We spend a lot of time in our cars.

The average American driver spends more than 17,600 minutes behind the steering wheel each year. That's nearly 10,900 miles on average per driver, according to a AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety Study.

So if we spend so much time in our cars, why do we tend to let them get so dirty? Part of the problem might be the expense of car cleaning products that don't have much reuse value within the home.

But what about household items that can help tidy up your car? These cleaning hacks adapt products you probably already have in your home into grime busters for your car. You'll be saving money and showing off your fresh ride in no time!

Use Coffee Filters For Dusting

What's the problem with dusting with a cloth? First off, you'll be spreading lint everywhere as you go, plus your dusty cloth might just be spreading more dirt than it's actually picking up!

 Go with coffee filters for dusting your car's interior. They attract dust like a magnet and are inexpensive enough that you can toss them out as soon as they get dirty. They are also strong and can be folded to clean the unique crevices found inside cars.

Hair Conditioner (With Lanolin) to Wash Car

Hair conditioner is made to protect your hair while keeping it shiny and smooth. Conveniently, it has the same effect on your car's paint job, as long as the conditioner includes lanolin. Lanolin, which is naturally secreted by sheep to protect their wool and skin, does a terrific job of leaving a car with a shiny protective finish.

 The hair conditioner trick also helps keep water spots away. Just mix two cups of water and 1/2 cup of conditioner to make an inexpensive and powerful car wash solution.

 Detail Clean With Household Brushes

Picking up a messy car is great, but you can't make the interior truly clean unless you do detailing. This means washing even the tiniest spaces and gaps, like inside your dashboard vents or around the buttons on your car's console.

 Clean these areas with tools you already have in your home like makeup brushes, toothbrushes and foam brushes. Building a small kit of detailing brushes from around the house will save money and keep your car looking like it was professionally cleaned!

Cupcake Liners for Your Cup Holders

Cup Holders are a convenient feature in most cars, but boy do they do a great job of collecting gunk. Be proactive and fill your cup Holders with cupcake liners. Paper cupcake liners are fine if you don't mind tossing them out when dirty, but silicone cupcake liners can be quickly shaken out, rinsed and reused.

Clothespin Air Freshener

This one is almost too easy. Take a common clothespin and place 5-10 drops of essential oils on it. Clip the clothespin to your car's air vent and enjoy the refreshing smell of your choosing while you drive!

Use Two Buckets When Washing Car

Such a simple answer to a common problem! We all know that washing a car's exterior quickly results in a filthy wash bucket that needs to be frequently replaced. Keeping one bucket for soapy water and one for rinse water will conserve your cleaning product, keep your wash rag or mitt clean and get your car looking clean and shiny faster!

AAA cares about your car as much as you do. Tidy or not, bring your car to one of over 7,000 AAA Approved Auto Repair shops for service you can count on. Find your AAA Approved Auto Repair location now !

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