Every classic car owner wants to keep their ride as clean as possible, but keeping it clean takes a lot of time, hard work and money. Not everyone can afford detail cleaning services and doing it yourself can be tiring and time-consuming.
Not to worry! We have you covered with some ingenious tips, tricks and techniques to keep your classic looking its best. Here are some great cleaning hacks for your classic car or truck.
Bleach your wheels – Keeping metal rims shining can be a tough task. Especially with built up road grime, it can be next to impossible to get rid of without special cleaners and chemicals. Next time try Clorox bleach powder. Sprinkle some bleach powder on a clean rag along with a little Lysol and get to scrubbing. It still takes some elbow grease to get the job done, but this stuff can work miracles.
Cleaning out air vents – There are a combination of tools and techniques you can use to deep clean those hard to reach parts of your air vents. First give foam paint brushes a try. Their unique shape and variety of sizes make them ideal for getting in all the nooks and crannies of an air vent. Another helpful tip is to hold a vacuum hose in one hand while you clean with the other. Hold the vacuum close to the vents so it can suck up the dust you are removing from the vents.
Another useful hack for cleaning air vents is using the compressed air from a can of keyboard cleaner. The powerful little blast of air can reach even the hardest to get dust particles.
One final vent cleaning hack is using silica gel to remove dust and dirt. Often used to clean computer keyboards as well, this amazing compound easily picks up dust and debris from any surface. It can then be washed, dried and used again and again.
It’s all in the details – To get your classic car or truck in showroom condition, you need to go over your car with a fine-tooth comb… Almost literally. When detailing your car, we suggest adding a toothbrush and Q-tips to your cleaning tools. Toothbrushes are soft and can usually scrub interior and trim pieces without causing any damage. The bristles in the toothbrush will dig down deep into crevices and get that dirt out. If it works on your teeth, why not the seam of a vinyl seat?
The other invaluable tool for detail cleaning is the Q-tip. Q-tips are perfect for detailing because they can fit just about anywhere. They are also excellent at absorbing any leftover cleaning products with their soft cotton heads. And the fact that they only cost a few cents, you can use as many as you need without breaking the bank.
For less detailed jobs, a Magic Eraser can really work wonders. Especially on vinyl surfaces like seats, dashboards and door panels. Just lightly wet the eraser pad and gently get to scrubbing. You will be amazed at how they can clean. Like its almost magic!
Make it shine – Petroleum jelly is great at moisturizing, but it can also give your interior a great shine too. Simply put a small (and we mean small, a little goes a looooooong way!) dab on a dry cloth and rub the cloth on any vinyl or leather in your car. Not only will it help it from drying out and cracking, it will also leave it with a really nice sheen.
You can also use petroleum jelly to coat the rubber door seals to keep them from drying out in the summer and freezing during the winter.
Olive oil is also a great natural substitute for leather conditioner. Again, remember that a little goes a long way! Simply put a small amount of olive oil on a clean cloth and rub the cloth on the leather seat and work the oil in. You should probably have a dry towel on hand to help wipe up and excess oil and dry off the leather. Otherwise your seats may become greasy.
Use clay to shine your body – This is a tool that every car detailer uses. It can give your classic a showroom shine. Clay bars are excellent at removing grime and build-up on your vehicle’s paint and finish. You can read this article we wrote on how to get the perfect shine. It explains how to use a clay bar and even includes a great video to show you as well.
Emergency glass crack filler – If you have a crack in your windshield you need to get it repaired or replaced asap! It is dangerous to drive around with a cracked front or rear windshield. If you need a quick fix until you can get it replaced, you can use clear nail polish to fill in the crack. Once it dries, it will be much harder to tell where the window is cracked. This technique is only recommended if you are going to replace the windshield. If you think it can be repaired, leave the crack alone so the repair guy can get the epoxy or acrylic adhesive or filler into the crack.
DIY washer fluid – Here is a simple solution you can mix up if you are all out of windshield washing fluid. Mix 3 cups of grain alcohol with 4 cups of regular water. Then mix in one or two tablespoons of dishwashing detergent. This combination works great during the warmer summer months.
especially during the hot dry and dusty summer months. All you need to do is mix three cups of grain alcohol and four cups of water together, adding a miniscule two teaspoons of dishwashing detergent. Put it in an empty bottle to keep in case you have find yourself without the fluid in an emergency.
Remove light rust with cola – Dark soda like cola can be used to remove small rust stains. Even more stubborn rust can be removed with a combination of cola and steel wool. Rub the cola on the rust stain in a circular motion and we think you will be surprised how well it works. You are also likely to think twice before drinking one ever again.
Keep your windows clean – One of the best uses of vinegar is for cleaning glass windows. Add a little vinegar to some dishwasher detergent and it will work wonders on all your windows. Take this hack to the next level by using old newspaper to wipe the glass clean. Just crumple up yesterday’s news and start wiping. It works amazingly! Be sure not to use it on tinted windows. The newspaper may be great for glass, but its harsh on plastic tint.
Once our windshield is clean, let’s try and keep it that way. It can be frustrating to clean your glass only to have a dirty wiper blade streak it up. Take rubbing alcohol and put it on a clean towel and wipe the blade clean. Its amazing how much better they work when they are in like-new condition.
Ditch the stink – If you are experiencing any unpleasant odors in your car, we suggest changing the air cabin filter, but could also but a box of backing soda in your car to help absorb the odors. Charcoal works pretty good too. Toss a few pieces of charcoal under your seat. It can totally help clear the air.