshield to prevent a gradual accumulation of foreign substances.Â
Toothpaste is an Effective Headlight Cleaner
It may seem strange, but it makes sense when you think about it. Just as brushing doesn’t damage the enamel of your teeth, toothpaste is abrasive enough to clean dirty or foggy areas from your headlights without damaging them. Depending on how bad the condition of your headlights is, a stronger option may be needed – but before you shell out for a processed chemical, try scrubbing it down with toothpaste, making sure to gently rinse it down with water and a rag afterwards. (Baking soda, a similarly abrasive material, could also do the job if you don’t have toothpaste handy. But, uh, you should probably have toothpaste handy).Â
Use Nail Polish to Prevent Cracks from Spreading
As we continue emptying out the bathroom cabinet, the next everyday-item-turned-tool on our list is nail polish. When your windshield takes any sort of minimal impact, the surface damage may not appear initially alarming. It's disconcerting when your new Chrysler Pacifica takes a hit from a rock on the highway, but if it leaves only a minor blemish, crisis has surely been avoided, right? Unfortunately, minor chips and nicks can schism into long cracks that take over the entire surface of your windshield, leading to costly windshield repair.Â
Before those cracks can spread, simply apply nail polish to the cracked area. Nail polish acts as an adhesive that should keep the cracks contained – and if you’re able to find the right color, it can do so without causing any cosmetic change. (For this reason, nail polish also functions as a great scratch remover when your paint gets scratched. Just make sure to clean the area before applying.)
Use a Plunger to Remove Dents
Just like with tiny cracks and scratches, there’s no reason to book it to your local garage the moment minor dents materialize on your car. In fact, most small dents can be eliminated with less hassle than tending to a clogged toilet. Simply stick a plunger on the dented area, pull back, and watch as the plunger’s suction pulls the dented part of the panel back in place.
If you require further instructions, see this video, where these guys appear delightfully surprised by the outcome.
Dust the Interior with Coffee Filters
The lint-free material of coffee filters is ideal for wiping down your dashboard, infotainment console, and other areas of your car’s interior. The filters are inexpensive and are generally sold in bulk amounts, allowing you to be as thorough as possible. Lint, crumbs, and other materials gradually build up in your car’s interior; keeping a pack of coffee filters handy in your glove compartment can help combat this, regardless of whether you kick off your mornings with a cup of joe.
Mission Accomplished
There you have it – five easy, inexpensive ways to keep your car happy and healthy. If you’re short on any of the materials you'll need, consider a trip to Reading’s Fairgrounds Farmers Market, an ideal destination during the holiday season.Â
And as always, we’re here at Savage 61 to help keep you on the road. When your maintenance job becomes too large to handle on your own, schedule a service appointment with Pennsylvania’s most awarded dealership.Â
