Tips Every Car Owner Should Know | Helpful Car Tips

Whether you’re already a car owner or interested in purchasing a vehicle for the first time, there are a variety of things you should keep in mind to ensure you stay safe on the road and get the most out of your car. At Hiley Mazda of Fort Worth, we want you to feel confident when you’re behind the wheel and stay up to date with your vehicle and its capabilities. Here are some tips every car owner should know:

Increase the Range of Your Keyless Entry

While it may seem like a myth, you can increase your keyless entry range without needing to replace a battery or purchase a new remote. Press your car’s keyless entry to your head while you use it to increase its range by up to 30 percent. This method is perfectly safe and allows the remote to conduct the radio signal through your body, improving its strength and range.

Clean Off Mud Stains With a Potato

Whether your kids have gotten stains in the back seat or you’ve gotten mud on the carpet from rainy weather, you don’t have to spend a lot of money on special cleaners. Instead, you can use a potato to rid your car’s carpet of any mud stains.

You can remove loose pieces of mud with a vacuum or using a strip of wide packing tape. Then, take the severed side of a cut potato and rub it against the remaining stains. The enzymes in the potato will help break down the dirt and help make your car’s interior look new in no time.

Oil the Leather Interior

If your car has a leather interior, it’s important to take care of this upholstery to prevent cracking or premature wear. Take a cloth and use it to rub olive oil or baby oil on your leather seats to help keep the material supple. You can also use the same oil-covered cloth to remove any scuffs and scratches you can see on the dashboard.

Save Money on a New Battery

Instead of running out to buy a new keyless car remote, which can range from $50 to $150, save money by opting to replace the remote’s battery. As long as you can open the remote yourself, you can identify the type and size of the battery it uses. Most electronics or hardware stores carry a variety of batteries, so you should be able to find what you’re looking for without spending a lot.

Get Rid of Parking Permit Stickers

If parking permit stickers cover your windshield, you may want to find a way to get rid of them. Soak the decals in a nail polish remover that contains acetone and watch the chemicals break down the stickers and their adhesive. After letting the nail polish remover sit for a few minutes, you can use a razor blade to scrape them off.

Help Your Car Smell Fresh

If you notice your car has some unpleasant odors, you don’t have to hang a visible air freshener from your rearview mirror. Instead, use dryer sheets to freshen up your vehicle. Hide them in your trunk and under car seats to eliminate lingering smells. You can even re-purpose ones that have already been through the drier, making this a practical and cost-friendly option.

Keep Your Windshield Clean

One easy way to keep your windshield clean and maintain clear visibility is to spray it with club soda. This is a cost-effective way to eliminate bugs, bird droppings, and dirt and dust your windshield may have collected on the road. After spraying it with club soda, let it sit for a few minutes to break down the mess, and turn on your windshield wipers.

Vacuum Hard-to-Reach Places

If you spend a lot of time in your car or have little ones who eat snacks on the drive to school, chances are you may have crumbs, dirt, and other things hidden in the hard-to-reach places of your vehicle. The good news is that you can make your own vacuum attachment to take care of any messes.

Find a straw you’d normally use to drink a soda or iced coffee and tape it to the smallest vacuum attachment you own. The straw will help you pick up any debris hidden in your storage compartments, cup holders, and even between your seats.

Remove Old Bumper Stickers

While you may have loved a bumper sticker when you originally stuck it to the outside of your car, chances are you may want to remove it if the weather damaged it or you no longer want a slogan or image on your vehicle.

You can use a few methods to get rid of a bumper sticker, including rubbing cold cream on your car and waiting 10 minutes to peel the sticker off. You can also use a blow dryer to soften the sticker’s adhesive and rub it with vegetable oil to remove the sticker and any remaining residue.

Stay Safe With Clean Headlights

While car wax may seem like an unnecessary expense, keeping your headlights lean is essential to maintaining visibility and staying safe on the road. Your headlights can collect dirt and debris from driving, especially in severe weather conditions, so it’s important to clean them periodically to make sure they’re functioning properly. Coat your headlights in car wax after wiping off any ice melt or dirt from the road to keep them clear and effective. You can repeat this process monthly or as often as needed.

If you’re looking for other tips to help you keep your vehicle clean, safe, and commute-ready, contact us to chat with one of our friendly and knowledgeable team members at Hiley Mazda of Fort Worth. If you’re considering becoming a car owner for the first time, you can also browse our inventory or meet with a professional in our finance center to learn more about your options and find a vehicle that suits your budget and lifestyle.