Tips on: Car Cleaning

Tip: Cleaning Car Ashtrays
To help eliminate odors and extinguish cigarettes, place either baking soda or kitty litter in your car´s ashtray. This will deodorize your car and help prevent it from smelling like cigarette smoke.

Tip: Battery Acid Stain Removal from Car Upholstery
To remove battery acid from your car upholstery, rub a paste of baking soda and water into the spot right away, leave for two hours, then wipe off with a damp cloth. Repeat if necessary. Any remaining residue can be cleaned off with a commercial upholstery cleaner, or mix 1/2 teaspoon liquid dishwashing detergent in a quart of warm water. Beat with a mixer, then clean the upholstery using only the suds. Work on a small area at a time, overlapping areas to avoid spotting. Change the rinse water frequently to keep it clean. Let dry thoroughly.

Tip: Crayon Mark Removal from Car Upholstery
To get crayon marks off upholstery, first scrape excess crayon off with a dull-edge knife or metal spoon. Spray with WD-40 and let stand a few minutes. With a small, stiff bristle brush work crayon stain and wipe with paper towels. Respray with WD-40 and apply liquid dishwashing detergent on the sprayed area; work in with the brush and wipe stain away with a damp sponge. If stain remains, repeat the procedure.

Tip: Odor Removal from Car Interior
To remove an odor from your car´s interior, the newest technology uses peroxide and detergents to penetrate the soiled area to remove stain and deactivate odors. Simply spray a product such as Bio-OX Citrus Concentrate on the soiled area, and then allow it to penetrate for approximately five minutes. Using a clean white absorbent cloth, blot the area, pressing down firmly (do not rub) for 30 seconds. Repeat this blotting process until the area is dry. If the odor persists, keep repeating the process. You can also try saturating the area with a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution. Let it sit for a few minutes. Then, using a clean white absorbent cloth, blot the area, pressing down firmly (do not rub) for 30 seconds. Repeat this blotting process until the area is dry. If the odor or stain persists, repeat the process. Another option is baking soda, which can be used to eliminate surface (but not deeply penetrated) odors. Dampen the area with clean water and then sprinkle baking soda over it. Rub the baking soda into the soiled area and let dry; brush or vacuum to remove the dry material. Which ever method you choose, open all doors and let air circulate for as long as it takes.

Tip: Automobile Carpet Freshener
To freshen the carpet in your car, and deodorize, sprinkle the carpet with either commercial carpet deodorizer or baking soda. Let set for 30 minutes, then vacuum. This should leave your car smelling clean and fresh.

Tip: Gasoline Stain Removal from Car Interior
To remove a gasoline stain from your car´s interior, treat the stain with a mixture of one teaspoon each of vinegar (to remove the odor) and mild dish detergent (to clean the stain) in a quart of warm water. Let the area dry, and if any spot remains, you may need to repeat. If this does not seem to be working, try using dry-cleaning solvent.

Tip: Crayon on Upholstery
To get crayon marks off upholstery, first scrape excess crayon off with a dull-edge knife or metal spoon. Spray with WD-40 and let stand a few minutes. With a small, stiff bristle brush work crayon stain and wipe with paper towels. Respray with WD-40 and apply liquid dishwashing detergent on the sprayed area; work in with the brush and wipe stain away with a damp sponge. If stain remains, repeat the procedure.

Tip: Cleaning Car Air Vents
To clean your air vents in your car, dip a cotton swab in glass cleaner and use it to wipe your vents until they are clean.

Tip: Lipstick Stain Removal from Car Upholstery
To remove lipstick for your car upholstery, try rubbing gently with a non-gel toothpaste then wipe clean with a damp cloth.

Tip: Mold and Mildew Removal from Interior Car Upholstery
To remove mildew and its odor from your fabric upholstered auto seats, the newest technology uses peroxide and detergents to penetrate the soiled area to remove the stain and deactivate the odor. Simply spray a product such as Bio-OX Citrus Concentrate on the soiled area, and then allow it to penetrate for approximately five minutes. Using a clean white absorbent cloth, blot the area, pressing down firmly (do not rub) for 30 seconds. Repeat this blotting process until the area is dry. If the stain or odor persists, repeat the process. You could also try combining 1/4 teaspoon of color safe bleach and 1/4 cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide. With a clean cloth, gently rub the stain until it is gone. Rinse the area with clear, warm water and dry thoroughly.

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