12 Essential Car Hacks You Will Be Thankful to Know

According to statistics, there are about 1.5 billion cars registered around the globe, which is a massive number. And each car has its very own needs and problems the owner is in charge of fixing. It can be something tremendously simple to something potentially dangerous. You just have to be very careful and take all the necessary precautions.

1. Adjust the side-view mirrors properly.

Your safety is always a priority. One of the points constantly emphasized by experts is mirror control. And, along with your windshield, the side mirrors must be adjusted correctly before jetting off. They’re used to help you be able to see what’s behind you.

• Ensure that your car’s mirrors are clean, free of scratches, haven’t been damaged, and are adjusted on all sides.
• Adjust the driver’s side mirror, ensuring the side mirror reflects the road and only a tiny part or sliver of the car. Make small changes till the mirror shows the lane next to you. Dare to push the side mirrors further than you usually do.
• Adjust the passenger’s side mirror, which should show the road. A small part of the car can be seen. It should display what’s going on to the left and right of your vehicle.

2. Use toothpaste to clean the headlights.

Toothpaste is good for the teeth because it has abrasive particles that can also help a lot with the dirt on headlights. Put tape on the area around the light in order not to damage the paint. Do the same thing you do with the mirror and the windshield — put a little bit of the paste on a sponge and wipe the lights in circular motions.

3. Band-Aids for cracks on the glass.

You must’ve heard that a life hack for girls’ tights to stop them from tearing is to put some nail polish on them, as this can prolong their life. This, however, doesn’t help with the repair of a windshield, and it might only make fixing it more difficult or even impossible. To really help your car, put a Band-Aid on the crack. It’s a temporary measure, but a good one.

4. Keep your keys in foil.

There are gadgets available that catch signals and are widely used by criminals for stealing cars without a key.

For example, if the car is parked in a garage of a private house or under the windows of a multi-story building, the keys are accessible through the radio device. Thieves can easily intercept the signal, and the owner of the car won’t notice anything. According to experts, in order to protect your keys from “relay” attacks, you should use something metallic since metal blocks signals.

5. Oil for cleaning the dashboard.

Put some olive oil on a piece of cloth and rub it on the dashboard. It will shine as if you’ve just bought your car. It’s hard to believe that you don’t need any special cleaning products, just something you already have in the kitchen.

6. Always use your right hand to open the driver’s door.

One of the very first things car instructors teach is how to open the driver’s door. And the best way to do that is by using your right arm. That is because it helps you control the power you use and you get to not open the door too suddenly.

7. Slime for picking up debris and dust from small spaces.

If you don’t want to vacuum all the small pieces and dust, just take the slime and put it into the tightest corners. It will attract all the trash, then you can wash the slime and return it to your children.

8. How to keep your windshields ready for winter.

During the winter months and especially when it’s snowing heavily, ice can form on the car windows. This means that the windshields can still to the glass and not move when you need them to. A cool trick is to put a sock on both windshields in order to help them detach from the glass easier.

9. Backing soda to help with unpleasant smells.

Baking soda is universal. Together with water, it can clean the stains. And if you spray it on the seats, it will also remove the unpleasant smells. It takes around 15 minutes to work.

If the smell is very strong, just put some baking soda in a bowl and leave it inside the car for some time. Remember that baking soda should not be used on leather.

10. Fabric softener instead of windshield washer fluid.

It’s way more effective than windshield washer fluid because the glass is covered with an invisible film and the dirt just slides down it. In dry weather, the dust won’t stick to it. The recipe is simple: around 50 ml of softener with 4 liters of distilled water. Mix it and pour it inside the car system or spray it directly on the windows.

11. Extend car visors.

Car visors are an essential car tool, but sometimes it proves to be a little too short for drivers. One easy way to solve this issue is by using some piece of paper you might have in the car and a few paper clips. As you can see in the image above, it’s super easy and takes a few seconds to do it.

12. Use Velcro to prevent the mats from sliding.

It’s very annoying when mats keep sliding under your feet. Buy some Velcro for clothes, turn the mat over, and glue it down. After the glue solidifies, put the mat back and do whatever you want, and the mat will remain in place.