If you think maintaining your car is time-consuming, let me tell you, it's nothing compared to keeping your house in order. Between my car, my house and my kids, I've got three full-time jobs, and none of them pay a dime! But what if you could use some of your car products to maintain your home, too? There are a lot of dual-use car products out there, and I want to introduce you to a few of them today.
Cleaning window | Getty
1. Brake Cleaner
Brake cleaner has always been an indispensable piece of the home mechanic's arsenal, allowing you to prolong the life of your brake components by keeping oil, dirt and other contaminants at bay. But did you know that it can also remove tough grease and oil stains from your driveway or garage floor? Think about it: if it's strong enough to get in there and clean your brakes, a little grease is child's play. So next time you've got an industrial-grade spill to clean up, save yourself the trip to the hardware store and just pull out your brake cleaner instead.
2. Automotive Upholstery Cleaner
Have you ever heard of a specific product for cleaning your couch? They're out there, of course, but chances are you don't already have a bottle in your cabinet. What you do have, though, if you're into DIY car maintenance, is automotive upholstery cleaner. And if you think about it, the only difference between cloth automotive upholstery and the stuff on your couch is where it's located. Here's another fun trick, by the way, and I speak from experience: automotive upholstery cleaner also works great for carpet stains. Give it a shot before you spend a bundle on renting a carpet cleaner or having a professional stop by. And, remember to take caution and test the upholstery products in an inconspicuous area first.
3. Car Wax
I know what you're thinking: "What could I possibly use car wax for in my house?" This one's definitely not obvious, but when you think about it, it'll make a lot of sense. What I want you to do is try applying some car wax to your kitchen and bathroom counters. Why? Because food's less likely to stick to a waxed surface, for one thing, and also, if you spill anything, the liquid will bead up for easy cleaning. Moreover, with that layer of wax in between your counters and whatever's on them, the likelihood of staining is greatly reduced.
Car wax is not safe for ingestion. If you use it on your countertops, be sure not to use any food that touches the counter.
4. Automotive Glass Cleaner
Next time you're about to buy some Windex or a comparable cleaning product, pause for a moment and ask yourself if you've already got some automotive glass cleaner in your garage. If so, guess what — it's basically Windex for your car. So why not bring it inside and use it on your mirrors, windows and other indoor glass surfaces? In some cases, the automotive formula might even work better, because it's specially formulated to cut through dried bug residue and all the other nastiness that ends up coating windshields over time.
5. Metal Polish
Metal polish is a must-have for car collectors, and even if you just like to keep your car spic and span, it's a good product to have around. But your car isn't the only thing in your life that needs its metal polished. Think about all the metal in your house, whether it's stainless steel surfaces, metal door knobs or handles, door hinges, cabinet knobs, even sink and shower faucets. You can use that automotive metal polish on all of the above, and just like the glass cleaner, it might even do a better job than an actual household product, since cars really need high-strength formulas to deal with all the grit and grime.
It's time to get busy! What are some dual-use car/house products that I didn't mention? Let's get creative and help each other get the most out of our car products. Happy cleaning!
