13 cheap and easy car hacks

In this epic article we take a look at the top 13 cheap and easy car hacks you don’t want to miss out on. Let us know in the comments below if you have another hack that did not make the list!

There are a lot of car problems that can be solved with a little elbow grease and some ingenuity. Some places charge hundreds if not thousands of Rands to fix relatively simple problems. People pay out way too much money to fix simple little problems.

Here are some car hacks you can use to save yourself some money and make your car experience more enjoyable.

1. Use toothpaste to clean those headlights
   This one is really easy but requires a little arm strength. Use some toothpaste and rub it all over the plastic cover over your headlights. Let it sit for a bit then rinse with clean water and dry. This will remove the foggy glaze that covers them. If you want to keep them that way, try using some furniture polish or car wax to keep them clean.
2. Use a shoe for a cup holder
   Pretty much all cars come with cup holders but not all cup holders are good. Sometimes you need something a little more secure to hold that 1 litre drink than a flimsy piece of plastic or a cup holder that isn’t deep enough to hold it properly. The answer is a shoe! Use a tennis shoe to put your drink in. since the opening is adjustable it fits nearly every cup. It’s also deeper than many cup holders and the shoe itself is bottom-heavy to help prevent spills. This is also a great trick when you’re in the great outdoors and need a cup holder.
3. Use a staple remover to add keys to the key ring
   Getting keys onto a king ring can be a real pain in the rear end. If you don’t have nails it can be even worse. New key rings are also really stiff from not being used and some are just huge and cumbersome. Don’t break a nail or hurt yourself anymore! Use a staple remover to open the key ring to put keys on!
4. Use your seat warmer to keep food warm
   Not all cars come with seat warmers but the ones that do can be used for a really useful function. When you pick up food, turn on your seat warmer and put the food on the seat. It won’t keep food piping hot but it’ll definitely help slow the process of cooling so your food stays warmer longer.
5. Use nail polish to fix paint chips and scrapes
   Getting your car dinged sucks and it can also be an unreasonably expensive repair for how little damage is actually being fixed. If you don’t want to fork out the dough but still want it at least sort of fixed then you can always try some nail polish. Just head to the local beauty store and find the color that matches your car as closely as possible. Then just paint it on. Up close it won’t look all that amazing but it’ll definitely make your car look better from afar.
6. Use a plastic cereal container as a trash can
   Those little trash receptacles on the driver and passenger side doors are a joke. You can never fit anything of substance in there and cleaning them out is a pain. Fix both problems at one by picking up a plastic cereal container. If you get one with a big enough hole you can stuff anything in there and you can even put a trash can liner in there so you can empty it out easier. They only cost a couple of bucks and can make your car look less like a dumpster.
7. Use tinted plastic sheets for shade anywhere
   A fun little trick that pilots use is to attach plastic sheets to their windshields to avoid glare from the sun. By using that same trick with some plastic sheets, you can achieve much the same effect. The sheets stick on your window using static from the windshield so there is no messy stickers or anything to clean up. When you need relief from sunlight to your face and the visor isn’t doing it’s job, you can always try this instead.
8. Mesh bungie net can add extra storage
   Where do you toss your coat when you get into the car? There really isn’t a designated coat storage thing in a car anywhere so why not make one yourself? If you pick up a mesh bungie net you can attach them to the ceiling handles on your car. You can then use this space to stash practically anything from clothing accessories to children’s coloring books.
9. Use a plunger to fix dents
   This oldie is still a goodie. If you don’t feel like paying a mechanic to do essentially this exact same thing you can do it yourself. Do note that this won’t work for heavy damage and only for smaller dents. It’s also worth mentioning that this also works with other things like washers and dryers. It’s really easy to do because all you’re doing is taking a plunger to your car door!
10. Boost the range of your remote alarm by holding it against your chin
    Yes, this really works. The science behind it is actually quite simple. Your head is filled with fluids and fluids make for a good conductor. So when you put your key fob against your skull you turn your head into an antenna that can extend the range of your alarm. It won’t be very far and you won’t get more than 6 meters of range out of it but it does actually work.
11. Rub out scuffs with toothpaste
    Not only can tooth paste rub out the fog of your headlights but it can also remove scuffs from your car. It’s simple to do. Just rub the tooth paste where the scuffs are and wipe clean. Your car should be monumentally less scuffed or if the scuff wasn’t bad, possibly gone altogether!
12. Use a laundry basket to organize your things
    The boot of your car is probably a mess. I know mine is. If you pick up a laundry basket you have a place to put all of your stuff so it doesn’t go flying everywhere. You can pick up one of these at the Crazy store for a couple of bucks and you don’t have to worry about stuff being loose and rolling around your trunk!
13. Create a backseat organizer with a shoe organizer
    Our last one is a well-known car hack but it’s still amazingly effective. If you pick up a shoe organizer and some shoe laces, you can fasten the shoe organizer to the back of your front seats. You can then put stuff like maps, coloring supplies for the kids, and even stuff like gloves.

For more information on our impressive range of car care products and more, please contact us (011) 789-4411 | marco@midasrandburg.co.za | 191 Bram Fischer Drive, Randburg.

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Source: http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/15-cheap-and-easy-car-hacks-you-dont-want-miss.html