Fed up with smears, scratches and smells in your car? 7p hack tested by 3 in 5 drivers—are you next?

Autumn grime clings, cabin smells linger, and repair bills rise. Drivers need a smarter fix before dark, wet commutes bite.

Across Britain, motorists are trimming car-care costs while trying to keep cabins fresh through soggy school runs and longer nights. A pantry staple is quietly edging out pricey wipes and sprays, promising cleaner dashboards, clearer glass and calmer noses for pennies per go.

Why cash-strapped drivers are turning to a cupboard staple

Valeting a family car now often runs £40 to £80, and a basket of branded cleaners can top £12. Many households report using the same product once then binning the bottle, frustrated by fake fragrances that mask smells rather than fix them. Against that backdrop, baking soda — the classic sodium bicarbonate — has surged as a go-to basic that handles odours, surface grime and light scuffs.

For most cars, two teaspoons and 15 minutes can reset a cabin: fewer smells, fewer marks, and clearer glass for under 7p.

The draw is simple. It is mildly alkaline, gently abrasive and odour-neutralising. It tackles coffee spills, wet-dog seats and the sticky film that builds up on plastic trims. You do not need specialist kit, and you can tailor it to jobs inside or outside the vehicle.

What you need

• 1 small tub of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)
• 2 microfibre cloths and a soft brush
• A spray bottle with warm water
• A vacuum with a crevice tool

Interior jobs you can finish before the kettle boils

Odours in carpets and seats

• Shake a fine layer over dry mats and seat bases.
• Leave 45–60 minutes to absorb moisture and smells.
• Vacuum slowly to lift powder and trapped particles.

Food, pet and damp-boot aromas fade because bicarbonate reacts with acidic molecules and holds on to them. Repeat weekly for cars that carry kids, dogs or gym bags.

Stains on fabric and mats

• Mix 3 teaspoons with a splash of water to make a paste.
• Spot-apply with a cloth on coffee rings, mud prints or melted chocolate.
• Work gently, then mist with clean water and blot dry.

The fine grit lifts residue without bleaching colour-fast upholstery. Always patch-test under a seat, and keep liquids away from seatbelt buckles and wiring looms.

Dashboards, switches and door cards

• Dampen a cloth, sprinkle a small pinch, and wipe sticky plastics.
• Rinse the cloth, wipe again, then dry with a fresh microfibre.

A light touch is enough on textured plastics and faux leather; let the powder, not your elbow, do the work.

Avoid touchscreens and instrument lenses. Use a plain, slightly damp cloth on those to prevent micro-marring.

Glass, lights and wheels: clearer, brighter, safer

Windscreen and windows

• Stir 1 teaspoon into 250 ml warm water.
• Wipe glass in straight lines with a microfibre, then buff dry.

This cuts oily haze that encourages misting and smears. On the outside screen, finish with your usual washer fluid to maintain beading.

Headlights and light swirls

• Apply a thin paste on yellowed plastic lenses.
• Polish with small, light circles for 60–90 seconds.
• Rinse and dry; repeat once if needed.

This brightens dull units and helps lamps punch through murk at dusk. Deep oxidation still needs a proper restoration kit.

Wheels and trims

• Dust baking soda onto a damp wheel brush.
• Agitate brake dust and road film, then rinse.

The powder softens grime without biting into lacquered alloys or black plastic trims. Work on cool wheels only.

What it really does to scratches

Baking soda will not erase gouges. It can soften micro-swirls on plastic trims and reduce the milky veil on glass caused by wiper chatter. Use a plush cloth and minimal pressure. If you see residue building, rinse at once. Paintwork needs specialist compounds and pads; do not rub grit across clear coat.

How it stacks up on price, time and waste

Why the chemistry works without harsh side-effects

Sodium bicarbonate sits near pH 8–9 when dissolved, so it counteracts acidic residues from food and sweat. The crystals measure low on the hardness scale, which gives gentle scouring that lifts films from plastic and rubber. Odour molecules bind to the powder’s surfaces and lose their punch. Rinse or vacuum and you take both the powder and the problem away.

Safety notes you should not skip

• Keep away from touchscreens, instrument lenses and piano-black trims; use a damp, clean cloth there.
• Patch-test fabrics and faux leather out of sight.
• Do not rub dry powder on glossy paint. If you spill, rinse with plenty of water.
• Avoid mixing with strong acids in the car; fizzing can spread residue into crevices.

A quick routine for busy weeks

• Monday: 2-minute dash wipe with a damp cloth.
• Wednesday: sprinkle mats, vacuum before bed.
• Friday: glass inside and outside, 5 minutes.
• Weekend: seats spot-check, wheels refresh.

Treat the powder like table salt: a pinch is enough for delicate trim, a teaspoon for mats. Store it in a shaker and it will never clump in damp weather.

Extra tips that save you time and mess

Pair baking soda with a handheld vacuum that has a brush head. The brush lifts fibres so the powder and the dirt come out together. If you ferry pets, place a washable throw on the rear bench and powder only the mats; you will spend less time drying cushions. For smokers, leave an open jar under a seat overnight, then remove it before driving. The jar absorbs odours without perfuming the cabin.

Winter brings salted roads, fogged windows and muddy boots. Keep a small kit in the boot: a microfibre duo, a travel shaker of bicarbonate and a 250 ml spray bottle. You can reset a family hatchback during a fuel stop, spend pennies, and arrive with clean glass and calmer air — no heavy scents, no sticky residue, and no queue at the valet bay.