How to Clean a Car Exhaust

The exhaust from your car exits through the muffler. Because the exhaust is dark in color, your muffler will also get dirty and become discolored. Most car mufflers are basically disposable, meaning that they're not meant to be serviced but rather replaced. Therefore, there isn't an efficient way to clean the inside of a muffler. Putting water inside the muffler will only cause it to rust and shorten its life. But there are efficient ways of cleaning the outside of your muffler.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. First, using a dry rag or paper towels, wipe off as much soot and dirt from the outside of the muffler as possible. You may want to wear latex gloves for this. This reduces the amount of dirt to deal with when you use water in the next step.

2. Mix 1 teaspoon of dishwashing soap with a quart of warm water. Use a rag to wash the outside of your muffler with this solution. The dishwashing soap cuts grease and should remove stains that the dry rag couldn't get.

3. If your muffler still looks dingy or has lost its chrome-like sheen, dry the muffler in preparation for shining it up. Make sure it's completely dry before moving on to the next step.

4. Determine whether your muffler is made of aluminum or chrome. Buy either chrome polish or aluminum polish, depending on your muffler.

5. Apply the polish with a soft, dry cloth. Rub the polish into the metal until it shines. Not only does the polish make the muffler look shiny and new, but it also protects it from getting dirty as quickly.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep soap out of the muffler so as not to corrode it.