Car ownership is exciting, but like anything worthwhile in life, it comes with a huge amount of responsibility. Issues can accumulate if gone unchecked, making diligent maintenance a must. While you should of course make regular appointments with our service department at Savage L&B, the health and ultimately the lifespan of your vehicle can be further extended if you take it upon yourself to handle some of the dirty work.
Thankfully, there are several thrifty ways to engage in car maintenance from the comfort of your own home. Not only will it not break the bank – everything you need can most likely be found in your kitchen and bathroom closets. Like television’s MacGyver, who innately turned household items into crucial tools, you’ll soon feel like the savviest DIY mechanic out there.
Vinegar is the Best Way to Handle Windshield Ice
Anyone who’s spent time in the Berks County area knows how tedious starting your commute can be in the frosty early hours of an autumn morning. When you’re greeted by an especially thick layer of frost or ice on your windshield, the defrosting process can turn glacial, leaving you out in the cold and potentially putting your morning schedule on ice.
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, getting rid of windshield haze. Maximize your visibility by cleaning both the exterior and interior of the windshield.
Toothpaste is an Effective Headlight Cleaner
It makes sense the more you think about it! After all, you (hopefully) brush every day, and the enamel of your teeth is never in jeopardy of being scratched or chipped. When your headlights get overly dirty or foggy, toothpaste is abrasive enough to clean them without causing any damage. Depending on the condition of your headlights, a stronger alternative may be needed – but before you shell out for any processed chemicals, try the toothpaste scrub! Afterwards, gently rinse your headlights down with water and a rag. (If you don’t have toothpaste handy, baking soda is a suitably abrasive substitute. But… you should probably have toothpaste handy).
Use Nail Polish to Prevent Cracks from Spreading
Vinegar, toothpaste, and now nail polish? Mr. MacGyver (what is his first name anyway?) would be proud.
It’s alarming when your new Pacifica‘s windshield takes a hit from a rock on the highway – but if it leaves only a minor blemish, crisis has surely been avoided, right? When your windshield takes any sort of minimal impact, the surface damage may not be cause for concern… at first. Unfortunately, minor chips and nicks can schism into long cracks that spread across the surface of your windshield, leading to costly repair.
Before those cracks can multiply, simply apply nail polish to the dinged 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 aberrations. (For this reason, nail polish also functions as a great scratch remover when your paint gets scraped. 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 fixed with less effort than it takes to un-clog a 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. Even Mario would be impressed.
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 perfect 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, allowing you to thoroughly wiped down every cranny. 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 or not you prefer to start 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 listed, consider a trip to Reading’s Fairgrounds Farmers Market, an ideal destination during the holiday season.
And as always, we’re here at Savage L&B to help keep your road ahead smooth. When your maintenance job becomes too large to handle on your own, schedule a service appointment with Robesonia’s number one dealership.
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