Tired of the same old tips for car owners? You’re in luck. There are some clever and creative ways to help keep your car in good condition and save you time and effort in the long run. Whether you find a scratch on the side of your car, are frozen out, or know your car needs a good cleaning, try a few of these tips and tricks to simplify your life and keep your car spick and span.

1. Learn the Penny Trick to Check Your Tire Tread

Ever wonder whether you really need that new set of tires yet? Wonder no more. Find a penny and insert it head-down into one of your tire’s treads. If you can see all of Lincoln’s head, you need new tires. If you’re not quite there yet, you still have some time before you need new tires, but you should keep checking regularly to ensure you don’t wait too long.

2. Keep Jumper Cables in Your Truck for Emergencies

If you’ve ever found yourself stranded with a dead battery and no jumper cables, you’re not alone. Instead of hoping that a good samaritan will stop to help and has jumper cables you can use, keep your own set in the truck. Then all you have to do is flag someone down or phone a friend and you’ll be back on the road again.

3. Maintain an Emergency Kit for You and Your Car

No matter what the weather is doing, it’s smart to keep an emergency kit stocked in your car. You can find yourself stranded any time of the year, even though you hear about it most in the winter. Keep essential supplies like a blanket, water bottles, non-perishable but nutritious snacks, jumper cables, a flashlight, and a phone charger in a kit to be sure you’re prepared.

4. Use Floor Mats or Kitty Litter to Get Unstuck from Snow or Mud

You may have heard that kitty litter can help you gain traction if your car is stuck in snow or ice. Instead of keeping kitty litter in your car “just in case,” you can also use your floor mats to help get your car un-stuck. Just put them behind your wheels in the direction you need to move and it should be easier to get your car going.

5. Easily De-Ice Your Car Doors and Locks with Hand Sanitizer

Winter weather can be a pain, especially if you come out to your car and find it’s sealed shut by ice. Luckily, that bottle of hand sanitizer you have on hand can help you get into your car. If the luck is iced shut, put a little hand sanitizer in there and the alcohol should help melt the ice so that you’ll be able to turn your key.

6. Figure Out Which Side of the Car Your Gas Tank is On

Ever gotten a rental car, pulled into a gas station, and suddenly realized you have no idea which side the pump should be on? You’re not alone. Luckily, it’s easy to figure out. If you take a look at your dashboard, there should be a gas pump symbol with an arrow. That arrow points to the side of your car where you want the pump to be.

7. Fix Scratches and Chips with Nail Polish

Whether you have chips from rocks or scratches in your car’s paint, don’t stress. Instead of paying an arm and a leg to have them professionally touched up, you can pick up a bottle of nail polish that matches your car’s paint color and touch them up yourself. Or if you just want to help prevent the scratch or chip from rusting, you can get a bottle of clear nail polish to help seal them off.

8. Keep Your Headlights Clean and Clear with Toothpaste

Pick up an old toothbrush and your tube of toothpaste and head out to your car. If your headlights are looking a little murky, it’s easy to fix with a bit of scrubbing. Just finish up with some water and a towel and your headlights will look brighter and cleaner.

9. Clean Your Vents with a Sponge Paintbrush

When you’re cleaning your interior, certain parts of the inside of your car can be tricky to get to. One of these is the vents in the cabin of your car. If you have a bunch of dust accumulated in there, just pick up a sponge paintbrush and use it to get between the slats of the vents and they’ll look just like new again.

10. Cover Your Side Mirrors with Sandwich Bags in the Winter

The worst part of winter is de-icing your car. Eliminate one part of your car that you need to de-ice by covering your side mirrors with bags when you know a storm is coming. While it’s a small space to cover, it can help ensure you have better visibility quicker once you’re able to drive off.

Need Help with Auto Repair in Wichita? Come to Your Nearest AAMCO

Even if you try out all of the tips and tricks above, there are times when you need the help of a trusted mechanic. At those times, come to a local AAMCO and we’ll help take care of any of your auto repair or car maintenance needs.