You may want to be wary about what you clean your car with (stock image) (Image: Nes via Getty Images)
As Spring blossoms, car enthusiasts often spend their weekends giving their vehicles a thorough wash. But could the products you’re using be doing more harm than good?
A motoring expert has stepped in to debunk viral TikTok car cleaning hacks, separating what is fine to do – and what should be avoided.
Despite the popularity of car cleaning tips on social media platforms like TikTok, which boasts over 250,000 videos dedicated to the topic, not all advice is created equal. A lack of knowledge about proper car care techniques can leave drivers vulnerable to damaging their pride and joy.
Motorpoint’s study reveals a worrying statistic: half of UK car owners admit ignorance about the correct way to clean their car interiors, potentially exposing nearly 21 million motorists to misleading online guidance.
To sift through the myriad of viral cleaning suggestions, Motorpoint’s car hygiene specialist, Ben Custard, advises consulting with automotive professionals.
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He warns: “With half of car owners unsure how to clean their vehicles at home, it’s easy to see why car cleaning hacks have become so popular.”
He cautions against taking online advice at face value, adding: “While this advice might seem harmless and easy to follow at home, it’s important that you treat it with caution. Most of the tips and hacks popular online haven’t come from an expert – meaning there’s no guarantee that they’ll work, and they could even cause permanent damage to your vehicle.
“My biggest piece of advice would be to do some deeper research look to see if the advice has been mentioned elsewhere – and has been endorsed by automotive experts.”
He continued: “There are plenty of step-by-step guides online that tell you how to clean your car’s interiors and what products are safe to use.”
To help drivers learn the correct way to clean their car, Ben has shared some cleaning hacks worth following and a few you should avoid:
Use rubber gloves to get rid of pet hair
If you’re having trouble getting rid of pet hair from your car upholstery even after vacuuming, Ben says the solution might be hiding under your kitchen sink.
He said: “If you dampen a rubber glove and run your hand across your car upholstery, this will create static – helping hair stick to the textured surface of the gloves. You can then simply submerge the glove in warm water to help dislodge the hair before moving on to the next part of your vehicle.”
He further advised: “This is a great hack, not only does it work, but most importantly doesn’t risk damaging your car. Just make sure that you give your car interior time to dry fully before shutting the doors to prevent damp.
“If you don’t have rubber gloves, you can use a squeegee to scrape the floors and car seats to create friction. This will lift fur from fabric surfaces and gather the pet hair to dispose of – a wire brush will work in a similar way to help reach the places that a vacuum can’t.”
Don’t use toothpaste on your car
A current car cleaning trend on TikTok sees people using toothpaste to clean their vehicle mirrors. Many of these videos have amassed millions of views, with numerous claims that the product leaves your mirrors sparkling.
However, Ben warns that toothpaste often contains mild abrasives which can cause scratches on your mirrors and smears in the reflection if not properly wiped off.
He remarked: “So, while it may seem to work initially, you could be damaging your mirrors over time. For a streak-free shine, I recommend spraying white vinegar onto a microfiber cloth and gently wiping over your mirrors to get rid of any smears and debris.”
Ditch washing up liquid when it comes to vehicles
While some advice on TikTok can be harmful, Ben has noticed a few creators highlighting the potential damage caused by using washing up liquid to wash your car.
He stated: “Washing up liquid is formulated to cut through grease and is much too harsh to clean a car, as it is corrosive and will erode its protective wax and dull the paintwork overtime. I recommend swapping for car-specific soaps and cleaners that are made to be gentle on car surfaces and can be picked up at most supermarkets.”
Be wary of the shaving foam hack
Ben has issued a warning against a popular shaving foam ‘hack’, clarifying: “Some may hail shaving foam as a miracle car upholstery stain remover but that’s not what it is designed to do. It can lead to discolouration and leave behind oil stains that can be near impossible to remove.”
Do not use olive oil on your car
He also had a word of caution about using olive oil on your car, stating: “Some viral videos have suggested motorists rub olive oil on their dashboard to keep it looking shiny,” yet he warned that “Most dashboard materials won’t absorb the oil, so it’ll just sit in the surface of your dashboard making it greasy to touch and increasing the chance of oil being transferred to other surfaces in your car.”
Furthermore, Ben emphasised: “This could be dangerous if your steering wheel or handbrake become slippery and reduces the amount of control you have while driving.”
For those seeking safe ways to clean their car interiors, Motorpoint’s website offers further information and advice.
