Thrifty Thursday: Caring For Your Car

Our cars have become extensions of our homes in these fast-paced days, so keeping them working well and looking good is essential. Though most serious car repairs must be done by a mechanic, here are a few tricks to know:

For a sparkling windshield, clean the glass with club soda. It will remove bird droppings and greasy stains from the surface, and the carbonation speeds the cleaning process.
If you have a small crack or nick in your windshield, stop it from spreading by filling it in with clear nail polish on both sides of the glass. Do the repair in the shade, but move the car into the sun to let the polish dry.
Hiding small scratches on dashboard gauges is easy. Just rub the plastic with a bit of baby oil.
Give worn vinyl upholstery a quick pick-me-up by rubbing it with a small amount of bath oil on a soft cloth. You can also wipe the dashboard, armrests, and other plastic surfaces. Polish with a clean cloth to remove any excess oil.
Small dents getting you down? Grab your plumber's plunger, wet the edges, and just pull those dents out.