Use household cleaning items on your car?

You can cut household Ammonia w/ water and a few drops of dishwashing detergent to make your own window cleaner at a fraction of the cost. I think the "recipe" might have a little alcohol in it too. And blue dye. "Windex" works great for cleaning the skunge of batteries, and is very basic, so it neutralizes the acid. Batteries should be kept clean on the top (and sides.)

 

Hello,

Ever since I was indoctrinated in the art of car cleaning by my older brother, I have learned that certain products make life easier and more efficient. Wax products like Cadillac Blue Coral Wax makes chrome lamp bases and desktop frames and accessories smell nice and protects like no other. The finished wax surface is spotless and lasts a long time. On cars, I finally learned that it leaves a fantastic deep shine, but the application for our car(s) and finishing took too much effort.

When the new Cl***ic Car Wax came out, that application cut the time it took to do a whole black 58 Impala by hours. We even used it on the lamps and desk accessories, so car products as household uses work well, too.

But, to stay in line with the topic, here are a couple of actual household products we use almost daily/weekly. Instead of using ammonia based cleaners, we use ammonia free window and mirror products like Gl*** Plus. Ammonia is a harsh cleaning product that accelerates surface degeneration. Old mirrors get black stuff around the edges due to ammonia based cleaners.

Generally, this product on a soft microfiber cloth does the trick on most car surfaces. For windows, a soft cotton cloth is the best so far.

Also, we use a mild cleaning product called, Dobie. It is a type of sponge covered with a fine mesh. It is a multipurpose product with many uses.

The Dobie pad cleans stainless steel without scratching, as well as bird/bug products on chrome. When your tires have brake dust caked on and a spray hose does not work, this little yellow/white pad gets the stuff off without scratching. It is easy to clean with soap and water afterwards.

When Armour All was one of the only products around, we used it constantly in all of our leather seating area in cars. Cleaning leather seating areas in our cars is now, much easier to use and the finished product is not smelly or leaves a slick surface like Armour All or other brands.

We use the same products on our household leather furniture: clean, condition, protect. But, most of the time in our cars, a clean slightly moist cloth gets anything off easily.


Jnaki

Products that cut the time in all applications and those that make life easy are the ones that stay in our garage and house. If it is one product that can do double duty, it is a winner in our household.

If the product makes it easier for my wife to help out cleaning our cars, the better it is… Ha! (The most powerful lightweight portable vacuum for household use gets used in our cars. It was her choice of product that makes using it handy, when she makes a mess from the garden shop or groceries.)

 

Hello,

We bought some of this stuff to put a protective layer over a smooth fibergl*** surface. The surface has become almost waterproof. Any smudges just wipe off with a soft microfiber cloth. No more adding a quick shot of “detailer” or a soft non scratching sponge before wiping it off, it just comes off with a cloth.

But for household use, being a hot rodder and constantly modifying various things, this product was used on a garage cabinet door and drawer that was made out of white Melamine. Normally, these garage cabinets (purchased at the local big box stores) don’t get too dirty since the Melamine has protective qualities. If we used the white plastic handles, the door/drawer surface did not get dirty.

Being in a hurry or just being lazy, over the years of closing the doors by grabbing the corners or edges, they started to get stained from constant dirty fingers. So, after a cleaning first, then by adding this product to the white Melamine surface, the drawer/door surfaces are staying clean, even with grubby hands of all kinds.

Jnaki

When we ordered the wax product for another use, I never noticed the supercharged motor photo. But, since we recently purchased some of their cleaning products…(those work miracles, too.) We are on their mailing list for Christmas. The products from ISLAND GIRL can be purchased from various boating websites and real hardware stores in shopping centers. But, they are very fast as far as mail orders are concerned. Customer service is top notch.

They do have a Car Collector’s Kit, with all of their products and descriptions. No, I am not a salesman for Island Girl nor get a commission…We like their products for all sorts of household, boating, and automotive cleaning and polishing. My wife likes the cleaning products, but uses gloves just in case. My hands are like iron, too many automotive products over the 60 years of involvement, so, no gloves for me.

 

Lemon Pledge for soft clear plastic (convertible top windows). Works great and polishes out scratches as well. Bees may be attracted momentarily until they figure out that there are no lemon blossoms.

 

I have seen white cars that had never been waxed cleaned with a mild dose of Comet cleaner and hot water and once they were cleaned they started on the compound and was and they looked brand New!

A friend on mine owns a U-Haul Dealership and I asked him what they use on every truck they rent to shine the interior and the tires on their trucks. Turns out U-Haul has their own product made in gallon jugs and whatever is in it works great on my tires and dash board. You simply cut it with a little water and put it in a spray bottle.

Jimbo

 

2X on the Bon Ami, Barkeepers Friend. Both are feldspar based, no aluminum oxide or silicate based abrasives. Great for gl***, stainless chrome, removing rust stains from paint. A little messy, takes extra rinsing. Use them first then wash the car.

 

Don't use Armor-All on yer motorcycle seat. Ask me how I know. I was about 11 and it sure shined up lookin' good!