BRIT DRIVERS are just discovering that a host of regular household items can be used to keep their motor looking tidy.
According to car cleaning experts, cupboard essentials such as nail polish and even olive oil are great alternatives to pricey cleaning items.
Motoring boffin Tim Alcock from LeaseCar.uk said: “There are plenty of unusual items in your house that you can use to clean the inside and outside of your car.
“You don’t need to invest in expensive cleaning materials or pay for a professional to do the work because items from around your home can do the job just as well."
Toothpaste to clean foggy headlights
Toothpaste can be picked up for as little a 50p in Boots, with travel-sized variants likely even cheaper.
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Of course, virtually all households across the country will probably have a tube or two lying around in a bathroom cupboard already - which means drivers have an affordable car cleaning alternative ready to hand.
According to our motoring buffs, the mild abrasive properties in toothpaste can help to remove surface stains on your car's headlights.
All it takes is to apply a small amount of toothpaste onto a microfibre cloth before gently rubbing it into the headlights in circular motions.
Then it's just a case of rinsing the paste off with water.
Nail polish will fix scratches to windows
Another Boots item that can be picked up for less than £1 is clear nail polish, which can be used to fill in light scratches to your motor's exterior and windows or windscreen.
According to the experts, applying a thin layer can reduce the appearance of any minor marks - making this a quick solution to seal up a scratch.
Hair conditioner can remove stains and grime
Believe it or not, but hair conditioner has proven to be an effective way to remove water stains and a build up of grime.
Our car experts suggested mixing a small amount of conditioner, which can be bought for as little as 75p, with water and applying it to the affected area on your car.
Then, leave the solution to sit for around 10 minutes before wiping it off with a microfibre cloth, and you should be able to see how the moisturising properties in conditioner breaks down stains or marks.
Olive oil to clean up dust
Dust can build up inside your car and will look quite unsightly up against your motors dark interior.
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Thankfully, dust can be busted using olive oil on a microfibre cloth.
The expert advises wiping an oil-dampened cloth over the dashboard, steering wheel, air vents and any other dusty areas - which will see the oil attract particles, trapping them to prevent dust from flying up in the air when you’re cleaning.
Fizzy drinks will remove rust
Older motors can be affected by rust, but the experts claim fizzy drinks with high acidity levels can really help.
All you have to do is pour the drink over a rusty area of your car and leave it to sit for half an hour.
Then it's a case a using a brush to scrub at the affected area, letting the acid in the drink break down the rust.
Afterwards, thoroughly dry the area to prevent any sticky residue or further rust building up.
Meanwhile, here's a list of supermarket essentials costing just £1 that can clean your car in seconds from spilled drinks to nasty smells.
Plus, a car cleaning whizz revealed a £1.35 B&M essential that can leave your motor sparkling.
This is the ultimate hack to transforming a grubby motor - and the simple product might even be hiding in your car already.