Natural Ways to Clean Your Vehicle [Avoid Rust & Harmful Chemicals!]

Welcome to our comprehensive guide on Natural Ways to Clean Your Vehicle. In this article, we’ll explore a range of eco-friendly methods and tips to keep your car sparkling clean while minimizing harm to the environment. From DIY solutions and green products to water-saving techniques and sustainable cleaning practices, we’ve got you covered.

Letting rust form on your vehicle compromises its structural integrity, making your car unsafe to drive.

Learn how to avoid harmful chemicals, discover safe alternatives, and enhance your car’s shine without compromising on insurance coverage. To ensure you’re getting the best rates, simply enter your ZIP code below and compare quotes from top insurance providers. Let’s dive in and make your car cleaning routine both natural and cost-effective.

What Cleaners You Should Avoid

As a rule of thumb for deciding on whether or not a certain product uses “green” ingredients — read the labels!

Generally, if your car wash soap has one of these chemicals in it, they are NOT safe:

• Quaternary Ammonium Compounds – These are also known as QUATS. They’re found in most household cleaners and are labeled as “antibacterial.” They are a major skin irritant, especially for younger children. A great, safe, and green alternative is vinegar.
• Phosphate, surfactants, triclosan – These are often labeled as “antibacterial” ingredients but are extremely harmful to aquatic life that may be affected if you allow the run-off from your car to go into a storm drain.
• Ammonia – This is a truly detrimental chemical. Found most often in glass cleaners, ammonia is a lung irritant that can induce asthma and other long-lasting effects. You might want to consider using vodka or toothpaste to clean up your windows, especially if you enlist the kiddos to help.
• Perchloroethylene or “PERC” – Found in carpet and upholstery cleaners, this one is especially dangerous. As a neurotoxin, perchloroethylene (PERC) can affect the brain and cause painful headaches if inhaled. Three cups of water, ¾ cup of a vegetable-based liquid soap, and 10 drops of peppermint essential oil will make your carpets look like new without any harmful side effects.

Even if you check the label and none of the above ingredients are mentioned, still take precautions.

If there’s a chemical in the list of ingredients you don’t recognize, look it up.

Basically, the only ingredient for a good, clean scrub is lye. Other things to avoid in soaps and cleaners are excessive fragrances, lard, tallow, and parfum.

Small Changes You Can Make

Now that we’ve got the big dangerous stuff already covered, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of how to have an eco-friendly car wash.

If you use it to clean your car, we probably found a green, healthy, organic alternative.

Antibacterial Soap vs DIY Biodegradable Soap

Combine liquid dishwashing detergent, sustainable laundry detergent, and three gallons of water, and you’ve got yourself a green, clean, dirt-fighting machine!

Remember to always check that any ingredients you use for your mixture are chlorine and phosphate-free, as well as non-petroleum based.

Average Garden Hose vs Hose with a Shut-off Valve

This minor modification will reduce possible runoff from your lawn. Another great alternative to wasting tons of water with a hose (leaky or not) is to simply use a bucket and sponge.

A hose can waste 6 gallons every minute, but using a bucket and sponge only uses a few gallons!

Big Yellow Sponge vs Real Sea Sponge

The process to mold sea sponges into something we humans can use is very eco friendly; there are no harmful byproducts that result, and there is little waste since any excess is ground up and recycled back into the mix.

You can also go one water-saving step further. Instead of throwing dirty sponges in the washing machine, microwave them. Disinfect your natural sponge by soaking them in vinegar or boiling them with water.

If you’re still concerned about any environmental effects of collecting natural sponges for commercial use, rest assured because there are other alternatives.

You can use rags made from sustainable fibers like hemp and bamboo or sponges made from corn fibers, coconut husks, coconut coir fiber, plant-based cellulose, or a combination of agave and nylon fibers.

Tire Cleaners vs Water-Based Tire Dressings

Be careful though when applying these dressings.

While they seem like the perfect, eco-friendly option, they can dry and/or crack the surface of your tires if applied incorrectly.

Armor All vs DIY “Armor All”

We found a great DIY Armor All wipes recipe here that is environmentally friendly and ends up costing only $0.02 to make.

The basic ingredients are as follows:

• Distilled water
• Baby oil
• Vinegar
• Dawn soap
• Melaleuca oil

Harsh Light Cleaner Chemicals vs DIY Light Cleaner

Having a murky headlight can diffuse the light from the perspective of the driver which reduces forward visibility. Conversely, headlights can project higher light levels toward oncoming vehicles which then blind an oncoming driver.

You can use soap, baking soda, and vinegar to clean your car’s headlights. You can also use toothpaste, water, and a toothbrush to bustle away that grime.

Windex vs DIY Window Cleaner

An unconventional window cleaner is Coke. Coca Cola can make your windows shine like new!

You can reduce your waste, eliminate toxins from your home, and save a ton of money each year by making your own window cleaner solution with lemon juice, white vinegar, and water.

That being said, always keep an eye out for DIY recipes that are actually harmful to the environment — if they use ammonia or dish soap, steer clear!

High-powered Laundry Mat vs DIY Carpet Cleaner

Mix equal parts vinegar and water into a spray bottle, then spray the stain. Allow the spot to soak for a few minutes, and then blot the stain with a damp rag.

If you have grease stains on the carpets, sprinkle the stains with cornstarch. Let it sit for 15-30 minutes and dab up.

Look here: Our comprehensive list of natural DIY cleaners you can make at home.

Saving money by using natural household cleaning products isn’t the only easy way to help your wallet grow. Check out our car insurance guide to help you understand the various types of coverage and help you find the best policies in your area.