9 Simple Car Hacks That Cost Almost Nothing

AuroraGlyph Updated: 2025-07-26

2. Use baking soda before vacuuming

For good reason, baking soda—also called sodium bicarbonate—is a flexible household necessity that has found its way into innumerable cleaning schedules. Particularly when combined with your regular vacuuming schedule, this basic white powder can be a game-changer for preserving the inside of your car. The method is simple but surprisingly powerful: just sprinkle a lot of baking soda over your car's upholstery and carpets before starting cleaning, let it sit for few minutes. This apparently little deed starts a strong chemical reaction that will greatly increase the freshness and cleanliness inside your car.
The special chemical qualities of baking soda hold charm. An amphoteric chemical, hence it can interact with both acidic and alkaline materials. This quality makes it very good at neutralizing a broad spectrum of smells. Sprinkling baking soda on your car's carpets and upholstery starts it to interact with the many molecules causing bad scents. Reacting with the baking soda, these odor-causing molecules—which can be either acidic or alkaline in character—are essentially neutralized. This mechanism removes smells at the molecular level rather than only hides them.
Vacuum after letting the baking soda sit to not only clear obvious dirt and trash but also remove away the neutralized odor molecules. The consequence of this twin-action method is a cleaner, fresher-smelling automobile interior. It works especially well for addressing persistent smells like those from food spills, pet scents, or the musty smell that might have developed in cars that aren't used much.
Given the several applications for baking soda in automotive maintenance, one could be justified in thinking about buying it in bulk. This not only guarantees that you always have enough on hand for frequent inside cleanings but also lets you investigate its various automotive uses. For wheel rim cleaning, a 3:1 mixture of baking soda and water might be a good, mild abrasive. Without using strong chemicals, this solution can help eliminate brake dust, road grime, and other tough dirt that gathers on wheels, thereby possibly restoring part of their natural gloss.
Furthermore, baking soda may come in handy for maintaining batteries. Applied deliberately, it can help eliminate corrosion from vehicle battery terminals. Baking soda's alkaline character helps to neutralize the acidic corrosion that sometimes develops on battery connections, therefore facilitating cleaning of these connections. Still, it's important to observe correct safety protocols and to use caution when handling auto batteries.
Although baking soda is quite adaptable, it's not appropriate for every surface in your car. Being an abrasive, albeit a mild one, one should use it carefully. For example, it's not advised for use on glass surfaces since it can scratch them. To be sure any cleaning agent—including mixes of baking soda—do not damage or discolor any small, inconspicuous area first.
Given its efficiency, cost, and environmentally friendly character, baking soda is a great complement to every vehicle cleaning tool. Ready to handle unanticipated spills or smells, it can sit next to other basic things including your spare tire, flashlight, and emergency flares. Including baking soda in your monthly automobile cleaning schedule not only helps you keep your car but also performs preventative maintenance that can help retain its inside and maybe even its resale value.
To sum up, the basic habit of sprinkling baking soda before vacuuming will change your car cleaning schedule. This is a very affordable, eco-friendly, and quite successful approach to keep the inside of your car spotless and smelling fresh. Understanding and using the power of this ordinary home item will help you improve the state of your automobile and enjoy a more comfortable drive every time you go behind the wheel.