Car Hacks to Get You Going
Buying a car is a moment you will never forget! Whether you're a seasoned driver or just learning the rules of the road, we have a list of car hacks that will change the way you drive! We can bet you haven't heard these before!
Most of us already know how to drive a car and other basics related to driving, such as operating the headlight, wipers, AC, and radio. But did you know that you should be placing a ziplock bag over your mirror? Or the best way to get rid of scratches? Here are all the secrets you need to know before your next trip!
Getting Rid of the Dent with Hot Water and A Plunge
You don’t necessarily have to be a petrolhead to adore your car and its looks. It is a widely accepted fact that even the smallest of dents can prove to be an absolute eyesore. If the dents are small, the fix is rather simple.
Boil some water in a teapot and then source a plunger because that will be your car's savior. Pour the hot water on the dent and deploy the plunger to pull it out! If the dent isn’t that huge, it will pop right out and make it less visible. Wonderful, isn't it?
Clean your Car’s Eyes with Toothpaste
Foggy headlights can often result in low visibility, which could further cause some serious accidents. But you don’t necessarily need a magic potion from a wizard to clean the foggy headlights of your car because ordinary toothpaste can solve this problem!
Toothpaste contains mild abrasives that eliminate our enamel and can be used to clean a car’s headlights as well. Bet you didn't know that! Wondering what's next? Let's just say your fingers won't suffer once you learn this one!
Utilizing a staple remover to open your keyring
You don’t necessarily need to break your pretty nails or hurt your finger while trying to fit a new set of keys in your keyring. The best way to do it is by using a… wait for it… staple remover! We kid you not!
This common office supply can come in handy for performing this daunting task. You just need to separate the end pieces and slide the keys in! Now, the next one is something we all need to be aware of!
Shower Caddy to the Rescue!
Most of us like to plan for uncertainties well in advance, and that includes stowing an emergency kit in the trunk of our car. The kit could include anything ranging from oil, funnel, TPMS, flashlight, other consumables, and so on.
But if you haven’t stored them properly in the trunk, they could roll over and could cause more damage than good. The best way to store them is by using a shower caddy. Try it for yourself and let us know if it's helpful. Now, what about the trash you'll inevitably produce during those longer rides?—just do this ...
Cereal Boxes as Trash Cans
Your car should be a hygienic place to be because you spend a lot of time inside it. Leftover trash can often lead to a foul smell and micro-organisms breeding inside your car, but you don’t need to get an expensive and new trash can. So what can you do?
Well, cereal boxes sourced from your kitchen can serve the same purpose without burning a hole in your pocket. Just make sure to put a plastic bag inside the bin, so it becomes easier for you to dispose of the trash. Now, what about those ziplocks? We reveal that revolutionary hack soon!
Park your Car Facing East
This might sound like some sort of wizardry, but the explanation is pretty simple. During winter, make sure to park your car facing east so that when the sun rises, its rays will defrost your windshield.
You could save some precious minutes from your busy schedule as you won’t need the defroster to perform the same job. Now, this next one is all about getting your car unlocked from a distance; here's how biology made this possible!
Hold your Keys to your Head to Extend its Range
It might sound crazy and absolutely unbelievable, but this actually works! If you feel that your car’s key has a limited range for its remote open and lock function, put the keys under your chin, press the button again, and voila!
The explanation for this wizardry is rather simple, the fluids in our head fiddle around with the signal and extend it further. If you have doubts regarding this, you can try it for yourself! Now, here's the trick behind ziplock bags ...
Ziplock Bag on Your Car Mirror
Ziplocks are very common items that we use in our day-to-day activities. Whether it's for air-tight storage purposes or just packing your lunch, ziplocks sure come in handy. But did you know that they can also help when it comes to your cars? Wondering how?
Well, covering your rearview mirror with ziplock bags can help in preventing the formation of ice, snow, and frost. Therefore, giving you a clear idea of the incoming traffic. You didn't know that, did you? What about this next coke hack?
Clean your Rims with Coke
Rims are subjected to the most amount of dirt and grime. It becomes particularly annoying when the dust accumulated around it dries up. The expression ‘use coke to clean this’ makes sense here as well.
The magical combination of cola and dish detergent can remove all the dirt and grime from your rims and leave them shining like a star on a clear night. Coke truly is magical! But our hacks don't stop here; we've got every aspect of your driving covered!
Pantyhose as a fan belt
First and foremost, if your fan belt breaks, it is advisable to call a tow truck to rescue you. However, if you're stuck somewhere with not even a single soul to help you out, pantyhose can do the trick for some time.
You can use a pair of pantyhose as a fan belt! But please note that this should only be used as a last resort and for s short period of time!
Applying Nail Polish on Small Scratches
Dents and scratches aren’t considered battle scars when it comes to cars because they are nothing to be proud of. Small scratches that result in paint chipping off from your car’s bodywork are considered unpleasant to look at.
Before going with expensive options like getting your car’s paint restored professionally, you can apply a smidgeon of nail polish to mask the scratches. Apart from eagle-eyed fellows, it will go unnoticed if the nail polish color blends well with the car's paint.
Using Hand Sanitizer to Defrost the Keyhole
Frozen locks are a tough nut to crack, and it may prove to be a tiring affair to unfreeze them, but hand sanitizers could prove to be an ultimate life-saver in this regard.
As it contains alcohol, it helps to melt the ice formation inside the keyhole. The ice disintegrates in the keyhole of your vehicle in the same manner as it does in your hands.
Over-the-door Shoe Racks as Storage Compartments
If your car has fewer cubby holes or storage compartments, undertaking long trips could prove to be a little messy. And even more so when you have kids tagging along with you.
If this is the case, a simple over-the-door shoe rack serves as the perfect solution to stow away your chargers, snacks, toys, and other knickknacks. While it makes them easily accessible, they also become far more visible to spot.
Rubber Bands as Phone Holders
Heading into unknown territory is often made easier by GPS navigation, but if you don’t have a co-pilot to guide you through, it becomes a lot more difficult to look down your screen for directions while driving.
If you don’t want to invest in a phone holder, rubber bands are the way to go! Thread it through a few vents on your center console and the strain will keep your smartphone in place.
How to Cool Down a Hot Car
We often have to stand outside our car during the summers, waiting for the warm and stagnant air to pass through. Trust us; we know how irritating it can be!
To boost the process and save some precious time, roll down the passenger side window, open and shut the driver’s side door rapidly a few times as it creates a fanning effect. It will enable fresh air to enter your car’s cabin while at the same time eliminating all of the hot and stagnant air.
Dryer Sheets Air Freshener
Air fresheners that you get from the market can turn out to be pretty expensive. If you want to get rid of a bad odor, just put a packet of fragrant dryer sheets in your car.
It lasts considerably longer, absorbs nasty smells efficiently, and, more importantly, is way less intrusive. It's an easy way to make your car smell nice from the inside for months.
Nanotech Car Scratch Remover Cloth
It is not a hack but more of an astonishing product that can help mask minor scratches present on your car’s bodywork. Nanotech car scratch remover cloths use cutting-edge nanotechnology to perform various functions such as scratches, stains and restore vehicle color.
The manufacturer claims that each cloth can be used 10-15 times. If you are still unsure about their efficiency, they come with a one-year guarantee.
Scented Wax Cubes as Air Fresheners
Like we mentioned earlier, you don’t need to invest a considerable amount of money in getting expensive air fresheners for your car’s interior. If you are unsure about the dryer sheet hack we mentioned earlier, you can give scented wax cubes a shot.
What you need to do is, source a mason jar with holes punched in the lid and put a few scented wax cubes in your car. Once the cubes are placed inside the pot, the wax will melt because of the heat, and it will further fill the car with a pleasant fragrance.
Checking The Tread in your Tire with a Penny
Tires serve as one of the most crucial elements in your car as they are the only thing that stays in constant contact with the tarmac. If you wish to keep your rubber side down all the time, it is necessary to keep a regular check on your tire’s state.
You can measure the tread in your tire by placing a coin upside down, and if President Lincoln’s head falls halfway in, you’re good to go. But if that isn’t the case, we will advise you to get new pair of shoes for your car.
Keep your Cup Holder Clean
Cleaning the cup holders in your car can prove to be a daunting task, but that’s why we are here. To make the job a lot easier just by incorporating some simple hacks.
You can place cupcake wrappers inside the cup holders. It will not only help you to organize spare change but will also help you to maintain the cleanliness of your cup holders.
Carabiner Hooks to the Rescue
You can utilize every storage space or cubby hole in your car while going for long jaunts, but if there’s still the need for more space to hang stuff, get some carabiner hooks and connect them to your headrests.
The hooks can hold several things such as groceries, umbrellas, and other stuff, making your life much more easier on the go!
Make Grocery Shopping Easier
One of the many privileges that come complimentary with owning a car is its hoarding capacity. There’s a rational reason why people prefer taking their car out for grocery shopping rather than their motorcycle.
To make the job even more convenient, carry an empty laundry basket in the trunk so that you may load the baskets with bags when you arrive home. It will considerably reduce the number of journeys back and forth from the vehicle.
Using a Tennis Ball to Gauge your Garage Parking
Parking your beloved car in your garage could prove to be a tiresome affair for novice drivers, especially if you don’t want to scrape the front bumper of your car.
To make your life easier, tie a string with a hanging tennis ball onto the ceiling of the garage. When it rests on your windshield when you’ve driven in, you know that it is the right time to stop.
Parking App to Find your Car
In this day and age when parking lots are crammed with a ton of automobiles, it can become a bit irritating when you cannot remember the exact location of where you parked your car.
Just like everything else in our life, technology has your back in this regard as well. Simply download any parking app to geo-tag your car, and when you wish to return to it, the app will guide you through the sea of cars.
Towel Holder
If there’s one thing that you constantly need inside your car is a paper towel. Whether it be for the prevention from the spillage caused by a dear passenger or your own runny nose, paper towels always come in handy.
To make them more accessible, attach a roll of paper towel to your car with a piece of bungee cord. This will further facilitate finding the towels quickly without needing to scan the entire car for the paper roll.
Defrost your Windows with Vinegar
People who live in cold areas often have to deal with iced-out windshields, and they will definitely appreciate this hack. It is no joke to defrost your car every morning and make it a little more bearable; we have something to help you out.
Instead of using water to wipe off your windscreen, mix it with some vinegar and evenly spray it on your windshield because the logic is simple: the vinegar helps burn through the ice much faster.
Get Rid of the Ancient Bumper Stickers
Bumper stickers are like tattoos for your car, except they are not permanent and leave a sticky stain when removed after a long time.
If you want to get rid of your bumper stickers from 2002, all you need is a working hairdryer for this trick. Slowly and gradually heat up the sides of the sticker with the hairdryer. This will allow the glue to lift and will make it easier to peel.
Don’t Put Too Much Weight on your Key
If you have a ton of keys within a single keychain and if you use the same for starting your car, it could prove harmful to the ignition switch of your car in the long run. What do the experts have to say regarding this?
Experts claim that you should have a maximum of 3 keys or keychains on your bunch. If you have put too much weight on your keychain over time, your car will not start as easily as it should.
Locating the Side of the Tank
We often tend to forget the side of the fuel tank in our car, especially when we pull up at the gas station. We don’t realize that the answer to this confusion is placed right in front of us, in the instrument cluster of your car!
When you take a good look at your car’s fuel gauge in its instrument cluster, try noticing the picture of a gas pump with an arrow. You don’t necessarily have to be a super-smart individual to figure out that the arrow point is on the same side of the car that the filler cap is located.
Newspaper to Clean Windows
While we have already discussed several ways to clean the windows of your car, this one is probably the most cost-effective and effective at the same time.
What you need to do is, spray your windows with some window cleaner, source a piece of newspaper and give it a good scrub. This method might sound a bit archaic, but there’s no denying the fact that it works wonders!
Q-Tip to Clean the Crevices
Q-Tips might look small, but the purpose that they serve is rather big! Apart from using them to clean your ears, you can also put them to use to clean all those small, tough areas in your car that are often quite challenging to clean.
Moreover, they allow you to clean all those hard-to-reach spots, such as between the little crevices or even on the steering wheel.
Reduce Glare With A Tinted Plastic Sheet
It happened to us once or twice—forgetting sunglasses. When it’s getting dark, and you’re driving west, you’ll know hard that is.
At this angle, your visor won’t be any help, but something can—a tinted plastic sheet! Stick it to your car window with static so you can move it around as needed. The sun will never bother you again!
Use Pool Noodles To Prevent Car Dings
Admit it; you’ve hit your door on the side of your garage. Maybe not every time, but at least a few times! We got the perfect solution for you—pool noodles!
Cut it in half, then tape it to the wall where you open your car’s door. (You can quickly tell where by the scuff marks, heh.) Use bolts or even simple command strips to secure it in place. Your car (and your wall) will both be safe!
Baking Soda for Odor
Cars tend to get a bit smelly, especially if you don't have the time to clean. Therefore, our lack hack will solve all your unpleasant smell problems!
Well, it turns out baking soda can help get rid of that stringy odor that just won't leave you in peace. So, there you go, folks. These are some of the car hacks that you must try, and let us know if they worked for you or not!