It's summertime, and we are ready for a clean, shiny car to cruise the streets in. Here are some DIY auto detailing tips to get your car looking great again! Let's start with the leather If you have leather upholstery, buy a leather-cleaning kit and keep it in the vehicle. When you clean the oops and spills right away, you dramatically increase your chances of a complete cleanup without signs of an accident. If you wait, lipstick, ink, dye, and lipstick transfer from clothing (and plastic shopping bags) and can become permanent in as little as 24 hours. Pretreat your leather with a conditioner before you start the stain removal process. Wipe the leather down with a pre-treater, and then apply leather cleaner and the leather protection cream. Lubricate your hood hinges Before applying grease or oil, be sure to wipe down the hinges first. We recommend white lithium grease or a few drops of any ordinary motor oil. Move the hinge several times to work the grease in. and work it into both sides of each hinge. Once you are done, wipe away any excess to keep it from collecting debris.