Wipe on a heavy coating of vegetable oil over the rubber gaskets. The oil will seal out water but won't hurt the gaskets. Doing this in the winter time just before you wash your car is a good idea.
Never use oil if your lock becomes difficult to turn as it collects dust, use "graphite" instead.
Cigarette Ashes
Placing baking soda or gravel on the bottom of your ashtray will prevent ashes from continuing to burn.
Cleaning Battery Terminals
Scrub battery terminals with a strong solution of baking soda and water.
Pour a can of cola over the terminals, the acid in the cola will remove corrosion. Rinse afterwards with warm water to remove any residue.
Motor Oil Spills
Motor oil spills can be absorbed by sprinkling kitty litter on your driveway.
Removing Ice on Car Windows
Squirting some winter windshield washer fluid, which contains antifreeze, on the windshield will melt the ice faster than waiting for the defroster.
Quick Window Cleaning
Windshields, headlights, chrome and enamel can be quickly cleaned of spatters and grime with baking soda. Sprinkle baking soda on a damp sponge or mix 2 tablespoons with a quart of water. Rinse well.
Road Tar Removal
Road tar can be removed by spraying on a pre-wash stain spray and then wiping off.
Removing Tree Sap
Pour rubbing alcohol on the sap and rub with your fingertips.
Car Washing
A mixture of a bucket of water and 1 cup kerosene makes a great car wash. No matter how dirty your car is it will not need wetting down before washing. The car will actually bead water when it rains. It also could also prevent rust on chrome. No wax is required with this method.
Removing Paint Scratches
Using a matching color crayon and work it into the scratch well.
Fingernail polish can also make a scratch less noticeable. With a shade that matches your paint finish carefully paint on the polish and let dry. If your first attempt doesn't look good just remove with nail polisher remover and start over.
Removing Bumper Stickers
Lighter fluid or nail polish remover will accomplish the task.
Windshield Chips & Cracks
Small chips are easily repaired with a clear epoxy repair kit available at most auto parts stores. Putting some clear plastic tape over the windshield chip until you can get it fixed will prevent the crack from worsening from the vibrations while driving. Repair the crack as soon as possible.
Ripped Vinyl Car Seats
Vinyl car seats can be easily repaired with duct tape which is available in many colors. Find a color that matches your seat and cut a piece just large enough to cover the rip.
