Chances are good that there’s an old can of car wax 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 that really are quite amazing.

Car wax, whether paste or liquid, is formulated to fill scratches and give a high 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 paired with a good microfiber cloth 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, then apply the car wax.

MORE: Best Inexpensive™ Microfiber Cloths

De-fog mirrors

There’s nothing like a nice hot shower to steam up bathroom mirrors. Car wax is the secret to make them fog-free. Apply a small amount to the entire mirror, allow it to dry then buff it away with a microfiber cloth.

Shiny faucets

No matter how water spotted and dull your tub, shower and sink faucets are, car wax will make them look like new—and help them stay that way. Rub a small bit of auto wax into all of that metal and allow it to dry for a few minutes. Now just polish it away with a soft dry cloth. The wax will prevent new water spots and keep those fixtures sparkling*.

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.

RELATED: How to Make Your Own Powerful Tub and Shower Cleaners

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.

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