Experts warn this viral TikTok hack could do permanent damage to your car
Published on Sep 22, 2023 at 2:56 PM (UTC+4)
by Andie Reeves
Last updated on Sep 22, 2023 at 4:45 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
TikTok has evolved into more than just a place to watch funny videos.
The app has taken life hacks to the next level.
You can learn anything, from how to save money on car insurance to how to escape from a waterlogged car.
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But the app is also rife with life hacks that, well, just don’t work.
One car hack in particular has gone viral, and car experts are urging people to ignore it.
The video that started all of this showed a woman dipping a cloth into a mixture of white vinegar and coconut oil.
She then wiped the cloth over some scratches on her car and they instantly disappeared.
This seemed like a magic fix for everyone who had a scratched car without the funds to take it into the shop.
“I’m going to keep this concoction in my car for the next time I ding the car parked next to me,” one person said.
Copycat videos started popping up of others trying the trend, showing that the TikTok hack really appeared to work.
That’s when the car experts started to weigh in.
Sure, this TikTok hack works in a way.
But a trip to the car wash or a spot of rain will wash the mixture off.
Then you’ll be left with the same scratches you thought you’d covered up.
You might think it’s worth it as a temporary fix for surface-level scratches.
In fact, this hack could cause serious damage to your car and leave it in worse condition than before.
Vinegar is an acid, and while it isn’t super strong it can damage your car’s paint.
The substance can eat away at your car’s outer layer, and make your car more susceptible to scratches and dings.
Ultimately you’d end up spending a lot more at the mechanic than if you’d just taken it in for the initial scratches.
Remember to take your TikTok advice with a pinch of salt, not vinegar.
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Andie is a content writer from South Africa with a background in broadcasting and journalism. Starting her career in the glossy pages of Cosmopolitan and Marie Claire, Andie has a broad portfolio, covering everything from sustainability solutions to celebrity car collections. When not at her laptop Andie can be found sewing, recording her podcast, taking board games too seriously or road-tripping in her bright green Kia.