Eight household items that can help clean your car without damaging the environment

It can be difficult to keep your car clean and know the right products to use

Unfortunately, some cleaning chemicals can be harmful to the environment.

When we clean our cars, the dripping water carries detergent, oil and other contaminants into rivers, streams and groundwater.

This pollution can also cause damage to animals and plants.

In the age of social media hacks, it can be difficult to follow and know which products are best, both for your car and for the environment.

To help, Goodbye car have put together some useful tips on how to use household items to clean your car without damaging it or the environment.

Here are the best car cleaning tips, with a little Christmas treat included.

White vinegar

White wine vinegar is a staple for most.

This is a versatile and versatile cleaner that is ideal for many surfaces including the exterior of your car as well as its upholstery.

White wine vinegar is acidic and when diluted will not damage your car’s paint.

However, it’s best to avoid using it regularly and instead use it on dirt that won’t budge.

Do not spray it directly on your car. Just mix it with water first to avoid damage.

It can also be used to remove bumper stickers, odors, and chewing gum from your carpet.

Typically, for what is called an acid rinse, you should mix 3 parts water with 1 part white vinegar and use it sparingly.

This mixture will be useful in removing stubborn dirt and grease that regular car soap cannot. A mixture of 60 ml of olive oil and 120 ml of white vinegar can also be used for leather coverings.

Shake your mixtures thoroughly and use a clean cloth to wipe off.

Coconut oil

When you have cleaned your leather upholstery, you can condition it with coconut oil.

You only need a small amount which can be worked into the material with a clean, dry cloth. In addition, your car will smell great.

It can also protect it from cracking and give it back its eye-catching shine.

Cornstarch

A food ingredient typically used to thicken sauces and soups, cornstarch is an effective cleaning genius for many different purposes.

Clean the windows of your car with a mixture of 120g of cornstarch and 1L of water then dry with newspaper.

Cornstarch can also deodorize odors when sprinkled on and allowed to work its magic for about half an hour.

Corn starch is also good for removing excess polish and car wax.

The last thing you need after you’ve polished your car properly is some residue that will attract dirt more than before.

This buff can also help remove swirl marks on black cars.

Toothpaste

In addition to keeping our breath fresh and our teeth perfectly clean, toothpaste can be applied to make our headlights shine brighter than our enamel.

When the headlights start to fog up, remove all the excess dirt and grime with hot, soapy water and a rag, then apply some inexpensive toothpaste and scrub.

Just try to avoid getting it on your car’s paint – you can apply duct tape to buckle the headlight.

Rubbing alcohol

You don’t have to spend a lot of money on a fancy stain remover.

You can just use rubbing alcohol to keep your car in top condition

Dab the stain with a dye-free cloth dampened with rubbing alcohol. Make sure you don’t rub.

That’s not all. If you’re out of a defroster or looking for a cheap alternative to cleaning those frosted windows, rubbing alcohol is a solution.

Mix 60 ml of alcohol with 1 L of water and spray on your windshield to melt the ice.

You can also use equal parts rubbing alcohol and water to clean the hard surfaces of your car’s interior.

Baking soda

Baking soda is one of the most convenient and flexible staple foods.

Besides being used for cooking and teeth whitening, it can be used for cleaning cars.

Dusty ashtrays filled with crumbs and hairs can be an unsightly aesthetic.

They can also be a nightmare to remove with a simple wipe down. After vacuuming to remove excess dirt, apply a mixture of baking soda and water, let sit for half an hour, and scrub with a toothbrush.

Peanut Butter

Tree sap is sticky and can usually be a nuisance. It can stay on your clothes forever and even take days to wash off the skin.

However, to remove tree sap from your car, all you need is a jar of peanut butter.

Spread the peanut butter on the affected area and try to warm the area – smooth rather than coarse peanut butter to avoid scratching.

You can also use mayonnaise and hand sanitizer if you have some lying around.

Cinnamon Christmas scent

There is no point in having a clean car if it still smells of dirt.

Get into the Christmas spirit and create your own festive scented car freshener with just a few simple steps and ingredients.

To create this homemade car air freshener, take an empty mason jar and add some orange zest, while topping it with white vinegar.

To give it a real Christmas feel, add cinnamon sticks to it as well.

The next step is to leave it for about 2 weeks in a cool, dark place and transfer it to a spray bottle. Then all you have to do is spray a few times in the car, and voila!

Don’t miss the latest news from across Scotland and beyond – Sign up for our daily newsletter here .