Do you ever stop to think about how much money you're actually spending on cleaning supplies for your car? Take a moment to think about how many times you wash and clean the inside/outside of your car every year. Cleaning products aren't usually cheap and depending on how dirty your car is, it might take a lot of product to get the job done. Car cleaning can really eat into your budget, but there are some really cheap ways to clean your car and save you money... you just have to be willing to invest a little time in going about it the less convenient way.

One of the easiest ways to keep the inside of your car clean is to wipe it down regularly. My dash and consoles get gross really quickly. When food and drink come into the car, coupled with kids or passengers in the front seat, there's just no telling what kinds of messes we might end up with. Sticky snack wrappers are stuffed into pockets or cup holders, and the result is just plain yucky.

Two quick ways to keep these areas of your car clean are no-brainers...

Keep it dusted

You know how dusty your media cabinet, TV, and shelves become at home? The same can be said of the dashboard in your car, right? Dust gets everywhere- and it mainly comes from us (dead skin cells, etc). Keep a microfiber cloth in your glove box, and simply wipe down the dashboard and the crevices of your cup holders once a week. It'll make a big difference!

Keep it clean

I have kids, and also a messy husband, all who love to eat and drink in my car. Drinks leak or spill, causing lots of sticky residues to collect in the cup holders, or elsewhere. Yikes. It's really hard to dust your car when it's all sticky. If you've tried this, then you already know that it just doesn't work. The dust actually gets shoved into the sticky stuff, and it stays there until you wipe it clean. I have found that Water Wipes work really well for keeping the dash and consoles of the car super clean. They're baby wipes, essentially, but they're made of 99.9% water! I keep a pack in my center console and wipe everything down at least once a week. I tackle sticky messes immediately. If they sit untreated over time, they'll just become that much harder to remove.

DIY Car Cleaners

You can even make your own cleaners to use to clean your car. There are two different types of cleaners you'll want to make and keep on hand to keep your car squeaky clean. A glass cleaner, and then an upholstery/carpet cleaner.

Glass Cleaner Recipe

Making your own auto glass cleaner is so easy! 

You'll never buy it again after you've made and used your own. 

To make this cleaner, you will need:

1 Cup Distilled Water

2 Tbsp Distilled White Vinegar

1 Cup Isopropyl Alcohol

1 Spray Bottle

Add the water, alcohol, and vinegar to a spray bottle. You may want to use a funnel to ensure that the ingredients go into the spray bottle instead of all over the counter or floor. Place the spray nozzle on the bottle and secure. Shake up the bottle to mix the ingredients. Spray down windows and wipe clean! Voila! Clean windows!

Upholstery/Carpet Cleaner Recipe

Nasty stains on your seats and carpet? No worries! You can clean those with ease, and with your own homemade cleaner. You probably even have the needed ingredients for this recipe on hand!

You will need:

Rubbing Alcohol

Distilled White Vinegar

Essential Oils (Optional)

Add equal parts vinegar and alcohol to a spray bottle. Add 4-5 drops of an essential oil of your choice. Lavender is a popular choice, as it has calming effects and is safe for all ages. Be sure to check to see which essential oils are safe for use around children and pets! Check out these seven things you should know about essential oils.

To use the cleaner, simply spray it on the areas you want to clean and work on the stains with a sponge. Rub a damp cloth over the area after you clean it and let it air dry.

Who knew it was so economical and so easy to make homemade cleaners for your car? 

Which of these tips are you going to try first?

Brought to you by Alfa Romeo of Larchmont.