6 Household Items That Can Help Repair Car Problems

If you've had your tires for a while and are unsure whether or not they still have the legal amount of tread (a 1/16th of an inch) then a penny could answer this question. Insert the penny into the tire tread with Abraham Lincoln's head facing down. If you can still see Honest Abe's head once it's all the way in, then your tires have worn too thin. If his head disappears, then you're still within the legal limit. If you do still happen to feel like your tires don't have sufficient grip at the legal limit, then it's a good idea to get them replaced to guarantee safety.

Is your car's radiator leaking? In that case, you could try out a long-established hack, by simply sprinkling a teaspoon of black pepper to stop the leak. Many people even keep a bottle of black pepper in their cars for this very reason. While a useful hack, you should ultimately get your radiator replaced once a leak is detected.

Think your dashboard looks grubby as of late? In that case, scrub it with olive oil to remove dust and dirt while also rejuvenating the dashboard's appearance. If you're out of olive oil, other mineral oils also do wonders in making them shine like brand new!

If your car has leather upholstery, then this is one for you! By coating your leather or faux leather interior with coconut oil, you can restore its smooth appearance. All you need is to pour a small amount of coconut oil into a soft cloth and spread it thinly over the leather surface.

Accidentally spill your takeout all over the seat on the way home? A bit sweaty after leaving the gym? No matter which odor lingers in your car, baking soda can probably remove it. Simply sprinkle baking soda on the problem area and then vacuum it. Also, baking soda can remove pesky set-in stains. Mix baking soda with white vinegar and rub it into the problem areas of the upholstery. But there's another way to get the most out of your baking soda box. Clean all dirt from your wheel treads by brushing them with a mixture of baking soda and toothpaste.

Spot some fuel dripping out of your gas tank? This could be a sign of a leak. While this hack is not a permanent solution, consider rubbing a bar soap on the problem area as a makeshift seal of the gas tank leakage. Although you'll still need to take your car in for repairs, the bar of soap will at least act as a temporary solution until get to the repair shop.