An Environmentally Friendly and Natural way to Wash Your Car and Clean the Interior & Upholstery

Environment-Friendly Car Wash. If you want to do deep cleaning in your car, you don’t need to buy a bunch of expensive “car cleaners” to do it. Most commercial car cleaners (and most regular cleaners, for that matter) contain plenty of dangerous chemicals you don’t need to breathe in. Using natural cleaners is safer, healthier, and affordable. I’ll be using eco-friendly cleaners to clean my car from now.

1. Use a Bucket

Firstly, when you wash the outside of your car, don’t let the hose run the entire time you scrub. Use a bucket and sponge, and turn the water off while cleaning. This simple change of habit can help you conserve a lot of water.

2. Use Plant-Based Soap

It’s also essential to use a natural, plant-based soap when you’re washing your car. The reason is that everything you rinse off will eventually find its way to your local watershed. If the soap residue is plant-based (versus petroleum-based, like most commercial soaps, including Dawn), you don’t have to worry about impacting the local environment.

3. Use Toothpaste to Clean the Interior

You can use toothpaste to remove any mild stains if you have leather or vinyl seats. Make sure you do a small test area first to ensure the toothpaste won’t affect the dyes used in the material.

4. Use alcohol

If the stain on your leather or vinyl seats won’t come out with toothpaste, lightly dab it with alcohol. Again, do a test area first to ensure it won’t affect the color. Use an earbud and gently apply the alcohol to the stain.
Remember that the more alcohol you use, the more likely the dyes in your seat will rub off. So do a test area first and then try to use the least amount of alcohol possible to get the job done.
If you don’t have any specific stains on your leather or vinyl, mix one part vinegar with one part linseed oil and clean your interior with that solution. It is an excellent mix for removing dirt and grime, leaving the leather with a pretty sheen.

5. Green Clean Your Windows

Don’t bother with branded chemicals! Instead, use this eco-friendly, affordable cleaner. Mix:

1. 1 cup of water
2. 1/2 cup vinegar
3. 1/4 cup alcohol
   In a spray bottle and gently shake. It is a beautiful window cleaner that does an excellent job of removing grime and dirt. When green cleaning your car, it’s also important to use reusable cloth wipes instead of paper towels. I use microfiber towels when doing my windows, and they work great.

6. Freshen Up with Baking Soda (bicarbonate of soda)

Baking soda is a miracle product. I use this stuff for dozens of different uses around the house. It’s a fantastic deodorizer, so if you find your car smelling a bit musty, sprinkle the baking soda on your cloth seats and/or floorboards. Leave it there for a few hours, overnight, and then vacuum it up. You can also add some fragrance by sprinkling some dried herbs (like lavender or dried roses) or some drops of essential oils with baking soda.

7. Naturally Clean Fabric Stains

If your car interior is fabric, there are many natural ways to remove stains.
First, mix equal parts vinegar and water and spray the stain. Let it soak for a few minutes, then blot with a wet cloth.
You can also use a natural detergent if you have that on hand. Again, mix equal parts of detergent and water, and lightly soak. Blot up with a wet cloth.
If you have grease stains on your car’s floor mats, sprinkle the stains with cornstarch. Let it sit for 15-30 minutes, then vacuum it up.

TA DA! Simple and easy and VERY affordable!

With all our natural cleaning ingredients at our disposal, there is no need to go out and buy loads of branded chemical car cleaning products – you’re better off avoiding them. Using natural ingredients like baking soda and vinegar is not only eco-friendly, but it will also save you money.