If there's the slightest chance that an old can of car wax is hanging out in your garage or basement, now would be the time to find it, dust it off and hope it's not all dried out. Of course, car wax is good for waxing a car, but it's handy in so many other ways around the house, some of which are quite amazing.
Car wax, whether paste or liquid, is formulated to fill scratches, give a shine to nonporous surfaces like glass or metal, and leave them resistant to smudges and stains.
As for which car wax works best, I prefer Meguiar's Cleaner Wax because it cleans, polishes and leaves a beautiful finish — all in one step. Turtle Super Hard Shell Paste Wax is a fine choice, too. Just know that you'll need to clean the surface first and then apply the car wax.
DEFOG MIRRORS. There's nothing like a nice hot shower to steam up bathroom mirrors. Car wax is the secret to making them fog-free. Apply a small amount to the entire mirror; allow it to dry; and then buff it away with a soft dry cloth.
FIGHT MILDEW. After using your regular cleanser, apply a layer of car wax to the inside and outside of a shower door and buff off with a dry cloth to discourage mildew growth and hard-water marks.
FINGERPRINT-FREE APPLIANCES. Tired of smudges and fingerprints all over your beautiful appliances? Apply a thin coat of car wax to stainless-steel fridges and stoves. Buff clean and that surface will resist fingerprints and smudges.
TOOL CARE. Say goodbye to rust on garden, garage and auto tools forever when you apply a coat of car wax to all of the metal parts. Make sure you rub a little wax into the hinges and moving parts to keep them from jamming and sticking.
OUTDOOR GRILL. Apply a good coat of car wax to the outside of the grill to make it shine, repel watermarks and make it so much easier to clean in the future. Make sure the grill is not in the hot sun when you do this.
MAKE DRAWERS AND WINDOWS EASIER TO OPEN. Rub a dab of car wax onto the tracks of drawers and windows so they'll slide more smoothly.
SHINY TABLETOPS. Apply car wax to your plastic, laminate and Formica tabletops. Wipe it on, and then wipe it off to have a beautiful shine!
PATIO FURNITURE. Whether yours is metal, plastic or molded vinyl, apply car wax in the same way you would wax your car to protect against rust, add shine and repel water marks.
WHITE RINGS. Someone forgot to use a coaster, and that drink left a white ring on your beautiful furniture. No worries. Hit it with car wax. Rub it in with your finger until the ring disappears. Let it dry, and then buff it away.
BACKSPLASH. If you apply car wax to the areas behind your stove and sink, grease and gunk will wipe off easily. Your kitchen will sparkle, too.
PREVENT CORROSION. Wherever you see it — on the mailbox, door frames, window frames, outdoor light fixtures, garage door mechanisms — clean the rust away with car wax. You'll automatically prevent further corrosion from weather and water, too.
GRANITE AND MARBLE. Apply a coat of car wax to granite and marble countertops to fill in fine scratches and restore the glossy finish and shine.
*CAUTION: Car wax can leave a beautiful surface and leave the surface quite slick. For this reason, DO NOT use car wax on any floor — kitchen, porch, patio, tub or shower. Doing so could easily create a very dangerous slip-and-fall hazard.
Mary invites questions, comments and tips at mary@everydaycheapskate.com, or c/o Everyday Cheapskate, 12340 Seal Beach Blvd., Suite B-416, Seal Beach, CA 90740. This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com, a personal finance member website and the author of "Debt-Proof Living," released in 2014. To find out more about Mary and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.
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