5 AUTO TIPS THAT WILL MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE MACGYVER

Owning a car is one of life’s earliest substantial responsibilities, and it’s also one of the most gratifying. By staying mindful of and tending to your vehicle’s needs, you can significantly enhance its longevity and overall performance. And while you should be making regular appointments with our Service Department here at Abeloff Kia, everyday maintenance issues arise that make repeated trips to the dealership unsustainable.

Luckily, you can easily perform regular maintenance on your car right from your own home. It doesn’t have to be an expensive endeavor – most of the items you need are probably already stocked in your kitchen or bathroom cabinets. Think of yourself as TV’s MacGyver, who was famously resourceful in using common household items to solve complex problems. These five tips may not help diffuse a bomb with a paper clip, but your vehicle will appreciate the effort nonetheless.

VINEGAR IS THE BEST WAY TO DE-ICE YOUR WINDSHIELD IN THE MORNING. 

For those familiar with the Stroudsburg region, it’s no secret that starting your daily commute in the chilly dawn of winter can be more laborious than it sounds. On occasion, you might encounter an unusually stubborn layer of frost or ice on your car’s windshield, adding precious added minutes to the defrosting process. Suddenly, you find yourself out in the cold, with your expected morning routine put on ice.

Avoid opting for quick fixes like pouring hot water on the windshield, as doing so could potentially damage it over time. Instead, try using a mixture of one cup lukewarm water and one cup white vinegar. The white vinegar cuts through dirt, oil, and other gunk, eliminating windshield haze. Enhance your visibility to the fullest by ensuring you clean not only the outside of your windshield, but the inside as well.

TOOTHPASTE IS AN EFFECTIVE HEADLIGHT CLEANER 

Much like brushing your teeth doesn’t harm the enamel, using toothpaste to rid your headlights of dirt or fog is both safe and (surprisingly) effective. Depending on the severity of your headlights’ condition, you might need a more potent solution. However, before splurging on industrially processed chemicals, give the toothpaste method a shot. Don’t forget to lightly cleanse the headlight area with water and a cloth afterwards.

Baking soda, a similarly abrasive material, can also handle the job in a pinch if you don’t have toothpaste handy. But… you should probably have toothpaste handy.

USE NAIL POLISH TO PREVENT CRACKS FROM GROWING 

When your car’s windshield experiences a relatively minor impact, the resulting surface damage might not seem immediately concerning. It’s definitely disarming when your brand new Kia Sorento takes a hit from a stray pebble on the highway, but if it leaves only a minor blemish, surely crisis has been avoided? Unfortunately, minor chips and nicks can schism into long cracks that take over the surface of your windshield, leading to costly windshield repair. 

To prevent the expansion of minor fissures, simply administer nail polish. It serves as a binding agent that helps contain cracks. If you happen to have the matching color, it can accomplish this without inducing any visual alteration. For this reason, nail polish is also an effective method for removing scratches and other blemishes in your car’s paintwork.

USE A PLUNGER TO REMOVE DENTS 

As with small cracks and scratches, there’s no reason to book it to your local garage the moment minor dents materialize on your car. In fact, most small dents can be eliminated in less time than it takes to unclog toilet – and with the same instrument too! Simply attach a plunger to the dented part, give it a pull, and observe as the suction of the plunger effortlessly pops the affected section of the panel back to its original position.

If you require further instruction, see this video, where these guys appear delightfully surprised by the outcome.

DUST THE INTERIOR WITH COFFEE FILTERS 

Coffee filters provide an inexpensive and effective solution for cleaning your car’s interior, thanks to their lint-free fabric. Ideal for polishing your dashboard and infotainment console, they’re sold in bulk, ensuring you’ll have plenty on hand to cover any nook and cranny. Accumulated lint, crumbs, and other debris in your car can be regularly tackled by keeping a pack of filters in your glove compartment. And if you find yourself in need of a pick-me-up afterward… why not brew a fresh pot?

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED 

There you have it – five easy, inexpensive ways to keep your car happy and healthy. If you’re short on any of the materials you’ll need, consider a trip to Stroudsburg’s Monroe Farmers Market – an ideal autumnal destination regardless with Thanksgiving approaching.

And as always, we’re here at Abeloff Kia to help keep you on the road. When your DIY job becomes too large to actually do yourself, schedule a service appointment with Monroe County’s number one stop for all your maintenance needs.