A car is like a second home and a prized possession to many. Just like a home, it’s important to keep your car well-maintained so you can drive smoothly and safely. Don’t worry though. There are easy car care tricks that you can do on your own to help you avoid those unwanted trips to the shop.

5 Easy Car Care Tricks You Can Do Yourself

Whether you’re a first-time owner or a seasoned driver, car care often comes at a price. But with everything you need to keep maintained, bringing your car into the shop for even the smallest things can get costly. Before I advise you to proceed with these DIY car care projects, I would like to reiterate that seeking professional help for severe car problems is the best option. So what are these car care tricks that you can do on your own?

1. Clean Brake Dust

Brake dust is a combination of road dirt, moisture, and heat from your brakes that can have bad effects on your wheels. Every week (or more often), dampen a sponge with clean cold water and use it to remove the brake dust from your wheels.

2. Replace Air Filters

Replacing your car air filter is just like replacing the filters of your air conditioners. Grime and pollutants easily build up inside, so make it a point to replace your air filters every year. Air filters are inexpensive and take 10 minutes to replace on your own.

3. Replace Windshield Wiper Blades

Efficient wipers are very important, especially when you’re driving during storm season. Working wipers keep your view clear, and help you avoid accidents. Replacing windshield wiper blades are really simple as most blades are snap-on, and come with simple instructions depending on the model.

4. Change Your Oil

Why pay for an oil change when you can do it yourself? Having to do it several times a year can be expensive, and it isn’t that difficult to do. Just make sure your engine isn’t hot—park your car, wait for it to cool, and use a jack to raise the car. Find the car’s oil pan, unscrew the drain plug, and drain old oil into the oil pan. Replace the drain plug, and remove the old oil filter with an oil filter wrench. Make sure to motor oil to lubricate the rubber gasket of the new oil filter. Then, fill the new oil filter with new oil—stop when it’s around 2/3 full. Now you can place the new oil filter back. Finally, fill the engine with new oil, and use the dip-stick to make sure you’ve filled it enough.

5. Download Helpful Apps

You should never use your phone while driving, but your phone can be a valuable tool to help keep your car in top shape. Get a navigation app, but also download apps that can help you track car maintenance like AutoCare for iOS and Android, Road Trip on iOS, or Car Maintenance Reminder on Android. These apps will tell you when it’s time to change your oil and air filters, when to check your belt, they’ll track your mileage, and even note your repair history.

Watch this video from Vehix Videos for more great everyday car maintenance tips: